NOUN CLAUSES

Pedro Henrique Silva Sanches Yasmin de Sousa Brito

NOUN CLAUSES
A noun clause is an entire clause which takes the place of a noun in another clause or phrase.

It begins with that, a question word or if/whether. I expected that we would be late. We didn't know what time it was. We'll have to decide if/whether we can afford it. In informal English we can often leave out that. I knew (that) you wouldn't like this color.

NOUN CLAUSES CAN BE USED:

AS OBJECT

I noticed that the door was open.

We regret that you did not find our product satisfactory. I wonder whether that's a good idea.
AS COMPLEMENT

The idea is that we take it in turns. The truth is (that) I don't get on with my flat-mate. The difficulty was how Emma was going to find us in the crowd.

NOUN CLAUSES CAN BE USED:

AS SUBJECT

That he could be mistaken didn't seem possible.

That everyone got back safely was a great relief. Which route would be best isn't obvious.
WITH THE EMPTY SUBJECT IT

It didn't seem possible that he could be mistaken. It was a great relief that everyone got back safely. It isn't obvious which route would be best.

NOUN CLAUSES CAN BE USED:

AFTER A PREPOSITION

We had a discussion about who should be invited.

The government is looking into what needs to be done. He made no comment on whether a decision had been reached.
AFTER A NOUN

You can't deny the fact that you received the message. The news that the plane had crashed came as a terrible shock. You can't get around the fact that it's against the law.

NOUN CLAUSES CAN BE USED:

AFTER AN ADJECTIVE

I was ashamed that I'd let my friends down.

I'm glad (that) you enjoyed the meal.

We were worried (that) there were no life guards on duty. Some adjectives in this pattern are:
afraid amused annoyed anxious confident conscious convinced delighted glad happy horrified sorry sure surprised

impatient willing

aware
certain

determined
eager

pleased
proud

RELATIVE CLAUSES

Pedro Henrique Silva Sanches Yasmin de Sousa Brito

RELATIVE CLAUSES
An adjective or prepositional phrase can modify a noun. A relative clause does the same.
Adjective: the red team Phrase: the team in red Relative clause: the team wearing red

the team who were wearing red

RELATIVE CLAUSES
An adjective or prepositional phrase can modify a noun. A relative clause does the same.
Adjective: the red team Phrase: the team in red Relative clause: the team wearing red

the team who were wearing red

RELATIVE CLAUSES
In a relative clause, we can use a relative pronoun, a participle or a to-infinitive.
I've got a computer program which/that does the job for me. The bus coming now is ours. United were the first team to score.

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A RELATIVE PRONOUN

These clauses generally begins with who, whom, which or that.
We can leave out the pronoun when it is not the subject of the relative clause. Clauses without pronouns are very common in informal English. The woman Gary met knows your sister. That man was sitting next to Angela never said a word. (incorrect)

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A RELATIVE PRONOUN

Some relative clauses do not have commas. They are identifying clauses and classifying clauses.
Identifying: What's the name of the player who was injured? (The clause tells us which player is meant.)

Classifying: A player who is injured has to leave the field.

(The clause tells us what kind of player is meant.)

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A RELATIVE PRONOUN

Some relative clauses have commas. They are adding clauses and connective clauses.
Adding: Jones, who was injured, left the field. (The clause adds information about Jones.) Connective: The ball went to Jones, who scored easily. (The clause tells us what happened next.)

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A PARTICIPLE

We can use either an active or a passive participle in a relative clause without a pronoun or an auxiliary.
ACTIVE PARTICIPLE:
Those people taking photos over there come from Sweden.
(= those people who are taking photos) The official took no notice of the telephone ringing on his desk. (= the telephone which was ringing on his desk) All the equipment belonging to the club is insured. (= all the equipment which belongs to the club)

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A PARTICIPLE

PASSIVE PARTICIPLE:
Applications sent in after 23rd March will not be considered. (= applications which are sent in) Stones thrown at the train by vandals smashed two windows. (= stones which were thrown at the train) Police are trying to identify a body recoveredfrom the river.

(= a body which has been recovered from the river)

RELATIVE CLAUSES WITH A TO-INFINITIVE

We can use a to-infinitive after an ordinal number, after next and last, after only, and after superlative adjectives.
Which was the first country to win the World Cup at rugby?

(= the first country which won the World Cup)

The last person to leave will have to turn out the lights. (= the last person who leaves) Maxicorp was the only company to reply to my letter. William Pitt was the youngest person to become Prime Minister.

REFERENCE
Eastwood, J. (2002): Oxford Guide to English Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.