NOUN CLAUSE

A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun. A noun clause is often part of an
independent clause, where it can be a subject or an object or a subject complement or an appositive.
(mnh danh ng l mt mnh ph thuc ng vai tr l mt danh t. Mt MDN c th l ch ng,
tn ng, b ng,)

What he told me was a lie. (subject)

I didnt believe what he told me. (direct object)

Josie is not interested in whatever Kyle says. (object of preposition)

Michael's excuse was that he had forgotten to set his alarm. (subject complement)

A noun clause can also follow certain adjectives and nouns. (mt MDN cn c i sau bi mt vi
tnh t v danh t)

We were happy that the semester was over.

Who first challenged the belief that the world was flat?

Three Types of Noun Clause:

1. that clause, which begins with the word that

2. if / whether clause, which begins with the words whether or if

3. question clause, which begins with a question word, such as who, what,

where, when, or how

That Clause

A that clause is a dependent noun clause that begins with the word that. (M that l mt M ph bt
u bng t that.)

E.g. The young film maker hopes that his film will be a financial success.

You can sometimes omit that if the meaning is clear without it. However, you can never omit that when
it is the first word in a sentence. (that c th b lc b trong hu ht trng hp, tr khi n l t u
tn ca cu)
 Correct The young filmmaker hopes that his film will be a financial success.

Correct The young film maker hopes his film will be a financial success.

Correct That his film is a critical success is beyond doubt.

Incorrect His film is a critical success is beyond doubt.

A that clause can appear in many locations. (M that c th xut hin nhiu v tr)

1. After the independent clause verb (xut hin sau ng t ca M chnh)

The catalog states that science courses require a laboratory period.

2. After certain adjectives (xut hin sau mt vi tnh t nht nh)

A that clause can also follow certain adjectives such as happy, glad, proud, pleased, sad,
upset, worried, sorry, certain, surprised and sure (emotion adjectives)

The class was surprised that the instructor canceled the final exam.

3. After certain nouns (xut hin sau mt vi danh t nht nh)

A that clause can also follow certain nouns such as idea, theory, thought, claim, assertion,
statement, belief, notion and opinion.

No one believed Galileo's theory that Earth revolves around the sun.

4. At the beginning of a sentence (subject of a sentence) ( u cu lm ch ng ca mt cu)

That Earth is getting warmer is certain.

Starting a sentence with a that clause seems awkward to many English speakers, so they often rewrite
such sentences by putting it at the beginning and moving the noun clause to the end.

(bt u cu bng that l khng thng dng i vi ngi ni ting anh, v vy it thng c dng
thay th lm ch ng (ch ng gi) v bin MDN thnh v ng

Awkward That Earth is getting warmer is certain.

Better It is certain that Earth is getting warmer.

If / Whether Clause

An if / whether clause is a dependent noun clause that begins with the word if or whether. Whether is
more formal than if. The optional phrase or not maybe added. (M if/whether l mt M ph bt u
bng t if hoc whether.)

E.g. The patient wanted to know whether Dr. Chen practices acupuncture.

The patient wanted to know whether or not Dr. Chen practices acupuncture.

The patient wanted to know whether Dr. Chen practices acupuncture or not.

The patient wanted to know if Dr. Chen practices acupuncture.

The patient wanted to know if Dr. Chen practices acupuncture or not.

Question Clause

A question clause is a dependent noun clause that begins with the word who, what, when, where, why,
how, how much, how long, etc. (M cu hi l mt M ph bt u bng nhng t who, what, when,
where, why, how, how much, how long,)

E.g. The police do not know who committed the robbery.

The police do not know when the robbery happened.

The word order in question clause is statement order (subject + verb), not question order (aux + subject +
verb) even though they begin with a question word.

(Trt t t trong mnh cu hi l trt t cu trn thut (subject + verb), khng phi trt t cu hi
(aux + subject + verb).)

To change a question into a question clause, change the word order to statement word order and delete
auxiliary if necessary. ( chuyn mt cu hi sang mnh cu hi, phi chuyn trt t t sang trt t
cu trn thut v b tr ng t.)

Question: What time is it?

Sentence with Question Clause: Please tell me what time it is.

Question: How did the robbers enter the apartment?

Sentence with Question Clause: The police want to know how the robbers entered the
apartment.
Exercise

1. I talked to Bob two weeks ago. I thought he wanted to know about my cat, but I misunderstood him. He
asked me where _____________ not my cat.

A. is my hat B. my hat was C. my hat is D. was my hat

2. The people in the apartment upstairs must have a lot of children.

I dont know how many _____________, but it sounds they have a dozen.

