1. 1
Noun Clauses
The Bicycles of Paris
Learn English With Les Advanced
Lesson
2. 2
On a recent trip to Paris, I learned that bicycles were
available for rent everywhere. There were thirty or so bikes
at a high-tech bike station right in front of my hotel. Since
there were no attendants taking care of the bikes at the
station, I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for. As I
looked down from my window, I could see that people just
came along, inserted a monthly pass or credit card in the
meter, and rode off on their bikes. How all this was
organized was something I was curious about. What I found
out was a weekly Velib pass costs about 7 euros. Riders have
to leave a $150 credit card deposit in case the bike is not
returned. I wondered how many bikes were not returned.
Later, I found out that wasn’t isn’t very many.
3. 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.
3
Noun clause - OBJECT
I learned that bicycles were available for rent
everywhere.
4. 4
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
5. 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
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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?
6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.
7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.
(No noun clause.)
6. 6
I asked people at my hotel and found out how to
get access to the bicycles. The first half hour is
free, and 96% of all rides are free of charge because
there are so many bike stations. Riders can choose
when and where to drop off the bikes. One rider
said, “I use it everyday. I’m retired, so I have a lot
of free time, and I use it to visit Paris.” He said
that he changes bikes within the free 30-minute
period, so he never has to pay. All in all, I’m
impressed that the Velib bicycle program is going
so well. It’s important that cities find ways to cut
down on car traffic and air pollution.
7. 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.
Riders can choose when and where they should
drop off the bikes.
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I found out how to get access to the bicycles.
Riders can choose when and where to drop off
the bikes.
8. 8
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.
9. Use quotation marks before and after the exact words of a
speaker.
The man said, “I use it everyday. I’m retired, so
I have a lot of free time, and I use it to visit
Paris.”
9
I use it every day. I’m
retired, so I have a lot
of free time, and I use
it to visit Paris.
10. 10
Don’t 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.
11. 1. Anna found out __________________________.
2. Please tell me ___________________________.
3. Tom said _______________________________.
4. Do you know ____________________________?
5. He was surprised _________________________.
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Practice 2
Complete the sentences with your own words. Use noun
clauses.
12. Interview a partner. Use a that-clause in your answer
1.What is something that you are sorry about in the
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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?
13. 13
The End
Learn English With Les Advanced
Lesson
