Noun clauses

Noun clauses

That & So

A noun clause functions as a noun, often as a direct object.

​A noun clause can be introduce by that

​I didn't know that he wrote this book

​I think that Junot Diaz's novels are fantastic

​Did you forget that her biography was 500 pages long?

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​When speaking that may be omitted

Noun clauses are often followed by these verbs:​

agree, think, believe, feel, hear, see, understand, hope, decide, discover, dream, hope, learned, assume, suppose, doubt, guess, forget, notice​, realize, remember, know...

​

"She thinks that the students should work harder"​

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Notice that each verb expresses

a kind of "mental activity"

Noun clauses are often followed by these adjectives:​

afraid, angry, worry, ashame, happy, sad, sorry, unhappy, surprised, disappointed...

​

"They're sad that the teacher is leaving"​

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The noun clause helps to explain

the meaning of the adjective of

the emotion

In short answers, use so to replace a noun clause after the verbs:

think, believe, guess and hope​

A: ​Does Stephen King have a new book out?

​B: I think so / I believe so / I guess so / I hope so

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​(so = that Stephen King has a new book out)

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​Be careful:

​I don't think so / I don't believe so

​BUT I guess not / I hope not

​NOT "I don't guess so" / "I don't hope so"

Write statements and questions with noun clauses​ using that

​I think / the author Paulo Coelho / be from / Brazil

​I think that the author Paulo Coelho is from Brazil

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​(this example is on page 40, exercise B "Grammar practice")

Fill in the Blanks

I believe / the novel Juliet / take place / in Italy 

Fill in the Blanks

I didn't know / U.K. author J.K. Rowling /write a new novel / in 2014

Fill in the Blanks

I'm happy / the Chinese author Mo Yan / win / in 2012 

Complete each sentence with noun clauses​ using that

Open Ended

When I was young, I couldn't believe...

Open Ended

Last week, I forgot...

Open Ended

In the future, I hope...