Noun clauses 1 A noun clause does the work of a noun. I don't know that the man is a pop star.

who that man is. Most noun clauses begin with that, but we can use who, whom, whose, which, what, when, where, how, how many / much, if / whether, etc. as the meaning may require. I don't know that she is sensitive to seafood. where she lives. when she will come. how many brothers she has. if she likes me. 2

There are two things about noun clauses that we must remember: The subject of the clause always comes before the verb. Could you tell me what time it is now? Wrong: Could you tell me what time is it now? Compare: What time is it? she asked.

We cannot use the present simple tense to refer to the future as we do in time-clauses. She has just told me that she will come earlier tomorrow. Compare: I expect to see her earlier tomorrow when she comes.

A noun clause can be: The subject of a verb What he told you is true.

The object of a verb She wants to know where you live. He pointed out that I had made a mistake.

The object of a preposition He is never satisfied with what he has achieved

After the verb to be That is what I intended to do. After such nouns as fact, news, report, belief, rumour, fear, hope, etc.

The news that the country was hit by a strong earthquake gave us a great shock. Note: The noun clause in this form always begins with that.

After certain adjectives or past participles I'm glad that you were able to come. I'm worried that her health might get worse.

In these structures: it + be + adjective or present participle. It is strange that he should have made that remark. It is encouraging that the child is showing signs of recovery. It + be + a + noun or noun phrase It is a pity that you won't be able to come. It is a good thing that you've given up smoking. Note: The noun clause in these structures begins with that.

We can use so and not as a substitute for restating a noun clause after certain verbs, or after the adjective afraid.

So after think, believe, expect, suppose: Alan: Will she come? Fred: I think so. (= I think that she will.)

So after say and after tell + object: The old woman is crazy. Everyone in the neighbourhood says so. Alan: Mary's getting married next month. Fred: I can't believe it. Did she tell you so?

So and not after hope and afraid: Alan: Is the report true? Fred: I'm afraid so. (that the report is true is undesirable) I'm afraid not. (that the report is true is desirable) I hope so. (that the report is true is desirable) I hope not. (that the report is true is undesirable)

Complete these sentences using that, who, what, which (one), where, when, how, how many,

how much, how long, if, whether, etc. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 I'd like to send her an invitation card. Do you know __________________ she lives. Nobody has told me ________________ the picnic will be held. My best guess is next Saturday. The news ______________ the prime minister will retire sent a shock wave throughout the country. Ann's been away for months. I can imagine _____________ her parents miss her. The hall was packed with people, but I can't tell _______________ guests there were at the reception. Tom's birthday is tomorrow. It's a pity ____________ you won't be able to go to his party with us. Belinda's excuse is not convincing. It's obvious _____________ she's telling a lie. He told me he's going to Xiamen, but he didn't tell me _______________ he's going to stay there. We expect him to be back next Friday, though. The car was a total wreck. We all wonder _____________ the driver managed to survive the crash without a scratch. He hurt himself falling off his bike. I wonder _____________ he'll be able to take part in the match tomorrow. She's been dating Paul and Tony. I've no idea _____________ of them she's going to marry. She said she saw Brian at the cinema, but she couldn't tell _____________ he was with. I doubt if it was Ann. Choose the right words to complete the sentence. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 She tried to find out what (did he want / he wanted) for his birthday. Do you know why (did dinosaurs die out / dinosaurs died out)? Are you sure that (was the letter addressed / the letter was addressed) to Betty and not to Karen? I'm not interested in what (is he doing / he is doing). What (you said / did you say)? I'm sorry I wasn't listening carefully enough. I don't know which bus (did he take / he took). It might have been a No. 963. Did he tell you when (would he / he would) be back? I know there's a supermarket in the neighbourhood, but how far (is it / it is) from here? Who (saw / did anyone see) you leave the restaurant? the police officer asked the suspect.

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My watch has stopped. Can you tell me what time (is it / it is) now?

Rewrite these sentences. Use a noun clause beginning with that, what, where, how (large), if / whether, etc. + the given words instead of the words in italics. (he said) he is generous he is honest she will win the contest the news came from 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 I don't believe his words. I don't believe I'm sure of his honesty. I'm sure ___________________________________________________________ The author of this book is not known. __________________________________________________is not known. Nothing has been mentioned as to the source of the news. Nothing has been mentioned as to ______________________________________ His generosity is known among his friends. The fact ___________________________________is known among his friends. Her greatest worry is her son's possible failure in the examination. Her greatest worry is _________________________________________________ She feels confident of winning the contest. She feels confident __________________________________________________ I have no idea about the size of her new flat. I have no idea ______________________________________________________ I doubt the truth of his story. I doubt ___________________________________________________________ It's surprising that nobody knows his job. It's surprising that nobody knows _______________________________________ Complete these dialogues with so or not. 1 Alan: You won't be busy tomorrow, will you? what he said. his story is true wrote this book her new flat is her son may fail the examination he does for a living

Ann: I hope _____________. 2 3 4 5 6 Fred: There's no one here. They must have left without us. Alex: I'm afraid ____________. Ray: Do you think it's going to be fine tomorrow? Ron: I expect _____________. Sue: Have you got enough money for a taxi? Kate: I'm afraid ____________. John: Is the bus still running at this time of night? Tony: I suppose __________. It's not twelve yet. Paul: How do you know there's going to be a speech contest next week? Pete: The notice says ____________.