A. children do they have B. do they have children

C. children they have D. they have children

3. Do you know _____________? I have no idea.

A. how many years the earth is B. how old the earth is

C. how long is the earth D. how much time has been the earth

4. Theres too much noise in this room. I cant understand what _____________

Neither can I.

A. is the professor saying B. is saying the professor

C. that the professor is saying D. the professor is saying

5. When I was little, my father gave me some advice. He said _____________ talk to strangers.

A. I shouldnt B. that shouldnt C. dont D. that I dont

6. I didnt expect Anns husband to be here at the opera with her

Im surprised, too. Ann must have insisted that _____________ with her

A. he come B. he comes C. he came D. he had come

7. Ms. Wright, can you give me a little extra help typing some letters tonight?

Sorry, I cant. The boss has an urgent report for me to write. She demanded that it _____________ on
her desk by 5 P.M. today.

A. was B. will be C. is D. be

8. Did you tell Carol where _____________ us this evening?

Yes, I did. I cant understand why she is late

A. should she meet B. she to meet C. she meets D. to meet

9. A fortune-teller predicted _____________ inherit a lot of money before the end of the year.

A. that I would B. that I C. what I will D. what I

10. Bill Frazer seems like a good person for the job, but we dont know why he left his last job

I know why. He told me _____________ a serious policy disagreement with his boss last January

A. if hed had B. that what he had C. what hed had D. hed had

11. Is it true that you fell asleep in class yesterday and began to snore?

Unfortunately, yes. _____________ is unbelievable! Im very embarrassed

A. That I could do such a thing it B. that I could do such a thing

C. I could do such a thing it D. I could do such a thing

12. Officer, can you tell me how to get to Springfield?

Sure, what part of Springfield _____________ to go to?

A. where you want B. you want C. that you want D. do you want

13. Is it true _____________ the law says there is no smoking in restaurants in this city?

Yes. That law was passed last year.

A. that what B. what C. if D. that

14. _____________ prompt is important to our boss.

A. Whether or not a person is B. Is a person or not

C. If or not a person D. A person is or not

15. A scientific observer of wildlife must note every detail of how...in their environment: their
eating and sleeping habits, their social relationships, and their method of self-protection.

A. do animals live B. live animals C. do live animals D. animals live

16. The mystery movie was clever and suspenseful. The audience couldnt guess _____________
committed the murder until the surprise ending.

A. who he B. who had C. that who D. that

17. How do you like your new school? Tell me _____________

A. who in your class is B. who your class is in

C. who is in your class D. your class who is in it

18. What do you recommend _____________ about this tax problem?

 I strongly suggest that we consult an expert as soon as possible

A. do we do B. we will do C. should we do D. we do

19. The college does not grant degrees simply to _____________ pays the cost of tuition; the student
must satisfy the academic requirements.

A. whoever B. who C. whomever D. whoever that

20. What are you going to buy in this store?

Nothing _____________ want is much too expensive.

A. That I B. What I C. That what I D. what do I

21. Does anybody know _____________ on the ground?

Your guess is as good as mine

A. how long this plane will be B. how long will be this plane

C. how long will this plane be D. that how long this plane will be

22. This restaurant is very expensive

It is, but order _____________ want. Your birthday is a very special occasion.

A. what is it you B. whatever you do C. whatever you D. what do you

23. Why did Beth ask you _____________ a bicycle?

A. that if you had B. do you have C. that you have D. if you had

24. What did your grammar teacher want to talk to you about?

I did badly on the last test. She _____________ study for it.

A. said why didnt I B. asked why didnt I

C. said why I didnt D. asked why I didnt

25. Why are you staring out the window? What _____________ about?

Nothing

A. you are thinking B. do you are thinking C. are you thinking D. you think

26. I cant decide what color I want for my bedroom. What do you think?

You should choose _____________ color you want. Youre the one who will have to live with it.

A. whichever that B. whatever C. however D. that what

27. Did you remember to tell Marge _____________ she should bring to the meeting tomorrow

Oh, my gosh! I completely forgot! Im sorry

A. that B. what C. if D. that what

28. My aunt has been feeling bad since Uncle George died. Is it because she depressed?

I think so. _____________ can cause debilitating physical symptoms is a medical fact.

A. It is that depression B. That depression it C. That depression D. Depression

29. There was an earthquake on the coast yesterday. Fortunately, there was no loss of people. However,
because of the danger of collapsing sea walls, it was essential that the area _____________ evacuated
quickly.

A. to be B. will be C. be D. is

30. _____________ saying was so important that I asked everyone to stop to listen.

