Page 198 - Grammar for Great Writing B

Grammar Forms

14.1 Noun Clauses

A noun clause is a group of words that takes the place of a noun. It has a subject and verb and begins
with that, a question word, or if / whether.

Type of Noun Clause Example

1. that + subject + verb NASA scientists have just announced that additional planets outside our
S
solar system have been discovered.
V

2. question word + What the researchers discovered changed the kind of treatments
subject + verb S V

patients received.

Many graduates do not know where they should apply for jobs after
S V
college.

3. if / whether + subject Environmentalists do not know if the damage to the lake is reversible.
+ verb S V
Whether a cure for all types of cancer will be found depends on funding.
S V

Notes
1. Noun clause subjects take singular verbs.
How often people change careers is the subject of a new university study.
2. That-clauses often come in sentences that start with It is/was + adjective.
It is true that many businesses rely on repeat customers.
3. That is often omitted in that -clauses.
Research indicates (that) sea levels have been rising at a rate of 0.14 inches per year since the early 1990s.
4. Noun clauses with question words or if/whether use statement word order (subject + verb).
They are not sure what the data error is. (Not: They are not sure what is the data error.)

188 Unit 14 Writing with Noun Clauses

Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
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