The document discusses noun clauses, which can replace nouns or pronouns in sentences. It provides examples of changing statements, yes/no questions, and wh- questions into noun clauses by using words like "that", "if", and wh- words. The document also notes that "that" can sometimes be omitted in noun clauses and discusses uses of "that" clauses. Exercises are provided to practice forming and identifying noun clauses.

1. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
NOUN CLAUSES
1. Forms of Noun Clauses
 A noun clause can replace a noun phrase or a pronoun in a sentence:
(The nouns and the noun clauses are in bold.)
a) Your paper was excellent. (noun phrase)
b) What you wrote was excellent. (noun clause)
c) I read it. (pronoun)
d) I read what you wrote. (noun clause)
Note: In (a) your paper is a noun phrase and the subject of the sentence; this is replaced by the noun clause
what you wrote in (b). In (c) the pronoun it is the object of the sentence and it is replaced by the noun clause
what you wrote in (d).
 To change a statement to a noun clause, use that but it is optional: (for detailed information check page 4)
a) I know Billy made a mistake.
I know (that) Billy made a mistake.
b) Critics believe there isn’t one objective truth.
Critics believe (that) there isn’t one objective truth.
c) The Internet is turning people into solitary beings. The results of the survey show this.
The results of the survey show (that) the Internet is turning people into solitary beings.
!! That cannot be omitted in the subject position → That the Internet is turning people into solitary being is
obvious.
 To change a yes/no question to a noun clause, use if or whether. The noun clause is not in question form
but in affirmative form.:
a) George wonders. Does Fred know how to cook?
George wonders if Fred knows how to cook.
b) I’m not sure. Will I be a black belt in karate?
I’m not sure whether I will be a black belt in karate (or not).
c) Have they finished the project? It is not important to me.
Whether or not they have finished the project is not important to me.
** If is not placed at the beginning of a sentence when introducing an alternative.
If they have finished the project is not important to me.
 To change a wh- question to a noun clause, we use the wh- word, and the noun clause is not in question
form but in affirmative form.:
WHERE
a) Where is George? I don’t know it.
I don’t know where George is.
b) Where should I begin? I don’t know this.
I don’t know where I should begin.
c) Where are they you going on holiday? It is not known.
Where they are going on holiday is not known.
WHAT
a) We may believe. What do the scientists tell us?
We may believe what the scientists tell us.
b) What happened here yesterday? It is a mystery.
What happened here yesterday is mystery.
HOW/HOW MUCH/HOW MANY
a) How do people interact? Her students were interested in this.
Her students were interested in how people interact.
b) He asked me. How much did that t-shirt cost?
He asked me how much that t-shirt cost.
c) How many students are going to take the university exam? It is not certain.
How many students are going to take the university exam is not certain.
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2. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
WHEN
a) Let me know. When will you come?
Let me know when you will come.
b) When will the next exam take place? It will be announced by the teacher.
When the next exam will take place will be announced by the teacher.
WHY
a) I cannot understand. Why didn’t he leave?
I cannot understand why he didn’t leave.
b) Why does he behave like that? It is not known.
Why he behaves like this is not known.
EXERCISE 1: Underline the noun clauses in the paragraph.
Why some very good students often fail exams was studied by a professor of
psychology at New York University. Professor Iris Fodor conducted research
on the anxiety of some students before taking exams. Professor Fodor
stated that many students fail exams because they become extremely nervous
and cannot think logically. Furthermore, although they have studied, they are
afraid of whatever is on the exam. Extremely nervous students forget
everything they have studied, and some even become sick before a test. Dr.
Fodor says how a student feels before a test is very important. She worked with fifty students and taught
them how they could reduce their test anxiety and perform well on their exams. She found out that the
students in the program were able to cope with their anxieties better.
Adapted from http://www.englishforums.com
EXERCISE 2: Complete the sentences below using noun clauses.
1. Why is there an ambulance outside Peter’s house?
I wonder ………………………………………………………………….…………..
2. How can she take on another part-time job at the moment?
I don’t know……………………………………………………………..………….
3. Where can I pay for this please?
Can you tell me……………………………………………………………………?
4. How long will it take us to get there?
I would like to know……………………………………………….……………
5. What is the advantage of power-assisted steering?
The salesman will explain……………………………………….…………...
6. Which bank does Jerry work at?
I have forgotten……………………………………..……………………………
7. Where did he find his glasses?
He refuses to tell me………………………..…………………………………
8. Which of these reports was written by Shelia?
I need to know…………………………………..………………………………..