A. what the woman was B. The woman was

C. That the woman was D. What was the woman

31. This cake is terrible. What happened?

Its my grandmothers recipe, but she forgot to tell me how long _____________ it.

A. did I bake B. should I bake C. do I bake D. to bake

32. Lets go to Riverton this Weekend.

Sound like fun. _____________ from here?

A. How far is B. How far it is C. It how far is D. How far is it

33. Somebody forgot this hat. I wonder _____________

A. whose is this hat B. whose hat this is C. is this whose hat D. whose hat is

34. Edwards interview was very intense. The interviewer wanted to know many facts about his personal
life, and even asked him _____________ had ever used any illegal drugs of any kind.

A. that if he B. whether or not he C. if or not he D. that he

35. It is hoped that all present-day communicable diseases will be conquered. However, _____________
about certain diseases is still not sufficient to prevent them from spreading easily among the population.

A. what we know B. what do we know

C. what we know that D. that we know what

36. Why didnt Henry attend the meeting this morning?

Hes been very sick. His doctor insisted that he _____________ in bed this week.

A. will stay B. stayed C. stays D. stay

37. Nobody yet knew what _____________ to cause the dam to burst, but the residents of the area
organized quickly to protect life and property against the rising of floods.

A. happens B. had happened C. happen D. did it happen

38. Did the teacher explain how _____________ this problem?

A. do we solve B. can we solve C. to solve D. solve

39. _____________ the National Weather Bureau predicted severe storms did not deter the fishing boats
from going out into the open sea.

A. The fact that is B. The fact is that C. Is fact that D. That the fact

40. Tom walked into the huge hall to register for the classes. At first, he simply looked around and
wondered what _____________ supposed to do.

A. was he B. am I C. he was D. I am
A. Complete each sentence with a that clause. The first one has been done as an example.

1. A comparison of the size of glaciers and icebergs over the past hundred years reveals that they are
shrinking in size.

2. Scientists believe ____________________________________________________________________

3. Environmentalists warn _______________________________________________________________

4. People living near sea coasts and on low-lying islands are worried
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. _____________________________________________________________________ has been proven.

6. The idea _________________________________________________________________ is nonsense.

7. Our teacher was very proud ____________________________________________________________

B. Write each sentence so that it begins with it and ends with a that clause. The first one has been
done as an example.

1. That air temperatures are rising is significant.

It is significant that air temperatures are rising.

2. That ocean levels are rising is undeniable.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. That burning fossil fuels is a cause of global warming has been well documented.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. 1 sentence from A

_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. 1 sentence from A

_____________________________________________________________________________________

6. 1 sentence from A

_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. 1 sentence from A

_____________________________________________________________________________________
C. Imagine that you are doing research on acupuncture. In addition to getting information from the
library and the Internet, you have decided to write a letter to Dr. Robert Hsu, a leading
authority in the field. Here are the questions you wish to ask Dr. Hsu:

1. Is acupuncture a risky medical procedure?

2. Are the needles made of stainless steel or of some other metal?

3. Do the needles hurt when they are inserted?

4. Has the effectiveness of acupuncture in relieving backpain ever been documented?

5. Can acupuncture strengthen the immune system?

6. Does acupuncture use the body's energy to promote healing?

7. Did you study acupuncture in China or in the United States?

8. Have you ever used acupuncture during an operation?

Add two questions of your own.

9. ___________________________________________________________________________________

10. __________________________________________________________________________________

Complete the letter to Dr. Hsu. Change each of the ten questions into an if/whether clause. Add an
if/whether clause to each incomplete sentence.

Change the word order to S V statement order.

Delete do, does, and did if necessary.

Observe the sequence of tenses rules.

The first one has been done as an example. Use the blank lines at the end of the letter for your own
questions.
D. Imagine that you are working as a summer intern at your local newspaper, the "Fog City News".
A well-known rock group, Behind Bars, is in town to give a concert. Your Boss has asked you to
write an article about the group for the Sunday entertainment section. However, when you try to
interview the group, they are not very helpful.

Here is a list of questions that you have prepared for the interview.

1. When and where will the concert take place?

2. When did you last perform in Fog City?

3. How many years have you been together as a group?

4. Who writes your songs?

5. Where do you practice on the road?

6. How many songs have you recorded?

7. Which company produces your CDs?

8. How many Grammys do you have?

Add two questions of your own.

9. ___________________________________________________________________________________

10. __________________________________________________________________________________

Complete the memo that follows. Explain to your boss why you cannot write the article. Change each of
the ten questions into a question clause. Add a question clause to each incomplete sentence.

Change the word order to S V statement order.

Delete do, does, and did if necessary.

Observe the sequence of tenses rules.

