Noun Clauses

The Bicycles of Paris

18

Noun Clauses

On a recent trip to Paris, I learned that bicycles were

available for rent everywhere. There were thirty or so bikes at a high-tech bike

station right in front of my hotel. Since there were no attendants taking care of the

bikes at the station, I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for. As I looked down

from my window, I could see that people just came along, inserted a monthly

pass or credit card in the meter, and rode off on their bikes. How all this was

organized was something I was curious about. What I found out was a weekly Velib

pass costs about 7 euros. Riders have to leave a $150 credit card deposit in case the

bike is not returned. I wondered how many bikes were not returned. Later, I found

out that wasn’t isn’t very many.

19

Use a noun clause as the subject or the object of the main verb in a sentence.

20

How this all was organized was something I was

curious about.

Use a noun clause as the subject or the object of the main verb in a sentence.

21

How this all was organized was something I was

curious about.

Noun clause - SUBJECT

Use a noun clause as the subject or the object of the main verb in a sentence.

22

How this all was organized was something I was

curious about.

I learned that bicycles were available for rent

everywhere.

Noun clause - SUBJECT

Use a noun clause as the subject or the object of the main verb in a sentence.

23

How this all was organized was something I was

curious about.

I learned that bicycles were available for rent

everywhere.

Noun clause - SUBJECT

Noun clause - OBJECT

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

24

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

25

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Normal question word order

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

26

I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for.

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Normal question word order

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

27

I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for.

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Normal question word order

Noun clause word order

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

28

I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for.

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Normal question word order

Noun clause word order

Do not use question word order in a noun clause.

29

I wondered how the Velib bikes were paid for.

I wondered. How were the Velib bikes paid for?

Normal question word order

Noun clause word order

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

30

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

31

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

32

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

33

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

34

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

35

(No noun clause.)

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

36

(No noun clause.)

1. My friend told me that she rented a bike in Paris.

2. That she was willing to ride a bike in the city traffic impressed me.

3. I wondered how she was able to rent the bike.

4. She told me that it was easy.

5. Where did you go to rent the bike?

6. She told me where she went to rent the bike.

7. I asked her what she paid to rent the bike.

Practice 1Find the noun clause. One sentence does not have a noun clause.

37

(No noun clause.)

I asked people at my hotel and found out how to get access to the

bicycles. The first half hour is free, and 96% of all rides are free of charge

because there are so many bike stations. Riders can choose when and

where to drop off the bikes. One rider said, “I use it everyday. I’m

retired, so I have a lot of free time, and I use it to visit Paris.” He

said that he changes bikes within the free 30-minute period, so he

never has to pay. All in all, I’m impressed that the Velib bicycle program

is going so well. It’s important that cities find ways to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

38

Use a question word followed by an infinitive to express either should or can/could.

39

I found out how I could get access to the bicycles.

Use a question word followed by an infinitive to express either should or can/could.

40

I found out how to get access to the bicycles.

I found out how I could get access to the bicycles.

Use a question word followed by an infinitive to express either should or can/could.

41

I found out how to get access to the bicycles.

I found out how I could get access to the bicycles.

Riders can choose when and where they should

drop off the bikes.

Use a question word followed by an infinitive to express either should or can/could.

42

Riders can choose when and where to drop off

the bikes.

I found out how to get access to the bicycles.

I found out how I could get access to the bicycles.

Riders can choose when and where they should

drop off the bikes.

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

43

Verb + that-clause

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

44

Verb + that-clause

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

45

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

46

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

47

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anjali is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

48

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anjali is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

49

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anjali is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

It + be + adjective + that-clause

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

50

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anjali is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

It + be + adjective + that-clause

It is important that cities find ways to cut down

on car traffic and air pollution.

Certain verbs and adjectives often come in front of that-noun clauses.

51

I think that it is a very good way to cut down on

car traffic and air pollution.

Verb + that-clause

Person + be + adjective + that-clause

Anjali is proud that the Velib bicycle program is

going so well.

It + be + adjective + that-clause

It is important that cities find ways to cut down

on car traffic and air pollution.

Use quotation marks before and after the exact words of a speaker.

52

I use it every day. I’m

retired, so I have a lot

of free time, and I use

it to visit Paris.

Use quotation marks before and after the exact words of a speaker.

53

The man said, “I use it everyday. I’m retired, so

I have a lot of free time, and I use it to visit

Paris.”

I use it every day. I’m

retired, so I have a lot

of free time, and I use

it to visit Paris.

Don’t use quotation marks in reported speech.

54

I change bikes within

the free 30 minutes,

so I never have to

pay.

He said that he changes bikes within the free

30-minute period, so he never has to pay.

Practice 2Complete the sentences with your own words. Use noun clauses.

55

1. Anjali found out __________________________.

2. Please tell me ___________________________.

3. Tom said _______________________________.

4. Do you know ____________________________?

5. He was surprised _________________________.

Interview a partner. Use a that-clause in your answers

56

1.What is something that you are sorry about in the

past?

2.What is something about science that amazes you?

3.What is something about school that annoys you?

4.What is something you are proud of?

5.What is something that you are relieved happened?

6.What is something that you are worried about for

the future?

CREDITS

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