METU/SFL Spring 2023

DBE
GHO1
INTERMEDIATE GROUP
(Student’s Copy)

NOUN CLAUSES
NOUN CLAUSES
A noun clause functions as a noun (or a noun phrase).
 Jane and Jack want to start a company.
noun
 Jane and Jack are trying to learn the names of the companies in the US.
noun phrase
 Many people don’t know why the principle decided to resign.
noun clause
 It is clear (that) people must work hard to be happy.
noun clause
 Whether all the members of the club will join the meeting or not is still not certain.
noun clause

A noun clause:
 is a dependent clause
 functions as a noun or noun phrase
 is used in the same ways as a single-word noun
 can be the SUBJECT or the OBJECT of the sentence.

A. NOUN CLAUSES AS THE OBJECT

Examples

Some people believe (that) hard work brings

A. Noun clauses beginning with that
happiness.
No one can tell what the eventual effect of too
B. Noun clauses beginning with question words
much exposure to information will be.
C. Noun clauses beginning with if/whether Many people wonder whether/if sending text
messages can lead to a lack of concentration.

I.NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH THAT

 Positive or negative statements can be turned into noun clauses by using “that”.
e.g. Germany has the highest percentage of childless women in the world. (statement)
that Germany has the highest percentage of childless women in the world (noun clause)
New figures have shown (that) Germany has the highest percentage of childless women in the
world. noun clause as the object of the sentence
The author acknowledges (that) he got the idea from another writer.
 You can omit “that” when it is used as the object of the verb in noun clauses.

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You can use THAT clauses after certain verbs. Some verbs that are commonly used in noun clauses are:
* agree *claim * realize * state
* answer * conclude *say * suggest
* believe * know * show * think
e.g. Recent research shows that a presentation is more effective if visual aids are used.

You can use THAT clauses after certain adjectives. Some adjectives that are commonly used in noun clauses
are:
* afraid * essential * happy * necessary * surprised
* certain * evident * important * sure
e.g. I am glad that you got the visa.

You can use THAT clauses as noun complements (noun + verb ‘to be’). Some examples of such nouns are:
* problem * advantage/disadvantage * difficulty * rule * reason
e.g.: One reason is that using credit cards may lead to overspending.

* If the verb / adjective is followed by a preposition, the fact that is used instead of that and it cannot be
omitted.
The lecturer referred to the fact that population growth is the world’s biggest problem.

Some parents are worried about the fact that their children cannot do anything without them.
(OR Some parents are worried that their children cannot do anything without them.)

TASK 1. Combine the following sentences using noun clauses as the object.
1. Strict measures should be taken to handle hazardous waste. Chemical companies should realize this
fact.
Chemical companies _____________________________________________________________________.
2. It is important for adolescents to spend time away from electronic devices. Recent research states this.
___________________________________________________________________________________.
3. She has only two days left until the deadline. She is stressed about this.
____________________________________________________________________________________.
4. The staff will work overtime to meet the increasing demand for steel. The company has agreed on this.
___________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Some nations spend an enormous amount of money on arms while others starve to death. It is a great
shame.
___________________________________________________________________________________.

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II. NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH QUESTION WORDS (where / how / what / etc.)

 These noun clauses are formed from questions.

 The word order in these noun clauses is like a statement, NOT like a question (except in subject
questions).
e.g. Why did you tell a lie? (question)
why you told a lie (noun clause)
You have to explain why you told a lie.
noun clause as the object of the sentence
It is impossible to guess what the future will bring.
 When the question is about the subject (i.e. a subject question), the word order in the noun clause
doesn’t change.
Do you know who will do the cooking?

TASK 2. Combine the following sentences using noun clauses as the object.
1. When should children be introduced to computers? Educators disagree about this.
Educators ______________________________________________________________.
2. Why do so many young people suffer from heart trouble? Researchers are trying to find out this.
_______________________________________________________________________.
3. Which branch will get the first fully automated office system? Even after a lengthy discussion, they
haven’t resolved this.
_______________________________________________________________________.
4. What are the dangers of too much online interaction? The report focuses on this.
_______________________________________________________________________.
5. Who does the new student have to see about the orientation program? Do you know this?
______________________________________________________________________?

III. NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH IF/WHETHER

Yes / No questions are turned into noun clauses by using “if” or “whether”.

e.g. Will the Parliament pass the social security bill? (question)

whether (or not) / if the Parliament will pass the social security bill (or not) (noun clause)

It is still not certain whether (or not) the Parliament will pass the social security bill (or not). OR
noun clause as the object of the sentence
It is still not certain if the Parliament will pass the social security bill (or not).

 We can use only “whether” as object of preposition, not “if”.

The general manager is very concerned about whether the firm can overcome its financial problems.

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 TASK 3. Complete the second sentence by turning the question into a noun clause.
1. Does using the Internet help or hurt students’ research skills? Some experts question this. (whether)
___________________________________________________________________________________.
2. Are children’s critical thinking skills getting worse because of their dependence on technology?
Parents want to know this. (if)
___________________________________________________________________________________.
3. Has the lecture hall been set up ready for the presentation? Do you know this? (whether)
___________________________________________________________________________________?
4. Does information overload make an employee less efficient? Researchers are trying to determine this.
(whether/or not)
__________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Were there any locks on the windows? The police seemed mainly interested in this. (whether)
__________________________________________________________________________________.

B. NOUN CLAUSES AS THE SUBJECT

***NOTE: When there is a noun clause in the subject position, the verb of the sentence is always
singular.

Examples

That / The fact that the current system makes the

D. Noun clauses beginning with that / the fact that rich richer and the poor poorer is one of the main
arguments of the opponents.

E. Noun clauses beginning with question words What caused the country to suffer an economic
crisis was obvious.

F. Noun clauses beginning with whether Whether the new employees are going to attend
the meeting isn’t certain yet.

I. NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH THAT

Sentences which begin with a “that / the fact that” clause are formal.
“That / The fact that” cannot be omitted when the noun clause is the subject of the sentence.
The fact that / That everyone buys flowers and heart-shaped chocolates as Valentine’s Day gifts is
quite customary. noun clause as the subject of the sentence

 You can also rewrite the sentence above in the following way, which is more common:
It is quite customary that everyone buys flowers and heart-shaped chocolates as Valentine’s
Day gifts.

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TASK 4. Combine the following sentences using noun clauses as the subject.
1. Globalization has become overwhelming over the past few decades. This does not mean it is a new
concept.
That ________________________________________________________________________ does not
mean it is a new concept.

2. You were driving 30 km/h above the speed limit at the time of the accident. This will count against you.
The fact that__________________________________________________________________________.
3. Aluminum can be alloyed with a variety of metals. This makes it very versatile.
____________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Christopher Columbus was not the first European to sail to the USA. It is a well-known fact.
____________________________________________________________________________________.
5. The politics of a region is deeply affected by its geography, climate and culture. This was proven in
Fernard Braudel’s works.
____________________________________________________________________________________.

II. NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH INFORMATION QUESTIONS

How he managed to be elected again despite his obvious involvement in the scandal surprised us.
noun clause as the subject of the sentence

TASK 5. Combine the following sentences using noun clauses as the subject.
1. Why do people laugh at one joke but not another? This depends on many factors.
__________________________________________________________ depends on many factors.
2. When are the foreign representatives going to hold the meeting? This hasn’t been announced yet.
_____________________________________________________________________________.
3. How did he make so much money in such a short time? This has recently occupied my mind.
_____________________________________________________________________________.
4. Where will the new computers be installed? This hasn’t been determined yet.
_____________________________________________________________________________.
5. What caused dinosaurs to disappear from the earth? This is still unknown.
____________________________________________________________________________.

III. NOUN CLAUSES BEGINNING WITH WHETHER

Whether (or not) the family will move to another city (or not) is still doubtful.
noun clause as the subject of the sentence
 When we use a noun clause formed from a yes/no question as the subject of a sentence, we can
only use “whether”, not “if”.

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TASK 6. Combine the following sentences using noun clauses as the subject.
1. Will Manchester Union football team be promoted? This depends on the last match of the season.
____________________________________________________ depends on the last match of the season.
2. Is the Internet a good source of information for young children? This was discussed in the last session
of the conference.
___________________________________________________________________________________.
3. Is he going to invest in his father's company this year? This is a difficult decision he has to make.
___________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Has she made up her mind about her major at university? This is a matter of interest to her parents.
___________________________________________________________________________________.
5. Do we have to return our assignments by Monday or Tuesday? This is not certain yet.
___________________________________________________________________________________.

