What is a noun clause?

A noun clause is a multi- word noun, which means it plays a role of a noun
Ex: I like what he said

I like Coke

I know that the tide was turning

I know London

I know that man who won the first prize

I know Xuxu.

The words in bold are nouns. By comparing the 3 examples in the two columns, we
can see that the underlined phrases in the left column function as nouns, making them
noun clauses.
Like any noun, a noun clause can be a subject, an object or a complement.
Ex: A person who trusts no one can not be trusted.
Noun clause is a subject, answering for: who cannot be trusted? (in this case)
That he believes his own story is remarkable
Noun clause is the subject of the sentence
Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he is buying.
Noun clause is the direct object of ask. Therefore, the sentence can be written: Ask
what your child wants for dinner if he is buying.
I never know how much of what he says is true
This noun clause is the object of preposition of.
You are what you eat.
This noun clause is the subject complement for you.
An economist is a man who states an obvious in terms of incomprehensible.
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In a sentence, a noun clause will be a dependent clause, can not stand alone to make
sense as a complete thought.
Structure
Noun clause commonly starts with:
Ex: She afraid (that) she was too tired to continue
+ used commonly in reported speech
question words (+ever) (+S) + V
Ex: You are what(ever) you eat
Do you know what happened?
if/ whether (or not) + S + V
+ derived from Yes/ No question
+ whether is used more commonly than if
+ or not can follow subordinator whether or stand at the end of the clause or can
be omitted.
+ when if is used, or not can only stand at the end of the noun clause, or omitted.
Ex: He is not sure if/ whether the experiment will be successful.
The question is if the counterpart understand our conditions (or not)
It is touch and go whether (or not) we will win.
that/ the fact that + S + V
+ that can be omitted when following some particular verbs
+ according to the verb it follow, that- noun clause can be divided into 4 types:
* Group I: No indirect object
Agree: ng
Know: bit
Conclude: kt lun
Assert: xc nhn
Think: ngh
Realize: nhn thc
State: tuyn b
Notice: nhn xt
Say: ni
Ex: We know that women have higher verbal IQs than men.

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*Group II: Indirect object optional; to required with indirect object

Admit: tha nhn
Explain: gii thch
Mention: cp
Point out: ch ra
Prove: chng minh
Reply: tr li
Ex: The defense attorney proved (to the jury) that his client was not guilty.
*Group III: Indirect object require
Assure: m bo
Convince: thuyt phc
Inform: thng bo
Notify: thng bo
Remind: nhc nh
Ex: The doctor assured the worried parents that their child would recover..
* Group IV: Indirect object optional
Promise: ha
Show: ch ra
Teach: dy
Warn: cnh bo
Write: vit
Answer: tr li
Ex: He promised (them) that they could see the child immediately after the operation.
- Phn bit say v tell: (2 ng t ny cng mang ngha l ni)

Say thuc Group I: say + (that) + S + V..

Tell thuc Group III: tell + indirect object + (that) + S + V
- Ngoi ra tell cn dng theo cc mu cu m tn ng gin tip c th c hoc khng
nh sau:
A story (cu chuyn)
A joke (ni a)
Tell + (Oi) +
A secret (tit l b mt)
A lie (ni di)
The truth (ni ra s tht)
(The) time (hy ch gi)
a. Th gi nh (bn thi cch trong mnh danh t)
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- Mt ngi mun ngi khc lm mt vic g y, ngi lm hay khng l ty,

khng bt buc.
- That khng th c b i
- Sau That l ng t nguyn th khng to. Nu mun thnh lp th ph nh
t not sau ch ng 2 trc nguyn th b to.
- Xut hin sau cc ng t hoc tnh t nht nh.
b. ng t theo sau l th gi nh
advise
demand
prefer
require

ask
command
insist
move
propose recommend
stipulate suggest

decree
order
request
urge/direct

- V d:
Ex: The doctor suggested that his patient stop smoking.
Ex: The doctor suggested that his patient not stop smoking.
Ex: The company president urged that the marketing department be more aggressive.
Ex: She insisted that the company not lose any more customers to its competitors.
- Nu b that i th ch ng 2 s tr v dng tn ng v ng t sau n tr v dng
nguyn th c to, cu mt tnh cht gi nh, tr thnh mt dng mnh lnh thc gin
tip.
Ex: The company president urged the marketing department to be more aggressive.
Ex: The doctor suggested his patient to stop smoking.
Ex: The doctor suggested his patient not to stop smoking.
c.Tnh t i hi mnh sau n dng gi nh
vital
recommended
obligatory
mandatory
advisable