The first one has been done as an example. Use the blank lines at the end of the memo for your own
questions.
Review

1. A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts like a noun. (MDN l mnh ph ng vai tr nh
mt danh t)

John asked a question. John asked which chapters the exam would cover.

2. A noun clause can act as a subject, an object, or a subject complement. That clauses can also follow
certain adjectives and nouns. The most common position of a noun clause is after the verb of the main
(independent) clause. (MDN c th l ch ng, tn ng, b ng hoc theo sau vi tnh t hoc danh t
nht nh. V tr hay gp nht l sau ng t ca M chnh.)

3. Starting a sentence with a noun clause is awkward. English speakers usually rewrite these sentences so
that they begin with it and end with the noun clause. (bt u mt cu vi MDN l khng t nhin, nn
ngi ni ting Anh dng it (ch t gi) bt u cu v theo sau l MDN.)

That the professor canceled the exam surprised us.

It surprised us that the professor canceled the exam.

Whether the professor will reschedule the exam is uncertain.

It is uncertain whether the professor will reschedule the exam.

4. Passive voice is often used in these kinds of sentences, especially in academic writing.

It was once believed by many that Earth was flat.

5. When a noun clause reports what someone asked or said, you must follow the sequence of tenses rules
for reported speech. (khi mt MDN tng thut mt li ni, phi tun th cu trc th cho cu tng
thut.)

6. Following verbs and adjectives indicating urgency, advisability, necessity, and desirability, use the
base form of the verb in the noun clause. This kind of noun clause is called a subjunctive noun clause.
(theo sau mt s ng t v tnh t mang tnh khn cp, khuyn co, cn thit v mong mun, s dng
dng nguyn mu ca ng t trong MDN. Dng MDN ny c gi l MDN gi nh.)

It is necessary that students be on time for the final exam.

7. Noun clauses use statement word order even when they begin with a question word. They also do not
contain do, does, or did because they are not questions. (MDN tun th cu trc cu khng nh, c khi
bt u bng nhng t dng hi. N cng khng cha do, does, did, (tr ng t) v n khng
phi l cu hi.)

8. Commas are not used with noun clauses. (khng dng du phy trong MDN.)
Types of Noun Clauses

That clauses
formed from statements The Russian president and his wife told the press
introduced by subordinator that (that) they were enjoying their visit.
that can be omitted
Subjunctive noun clauses
verb in base form The president of the United States suggested that
occur after verbs and adjectives of urgency, Russia open its doors to U.S. business.
advisability, necessity, and desirability
Question clauses
formed from wh questions; whwords are Do you know who the interpreter for the Russian
the subordinators: who, where, which, how, leader was?
etc.
use S V statement word order The reporter asked which companies planned to do
do, does, did disappear business in Russia.

If/Whether clauses
formed from yes/no questions
introduced by subordinator if or whether.
Whether is more formal than if.
or not maybe added
use S V statement word order
do, does, did disappear
The question is whether (or not) U.S. and
European Companies understand the Russian
business environment (or not).
No one knows if the experiment will succeed (or
not).
Editing Practice

Edit the composition that follows for errors in noun clauses. You should
make 21changes. Look for these kinds of errors:

INCORRECT WORD ORDER We do not know who is she.

MISSING SUBORDINATOR

AND INCORRECT A careful shopper asks is there a warranty on a product before buying it.
WORD ORDER

SEQUENCE OF TENSES The news paper reported that world leaders have failed to agree at the

RULES NOT FOLLOWED conference

SUBJUNCTIVE VERB NOT Environmentalists urged that carbon dioxide emissions are decreased

USED immediately.

INCORRECT PUNCTUATION Everyone wonders when world peace will become a reality? Everyone
hopes, that peace will come soon.

A College lecture
1
Professor Sanchez gave a lecture on transistors last Tuesday. 2First, he explained what are transistors.
3
He said, that they are very small electronic devices used in telephones, automobiles, radios, and so on.
4
He further explained that transistors control the flow of electric current in electronic equipment. 5He

wanted to know which popular technological invention cannot operate without transistors. 6Most students

agreed, it is the personal computer. 7Professor Sanchez then asked if the students know how do transistors

function in computers. 8He said that the transistors were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these

transistors increase computers' speed and data storage capacity. 9Then he asked the class when had

transistors been invented? 10Sergei guessed that they were invented in 1947. 11The professor said that he

is correct. 12Professor Sanchez then asked what was the importance of this invention? 13Many students
answered that it is the beginning of the information age. 14At the end of the lecture, the professor assigned

a paper on transistors. 15He requested that each student chooses a topic by next Monday. 16He suggested

that the papers are typed.