TASK 7. Read the text, and fill in the blanks with noun clauses using the statements/questions given
below the text. The statements are in the correct order.
People’s understanding of criminology has likely been shaped by the fast and exciting world of pop culture.
Shows like Criminal Minds and NCIS have often portrayed the criminologist as a gun-holding, crime-fighting
protagonist. Do you know (1) _________________________________________________________?
Actually, the field of criminology remains incredibly diverse in reality, but all criminologists investigate the
factors that cause criminal behavior. Criminologists also try to find out
(2)_________________________________________________________________. To provide a glimpse into
the mysterious world of criminology, here are some more details.
Reality vs. Fiction
First of all, (3)__________________________________________________________________________ is a
question of interest. Obviously, certain perceptions exist about criminology and it can often be confused with
forensics. If you wish to pursue a career in criminology, you should know (4)
_______________________________________________________________. However, working on topics
varying from terrorism and cybercrime to national drug policy makes the job endlessly fascinating.
Qualifications
A criminologist may come from one of many different fields, so he or she is defined more by the subject
matter rather than the required expertise. Therefore, it is difficult to exactly state (5) __________________
____________________________________. Because criminology is a varied combination of topics ranging
from sociology to law and politics, it is better for a criminologist to have many skill sets. Additionally, work
experience is also an important factor. Therefore, when hiring a criminologist, authorities would like to know
(6)________________________________________________________________________________.
Challenges
(7) __________________________________________________________________ is a well-known fact. The
challenges facing criminologists are similar to the challenges facing most researchers in academic disciplines:
time and funding. Within criminology, a fine balance exists between doing research we are passionate about
and research that society needs.
The impact of technology on criminology
To better understand the effect of technology on criminology, we first need to know (8) ________________

______________________________________. Actually, the practice of criminology started in Europe in the

late 1700s. The number of offenses including murders, assaults and robberies were high in those years and
afterwards. Today, such crimes are on the decline. With the rise of the digital age, cyber offenses are on a
steady increase. In the future, technology-facilitated offending will impact the role of criminologists and the
topics they study.

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 1. What do they do in real life?
2. How can crime be prevented within the wider society?
3. Is a career in criminology really exciting?
4. It is not as exciting as it is portrayed.
5. What qualities does he or she need in order to be one?
6. Have the candidates worked in the field of criminology before?
7. The life of a committed researcher is not easy.
8. When did criminology begin?

TASK 8. Read the text, and fill in the blanks with the statements by using noun clauses. The statements
are in the correct order. Make any necessary changes.
HOW TO BE HAPPY
Happiness is hard to define. There are several reasons why people feel happy. For some people it's about
being in love or the birth of a child; for others, it’s winning the lottery or being in touch with nature. In
scientific terms, happiness has different dimensions. Psychologists have identified three elements to
happiness: having pleasures in life, being engaged in using your strengths on a regular basis, and
experiencing a sense of meaning by feeling part of something greater than yourself. Over the years, a lot
of research has been done on happiness. Nevertheless, (1) ____________________________
___________________________________________________________ if we want an exact definition.

(2)___________________________________________________________________________________.
When, for instance, exposed to the flu virus, they are more able to resist it. They also recover from
surgery faster. Happy people also tend to live longer. All this has been concluded from an analysis of the
attitudes of new nuns entering an American convent in 1932. Psychologists rated each of them for the
level of positive feeling expressed and they found a correlation with how long each nun lived.
(3)___________________________________________________________________________________.
One group of genes that may be involved in positive mood and happiness are those dealing with the brain
chemical serotonin. Some people genetically have low levels of serotonin, which is linked to depression.
However, (4) ___________________________________________________________________________.
You can still learn to be happier. To do this, changing your outlook and attitude towards events and life
could be a good start.
Psychology experts doing research on happiness believe that relationships are one of the principal
sources of our happiness. (5)_____________________________________________________________
_____________________. The results suggest that both men and women become happier when they
marry. Happiness increases as the marriage approaches, reaches a peak in the first year and then
decreases a little as people get used to their new status. However, it still remains at a higher level than in
the single state. Children, as you might expect, are a source of joy when they are born, but within two
years, it seems that their parents’ happiness reverts, or returns, to its former level.

a) What is happiness? We need to know more about this.

b) Happy people have stronger immune systems. This is one of the most striking findings about
happiness.
c) There is a strong link between genes and human psychology. This is well-known today.
d) Are you born miserable? This does not make any difference.
e) How does marriage affect happiness? Socioeconomic surveys in Germany reveal this.