Noun Clauses

The Bicycles of
Paris
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Use a noun clause as the subject or the object

of the main verb in a sentence.
Noun clause - SUBJECT
How this all was organized was something I was
curious about.
Noun clause - OBJECT
I learned that bicycles were available for rent
everywhere.

Do not use question word order in a noun

clause.
Normal question word order

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for.

Noun clause word order

Practice 1
Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun
clause.

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic
impressed me.
3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.
4. She told me that it was easy.
5. Where did you go to rent the bike? (No noun clause.)
6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.
7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.
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Use a question word followed by an infinitive to

express either should or can/could.
I found out how I could get access to the bicycles.
I found out how to get access to the bicycles.

Riders can choose when and where they should

drop off the bikes.
Riders can choose when and where to drop off
the bikes.
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Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front

of that-noun clauses.
Verb + that-clause
I think that it is a very good way to cut down on
car traffic and air pollution.

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anna is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

It + be + adjective + that-clause
It is important that cities find ways to cut down
on car traffic and air pollution.
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Use quotation marks before and after the exact

words of a speaker.
I use it every day. Im
retired, so I have a lot
of free time, and I use it
to visit Paris.

The man said, I use it everyday. Im retired, so

I have a lot of free time, and I use it to visit
Paris.

Dont use quotation marks in reported speech.

I change bikes within
the free 30 minutes,
so I never have to
pay.

He said that he changes bikes within the free

30-minute period, so he never has to pay.
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Practice 2
Complete the sentences with your own words. Use
noun clauses.
1. Anna found out __________________________.
2. Please tell me ___________________________.
3. Tom said _______________________________.
4. Do you know ____________________________?
5. He was surprised _________________________.
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Interview a partner. Use a that-clause in your

answers
1. What is something that you are sorry about in the
past?
2. What is something about science that amazes you?
3. What is something about school that annoys you?
4. What is something you are proud of?
5. What is something that you are relieved happened?
6. What is something that you are worried about for
the future?
10

CREDITS

Copyright 2009 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.
Images used under license from:
Shutterstock, Inc.

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Use who or that as the subject of an

adjective clause.

who
Scientists who have different opinions about
animal behavior, say thought has three
elements.

12

Use who or that as the subject of an

adjective clause.

that
The Think Tank at the National Zoo in
Washington, DC, is an exhibit that is unique.

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Use who(m), which, that, or as the object

of the verb in an adjective clause.
The project examines the biological thinking
process.
Scientists call the project the Think Tank.

The project, which scientists call the

Think Tank, examines the biological
thinking process.
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Practice 1
Choose all the possible completions.
1. The Think Tank is an exhibit ___ is very interesting.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. it
2. The scientists ___ work there are studying thinking.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. they
3. Lets go to the new exhibit ___ Tom told us about.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. it
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Practice 1
Choose all the possible completions.
4. Its the scientists ___ are studying the orangutans.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. they
5. The Think Tank is a place ___ Id like to visit.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. it
6. The study ___ goes on all day is open to the public.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. it
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Use whose to show possession in

adjective clauses.

whose
The orangutans are the ones whose language
ability is being examined.

Whose language ability is

being studied?
The orangutans.
17

Use when to modify a noun of time

in adjective clauses.

when
On days when they go to the Think Tank,
they can choose if they want to participate
or just watch.
What does when refer to?
On days they go to the
Think Tank.
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Use where to modify a place.

where
The building where they live is linked to The
Think Tank by cables.
Which place is
where referring to?

The building
The Think Tank

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Practice 2
Make one sentence out of the two sentences by
using adjective clauses.
1. The Think Tank is in the zoo. All this activity takes place is
in The Think Tank.

The Think tank, where all this activity takes

place, is in the zoo.

2. The scientists study the animals. The animals are awake

then.

The scientists study the animals when they are

awake.

3. Here are some children. Their parents have brought them to

the zoo.

Here are some children whose parents have

brought them to the zoo.
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Review
Complete the sentences. More than one answer
may be possible. Discuss your choices.
1. The symbols have no visual relationship to the
words _____ they represent.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. where
2. The Think Tank is the only place in the world _____
visitors have free access to this type of research.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. where f. when
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Review
Complete the sentences. More than one answer
may be possible. Discuss your choices.
3. The words _____ the orangutans are learning will
be used to form simple sentences.
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. where

4. How do the orangutans make the connection from

the word to the thing _____ it represents?
a. who b. that c. which d. e. whom f. when
22

CREDITS

Copyright 2009 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.
Images used under license from:
Shutterstock, Inc.

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