Noun Clauses

A NOUN CLAUSE is a group of words with a subject and a verb

WHO WHOM WHEN WHICH HOW WHERE IF WHY THAT WHAT WHETHER
WHOEVER WHICHEVER WHOMEVER WHENEVER WHEREVER HOWEVER WHATEVER

You can recognize a noun clause by one of the relative pronouns or adverbs that begin the clause

A noun clause consists of three components:

A relative pronoun or adverb A subject

A verb

Noun clauses function like nouns. They can be: subject

subject complement object object of prepositions

Uses of Noun Clauses

After some verbs and adjectives To include a question in a statement (embedded questions) To report what someone has said or asked

Noun clauses can follow certain verbs and adjectives that express mental activities

Agree Believe Decide Doubt Feel Forget Guess Hear Hope Imagine Know

notice realize remember see show suppose think understand wonder say tell

afraid angry aware certain clear convinced disappointed glad happy pleased sad

positive sorry surprised sure worried

To include a question in a statement

I dont know what time it is. I wonder how he found out.

To report what someone has said or asked

He said that he would return. He asked me what I wanted

There are three types of Noun Clauses:

noun clauses with that noun clauses with WH-word

noun clauses with if and whether

Noun clauses with THAT can be used with all verbs mentioned except wonder
I think that this book will be interesting. The word that can often be omitted. However it can not be omitted if it is in the subject position

The fact that is used as the object of the preposition

We are curious about the fact that she is here today.

Noun clauses with Wh-words They have statement word order, even when they occur within questions Wh + subject + verb
I dont know what he is doing I wonder how he feels today. Where I put my book is a mystery.

In conversation, noun clauses can be replaced by so after think hope believe suppose expect know

Noun clauses with If/whether are often followed by or not. They are often used in statements that express uncertainty

Noun clauses after verbs that show importance or urgency: advise ask beg urge forbid insist order request recommend require suggest demand

Some expressions that show importance or urgency: It is advisable It is essential It is imperative It is important It is necessary It is urgent

After verbs that show importance or urgency, the base form is used.
Use the subject pronoun before a base form. For negatives, put not before the base form

It is essential that babies have stimulation.

I advise that she stay home with her children.

Direct (quoted) Speech vs Indirect (reported) Speech

Direct speech
Simple present ----------

Indirect speech
Simple past

Present progressive----------Simple past--------------------Present perfect-----------------

Past progressive
Past perfect Past perfect

Direct (quoted) speech

States the exact words a speaker used. In writing, use quotation marks. John said, I love this class.

Indirect (reported) speech

Reports what a speaker said without using the exact words. There are no quotation marks. John said that he loved this class.

The reporting verbs say and tell are usually in the simple past for both direct and indirect speech.

He said, Its great. He said it was great

Im leaving. She said she was leaving

I made it. He said that he had made it. He said to her, Ive never lied. he told her that he had never lied

Remember to change pronouns, time and place expressions this and here in indirect speech to keep the speakers original meaning. Ann told Rick, I bought this dress here. Ann told Rick that she had bought that dress there.

He said: Ill leave now. Im going to drive Traffic may be bad She might move. He can help. They have to stay. You must be careful.

He told me (that) He would leave then. He was going to drive Traffic may be bad she might move he could help They had to stay I must be careful

Some Modals change forms can could may might will would have to, must had to could, might, should, would, ought to, and had better do not change form

Are you bringing any fruit into the country? The customs officer asked the tourists if they were bringing any fruit into the country.
Do you have your transcripts with you? The registrar asked me if I had my transcripts with me.

Can you fix my car? I asked the mechanic if he could fix my car.
Did you see the accident? The police officer asked me if I had seen the accident.

What do you want to be when you grow up? My first grade teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up.

Reported commands and requests Commands and requests are reported using infinitives, not noun clauses
Bring the book! She told me to bring the book.

The End!