9. What was he trying to conceal with his lies?
……………………………………………………………………………………….……is not certain.
10.How far will my new car travel on a full tank of petrol?
Can you guess…………………………………………………………….……..?
11.How does she manage to be in debt despite earning such a high salary?
…………………………………………………………….……………………………is unbelievable.
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3. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
EXERCISE 3: Complete the sentences using noun clauses.
1. Has Steve left?
Do you know …………………………………………………..?
2. Should I accept the offer?
I don’t know …………………………………………………..?
3. Is Pat feeling better today?
I wonder ………………………………………………………….
4. Does the bus stop here?
Sam wants to know………………………………………….
5. Is there life on other planets?
…………………………………………………. is not certain
6. Is she an effective worker?
I’m not sure ………………………………………..
EXERCISE 4: Correct the errors in the sentences.
E.g. Please, tell me what is your name. → Please, tell me what your name is.
1. No one seems to know when will Maria arrive.
2. I wonder why was Bob late for class.
3. I don’t know what does that word mean.
4. I wonder does the teacher know the answer.
5. What should they do about the hole in their roof is their most pressing problem.
6. I’ll ask her would she like some coffee or not.
7. Be sure to tell the doctor where does it hurt.
8. Why am I unhappy is something I can’t explain.
9. I wonder does Tom know about the meeting or not.
EXERCISE 5: Complete the following sentences using your own words.
1. What the newspaper reported………………………………….……………………………………….…..
2. People once believed that …………………………………………..…………………………..…………..
3. No one knows when ………………………………………………………………………..…………….….
4. The latest research revealed that …………...……………………….………………………..…….………..
5. Do you know who ………….………………………………..……………………………………………..?
6. That many students have to work part time………..………… ……..……………………………………..
7. Students want to know whether……………………………….…………………………………………….
EXERCISE 6: Complete the followings using noun clause structures.
1. ……………………………………………………………………………….…….... bothers me too much.
2. ………………………………….…………...………………………………….…….. does not concern me.
3. ……………………………….….………………………………………………….is still a matter of study.
4. ……………………………………………….…………..………………... impressed many people greatly.
5. ………………………………………………………….…….……….………………... is quite interesting.
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4. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
THAT CLAUSES can also be used:
1. as the complement of “to be”.
My belief is that we should protect endangered species of animals.
2. after some adjectives.
It’s obvious (that) we should protect endangered species of animals.
3. after some nouns. (as apposition)
The fact that we should protect endangered species of animals is obvious.
(fact = that we should protect endangered species of animals)
verbs used with “that” clause adjectives used with “that” clause nouns used with “that” clause
admit
assume
complain
believe
know
realize
show…..etc.
afraid
surprised
sure
happy
aware
certain
disappointed ……etc.
belief
fact
idea
assumption
claim
possibility
a good thing…..etc.
 It’s possible to omit “that” after adjectives and verbs.
He maintained (that) nuclear power stations would do more harm than any good.
I’m sure (that) you will make good progress in English.
 After prepositions ,” the fact that “is used.
She is very excited about the fact that her boss will give her a pay rise.
Exercise 7: Combine the sentences with “that” clause.
1.There will be another rise in prices. It’s likely.
2.The earthquake will hit large areas. Scientists predict it.
3.He has made a mistake. He never admits it.
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 It’s possible to omit “that” after adjectives and verbs.
He maintained (that) nuclear power stations would do more harm than any good.
I’m sure (that) you will make good progress in English.
 After prepositions ,” the fact that “is used.
She is very excited about the fact that her boss will give her a pay rise.

5. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
4.The tragic news upset her. Yesterday we talked about it.
5.The war between two countries will end soon. People do not believe it.
6. Television reduces the interest in reading. It’s a common belief.
7.Cigarette smoking leads to serious health problems. It’s a scientific fact.
ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE 1
Why some very good students often fail exams was recently studied by a professor of psychology at New York University. Professor Iris Fodor
conducted research on the anxiety of some students before taking exams. Professor Fodor stated that many students fail exams because they become
extremely nervous and cannot think logically. Furthermore, although they have studied, they are afraid of whatever is on the exam. Extremely
nervous students forget everything they have studied, and some even become sick before a test. Dr. Fodor says how a student feels before a test is
very important. She worked with fifty students and taught them how they could reduce their test anxiety and perform well on their exams. She has
found out that the students in the program felt better able to cope with their anxieties.