advised
urgent
required
proposed
essential

necessary
important
imperative
suggested

- Lu : rng trong bng ny c mt s tnh t l phn t 2 cu to t cc ng t

bng trn. Nu mun cu to ph nh t not sau ch ng 2 trc nguyn th b to.
It + be + adj + that + S + [verb in simple form]
Ex: It is necessary that he find the books.
Ex: It is necessary that he not find the books.
Ex: It has been proposed that we change the topic.
Ex: It has been proposed that we not change the topic.
Ex: It is necessary that each salesperson work longer hours.
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- Nu b that i th ch ng 2 s bin thnh tn ng sau gii t for, ng t tr v dng

nguyn th c to v cu mt tnh cht gi nh tr thnh dng mnh lnh thc gin tip.
Ex: It is necessary for him to find the books.
Ex: It is necessary for him not to find the books.
Ex: It has been proposed for us to change the topic.
Ex: It has been proposed for us not to change the topic.
Ex: It is necessary for him to find books.
d. Mt s lu :
- Cu gi inh dng vi 2 loi trn thng c dng trong cc vn bn hoc th giao
dch din t li ngh t pha A vi pha B m khng c tnh cht bt buc. Khng ch
c V v ADJ m c theo dng ny m tt c cc N v V xut pht t V v ADJ trn
cng phi dng gi nh nu c that cho mnh .
Ex: Theres suggestion from the doctor that the patient stop smoking.
Ex: It is recommendation that the vehicle owner be present at the court.
- Trong ng php Anh-Anh ng trc V ca noun clause thng c should mang
ngha bn nn v ngi anh ch b should khi V mnh l tobe. Nhng trong
ng php Anh-M khng bao gi dng should cho ton b V ng ng sau.

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Noun clauses "the subjunctive"

1. The coach advised ............................. .
a. that the students competed in the race
b. when the students compete in the race
c. that the students compete in the race
d. why the students compete in the race
2. I wish .........................
a. that I was there at the party
b. were I there at the party
c. I was there at the party
d. that I were there at the party
3. The teacher asked .........................
a. that all students are on time for the practice TOEFL test
b. all students are on time for the practice TOEFL test
c. that all students be on time for the practice TOEFL test
d. that all students should be on time for the practice TOEFL test
4. I demand .........................
a. that you do your chores immediately
b. that you do your chore immediately
c. that you should do your chores immediately
d. that you will do your chores immediately
5. Did you know ............................. ?
a. that voyeur television be becoming more popular
b. that voyeur television is becoming more popular
c. that is voyeur television becoming more popular
d. what voyeur television is becoming more popular
6. His girlfriend insists ............................. .
a. not that he date other women
b. that he not dates other women
c. he must not date other women
d. that he not date other women
7. Historians don't really know .........................
a. whose invented fire
b. who invented fire
c. who did invent fire
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d. who invents fire

8. I propose ............................. .
a. we should finish the kitchen installation next week
b. that we will finish the kitchen installation next week
c. that we finish the kitchen installation next week
d. where we finish the kitchen installation next week
9. She recommended .........................
a. that John complete his homework before watching television
b. that John completes his homework before watching television
c. that John should complete his homework before watching television
d. whom John complete his homework before watching television
10. The admissions employee requested ............................. .
a. that Shadi will resend all his transcripts from Israel
b. that can Shadi resend all his transcripts from Israel
c. that Shadi should resend all his transcripts from Israel
d. that Shadi resend all his transcripts from Israel
11. The police officer suggested ............................. .
a. that we be alert when we pull up to a stop light, a fact which might prevent a
carjacking
b. that we are alert when we pull up to a stop light, a fact which might prevent a
carjacking
c. that we alert when we pull up to a stop light, a fact which might prevent a carjacking
d. that we must be alert when we pull up to a stop light, a piece of advice which might
prevent a carjacking
12. It is essential .........................
a. that you are on time for all business meetings
b. that you be on time for all business meetings
c. that you should be on time for all business meetings
d. that you on time for all business meetings
13. It is imperative .........................
a. that you are not late for your appointment
b. that you not late for your appointment
c. that you be not late for your appointment
d. that you not be late for your appointment
14. It is important .........................
a. that we are prepared for all possible emergencies
b. that we be prepared for all possible emergencies
c. that we be prepare for all possible emergencies
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d. that we prepared for all possible emergencies

