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Review of Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions like a noun as a subject, a subject complement, or an object. A noun clause used as an object is the object of an introductory clause verb.

Types of Noun Clauses

There are three types of noun clauses used as an object of verb:

* That-clauses are made from statements and are introduced by the subordinator that.

   I know that you are right.

* Wh-word clauses are formed from wh-questions and are introduced by wh-words such as who,  whoever, what, whatever, where, wherever, when, which, how, how much, how many, etc.

  I don't know how he will get the money.

* If/whether-clauses are formed from yes/no questions and introduced by the subordinator whether or if.   The phrase "or not" may be added.

  Do you know whether (or if) he will get the money?

You can improve your writing style by using noun clauses correctly. Doing the editing practice that follows will make you aware of potential errors in this sentence pattern and alert you to look for them in your own writing.

How far you have mastered noun clauses.

EDITING PRACTICE

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

                                                                           she is

Incorrect word order: We don't know who is she.

                                                                                                                                                        had

Sequence of tense rule not followed: The new papers reported that world leaders have failed to agree at the conference.

                                                                                                                                                         be

Subjunctive verb not used: Environmentalists urged that carbon dioxide emissions are decreased immediately.

                                                                                                                                                  X                        X

Incorrect punctuation: Everyone wonders when world peace will become a reality? Everyone hopes, that peace will come soon.

A College Lecture

1Professor Sanchez gave a lecture on transistors last Tuesday. 2First, he explained what are transistors. 3He said, that they are very small electronic devices used in telephones, automobiles, radios, and so on. 4He 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 choose a topic by next Monday. 16He suggested that the papers are typed.

etched: cut into the surface

Model answer:

In sentence 2 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: First, he explained what are transistors.

Correct:  First, he explained what transistors were.

In sentence 3 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect punctuation and sequence of tense rule not followed

Incorrect: He said, that they are very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles, radios, and so on.

Correct:  He said that they were very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles, radios, and so on.

In sentence 4 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: He further explained that transistors control the flow of electric current in electronic equipment.

Correct:  He further explained that transistors controlled the flow of electric current in electronic equipment.

In sentence 5 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: He wanted to know which popular technological invention cannot operate without transistors.

Correct:  He wanted to know which popular technological invention could not operate without transistors.

In sentence 6 there are 3 mistakes: incorrect punctuation, sequence of tense rule not followed, and omitted subordinator that.

Incorrect: Most students agreed, it is the personal computer.

Correct:  Most students agreed that it was the personal computer.

In sentence 7 there are 3 mistakes: 2 times sequence of tense rule not followed and incorrect word order.

Incorrect: Professor Sanchez then asked if the students know how do transistors function in computers.

Correct:  Professor Sanchez then asked if the students knew how transistors functioned in computers.

In sentence 8 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: He said that the transistors were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors increase computers' speed and data storage capacity.

Correct:  He said that the transistors  were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors increased computers' speed and data storage capacity.

In sentence 9 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and incorrect punctuation.

Incorrect: Then he asked the class when had transistors been invented?

Correct:  Then he asked the class when transistors had been invented.

In sentence 11 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: The professor said that he is correct.

Correct:  The professor said that he was correct.

In sentence 12 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and incorrect punctuation.

Incorrect: Professor Sanchez then asked what was the importance of this invention?

Correct:  Professor Sanchez then asked what the importance of this invention was.

In sentence 13 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.

Incorrect: Many students answered that it is the beginning of the information age.

Correct:  Many students answered that it was the beginning of the information age.

In sentence 15 there is one mistake: subjunctive verb not used.

Incorrect: He requested that each student chooses a topic by next Monday.

Correct:  He requested that each student choose a topic by next Monday.

In sentence 16 there is one mistake: subjunctive verb not used.

Incorrect: He suggested that the papers are typed.

Correct:  He suggested that the papers be typed.

The following composition has been improved.

A College Lecture

1Professor Sanchez gave a lecture on transistors last Tuesday. 2First, he explained what transistors were. 3He said that they were very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles, radios, and so on. 4He further explained that transistors controlled the flow of electric current in electronic equipment. 5He wanted to know which popular technological invention could not operate without transistors. 6Most students agreed that it was the personal computer. 7Professor Sanchez then asked if the students knew how transistors functioned in computers. 8He said that the transistors  were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors increased computers' speed and data storage capacity. 9Then he asked the class when transistors had been invented. 10Sergei guessed that they were invented in 1947. 11The professor said that he was correct. 12Professor Sanchez then asked what the importance of this invention was. 13Many students answered that it was the beginning of the information age. 14At the end of the lecture, the professor assigned a paper on transistors. 15He requested that each student choose a topic by next Monday. 16He suggested that the papers be typed.

 

This is only my own model answer. Maybe, you have your own model answer. Please feel free to discuss and try to find the best model answer.

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