EXERCISE 2
1. why there is an ambulance outside Peter’s house.
2. how she can take on another part-time job at the moment.
3. where I can pay for this, please?
4. how long it will take us to get there.
5. what the advantage of power-assisted steering is.
6. which bank Jerry works at.
7. where he found his glasses.
8. which of these reports was written by Shelia.
9. What he was trying to conceal with his lies…
10. how far my new car will travel on a full tank of petrol?
11. how she manages to be in debt despite earning such a high salary
is unbelievable.
EXERCISE 3
1. Whether / if Steve has left.
2. Whether / if I should accept the offer?
3. Whether / if Pat is feeling better today.
4. Whether / if the bus stops here.
5. Whether / if there is life on other planets.
6. Whether/ if she is an effective worker.
EXERCISE 4
1. No one seems to know when Maria will arrive.
2. I wonder why Bob was late for class.
3. I don’t know what that word means.
4. I wonder if the teacher knows the answer.
5. What they should do about the hole in their roof is their most
pressing problem.
6. I’ll ask her if she would like some coffee or not.
7. Be sure to tell the doctor where it hurts.
8. Why I am unhappy is something I can’t explain.
9. I wonder if Tom knows about the meeting or not.
EXERCISE 5- 6 (Answers may vary)
EXERCISE 7
1. It’s likely (that) there will be another rise in prices.
2. Scientists predict (that) the earthquake will hit large areas.
3. He never admits (that) he has made a mistake.
4. Yesterday we talked about the fact that the tragic news upset her.
5. People do not believe ( that ) the war between two countries will end soon.
6. It’s a common belief that television reduces the interest in reading.
7.It’s a scientific fact that cigarette smoking leads to serious health problems.
(That clauses were prepared by T. Kazdaloğlu)
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6. 2017-18 FALL
B1 LEVEL
Main Course
WEEK 12
4.The tragic news upset her. Yesterday we talked about it.
5.The war between two countries will end soon. People do not believe it.
6. Television reduces the interest in reading. It’s a common belief.
7.Cigarette smoking leads to serious health problems. It’s a scientific fact.
ANSWER KEY
EXERCISE 1
Why some very good students often fail exams was recently studied by a professor of psychology at New York University. Professor Iris Fodor
conducted research on the anxiety of some students before taking exams. Professor Fodor stated that many students fail exams because they become
extremely nervous and cannot think logically. Furthermore, although they have studied, they are afraid of whatever is on the exam. Extremely
nervous students forget everything they have studied, and some even become sick before a test. Dr. Fodor says how a student feels before a test is
very important. She worked with fifty students and taught them how they could reduce their test anxiety and perform well on their exams. She has
found out that the students in the program felt better able to cope with their anxieties.
EXERCISE 2
1. why there is an ambulance outside Peter’s house.
2. how she can take on another part-time job at the moment.
3. where I can pay for this, please?
4. how long it will take us to get there.
5. what the advantage of power-assisted steering is.
6. which bank Jerry works at.
7. where he found his glasses.
8. which of these reports was written by Shelia.
9. What he was trying to conceal with his lies…
10. how far my new car will travel on a full tank of petrol?
11. how she manages to be in debt despite earning such a high salary
is unbelievable.
EXERCISE 3
1. Whether / if Steve has left.
2. Whether / if I should accept the offer?
3. Whether / if Pat is feeling better today.
4. Whether / if the bus stops here.
5. Whether / if there is life on other planets.
6. Whether/ if she is an effective worker.
EXERCISE 4
1. No one seems to know when Maria will arrive.
2. I wonder why Bob was late for class.
3. I don’t know what that word means.
4. I wonder if the teacher knows the answer.
5. What they should do about the hole in their roof is their most
pressing problem.
6. I’ll ask her if she would like some coffee or not.
7. Be sure to tell the doctor where it hurts.
8. Why I am unhappy is something I can’t explain.
9. I wonder if Tom knows about the meeting or not.
EXERCISE 5- 6 (Answers may vary)
EXERCISE 7
1. It’s likely (that) there will be another rise in prices.
2. Scientists predict (that) the earthquake will hit large areas.
3. He never admits (that) he has made a mistake.
4. Yesterday we talked about the fact that the tragic news upset her.
5. People do not believe ( that ) the war between two countries will end soon.
6. It’s a common belief that television reduces the interest in reading.
7.It’s a scientific fact that cigarette smoking leads to serious health problems.
(That clauses were prepared by T. Kazdaloğlu)
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