15. You can tell .........................
a. whomever you want about the party as long you don't know tell Teresita
b. whoever you want about the party as long as you don't know tell Teresita
c. whomever you want about the party as long as you don't know tell Teresita
d. whomever you want the party as long as you don't know tell Teresita
16. It was critical ............................. .
a. that the paramedics be arrived within five minutes of the traffic collision
b. that the paramedics should arrive within five minutes of the traffic collision
c. that the paramedics arrived within five minutes of the traffic collision
d. that the paramedics arrive within five minutes of the traffic collision
17. It is absolutely necessary .........................
a. that we are in the library by 5:00 PM if we want sufficient time to prepare for the test
b. that we should be in the library by 5:00 PM if we want sufficient time to prepare for
the test
c. that we be in the library by 5:00 PM if we want sufficient time to prepare for the test
d. that we in the library by 5:00 PM if we want sufficient time to prepare for the test
18. It is vital .........................
a. that we tell teenagers about the dangers of smoking
b. that we teenagers tell about the dangers of smoking
c. that teenagers told by us about the dangers of smoking
d. that we tell teenagers about the dangers smoking
19. I know .........................
a. that Tom had said to Bill, which surprised me a lot
b. whatever Tom had said to Bill, which surprised me a lot
c. what Tom had said to Bill, which surprise me a lot
d. what Tom had said to Bill, which surprised me a lot
20. ............................. was already common knowledge to most of the students in the
high school.
a. That Tom talk to Bill about the problem
b. What Tom had talked to Bill about the problem
c. That Tom had talked to Bill about the problem
d. Tom had talked to Bill about the problem

Choose the best answer.

1. It doesnt matter ....... I rest or not.
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a. if
b.whether
c. That
d. when
2. ........ I cant understand is ........ he wants to change his mind.
a. That/that
b. Which/what
c. What/why
d. What/that
3. ........ I was free that day
a. It happened to
b. It happened that
c. That happened
d. It was happened that
4. He ...... youre not going abroad.
a. surprised that
b. is surprised that
c. is surprised whether
d. surprised at
5. I wonder how much ........ .
a. cost the coat
b. does the coat cost
c. the coat costs
d. the coat is cost
6. ....... I have will be yours sooner or later.
a. No matter what
b. Whatever
c. Whether
d. That
7. ....... in the news that the Japanese Minister will arrive in Bejing next Friday.
a. It says
b. He is said
c. It has said
d. It is said
8. ....... we go swimming every day ....... us a lot of good.
a. If/do
b. That/do
c. If/does
d. That/does
9. Is this ....... we met them last night ?
a. where
b. place
c. place in which
d. place which
10. We all know the truth ....... there are air, water and the sunlight there are living
things
a.where
b. wherever
c. that
d. that wherever
11. I think it is ...... youre eating so much.
a. that
b. because of
c. the reason
d. for
12. It is said ........ has been translated into French.
a. that
b. which
c. that that
d. that which
13. Its still a question ...... well have our sports meet.
a. why
b. that
c. when
d. which
14. Its not yet clear ...... of those will be chosen to go abroad.
a. that
b. which
c. whom
d. who
15. These pictures show you ......... .
a. what does our village look like
b. what our village looks like
c. how does our village look like
d. how our village looks like
16. Can you make sure ....... the gold necklace ?
a. where Alice had put
b. where did Alice put
c. where has Alice put
d. where Alice has put
17. Go and get your glasses. Its ....... you left them.
a. there
b. where
c. there where
d. where there
18. Do you remember ....... he came? Yes, I do. He came by train.
a. how
b. when
c. where
d. that
19. ..... we cant get seems better than ...... we have.
a. What/what
b. What/that
c. That/that
d. That/what
20. Mother asked ........ .
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a. what was wrong with me

b. whats wrong with me
c. what wrong was with me
d. what wrong is with me
21. ....... they had won the game made us excited.
a. What
b. That
c. Where
d.
22. ...... I accept award or refuse it is none of your business.
a. If
b. When
c. Whether
d. Even though
23. ....... he says in his report is a very interesting question.
a. What
b. What all
c. What that
d. All what
24. When they will start ...... not been decided.
a. does
b. has
c. have
d. is
25. ....... certain that his invention will lead to the development of production.
a. It has
b. It is
c. That is
d. This is
26. ....... it is unknown to us all .
a. Where did she put
b. Where she put
c. That where she put
d. In where she put
27. ....... nothing to do with us.
a. What did she have
b. What she did has
c. What did she do has
d. What she has done has
28. The trouble is ..... were short of hands.
a. how
b. That
c. What
d. which
29. Energy is ....... makes things work.
a. everything
b. something
c. that
d. what
30. My hometown is not ....... it used to ...... ten years ago
a. when/do
b. what/do
c. what/be
d. when/be
0
0
1
2
3
4
5

d
b
d
a
c

1
c
a
b
c
b

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2
D
B
C
C
C

3
c
d
b
c
a

4
a
b
b
d
b

5
b
c
c
b
b

6
d
d
b
a
b

7
b
c
d
c
b

8
c
a
d
a
b

9
a
d
a
a
b

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