NTUT Academic Writing (III)

1. NTUT Academic Writing (III) “Noun Clauses”

2. A NOUN CLAUSE is a dependent clause and is used as the object of an Introductory Verb (Statement: say, tell, report) (Question: know, believe wonder).

3. Three Types of Noun Clauses: • ※That-clauses: made from statements and introduced by the • subordinator that. • Ex. The bulletin states that lab attendance is mandatory. • ※Wh-word clauses: formed from wh-questions and introduced by • the wh-words such as who, whoever, what, whatever, where, • wherever, when, which, how, how much, how many, etc. • Ex. I don’t know where the student cafeteria is. • Do you know which answer is correct? • The professor explained how sound waves are formed. • ※If/whether-clauses: formed from yes/no questions and introduced • by the Subordinator whether or if. • Ex. I don’t know whether (or not) I should take computer science • (or not). • An engineer determines if the measurements are correct (or not).

4. ※Simple rules of punctuation in noun clauses: • 1. NO COMMA is used to separate the • introductory clause from the noun clause. • 2. The introductory clause (statement or question) • DETERMINES the punctuation. • 3. The verb in the introductory clause CONTROLS the • tense of the verb in the Noun clause. (The verb tense • in the noun clause accords with the Intention of the • introductory clause when the latter is in simple • present, present perfect, future. )

5. ※Test Yourselves: • The prime minister agree that global warming (be) a serious world problem. • They hope that all nations (be) responsible for solving this serious problem. • Scientists believe that atmospheric warming already (begin). • Measurements have indicated that the average temperature of the earth (rise) in the past one hundred years. • Further research will prove that carbon dioxide (be) largely responsible.

6. ※Be Aware: • When the verb in the introductory clause is in the past tense, the verb in the noun clause is usually in a past form. • Exception: The verb in the noun clause is in the PRESENT tense when it reports a GENERAL truth. (We knew that food cooks more slowly at high elevations.)

7. ※Test Yourselves: • The prime minister agreed that global warming (be) a serious world problem. • They hoped that all nations (be) responsible for solving this serious problem. • Scientists believed that atmospheric warming already (begin). • Measurements indicated that the average temperature of the earth (rise) in the past • one hundred years. • Further research proved that carbon dioxide (be) largely responsible.

8. ※That-Clauses: • 1. Basic structure:

9. 2. Introductory Clause Verbs:

10. Examples: • (G I): We know that women have higher verbal IQs than men. • (G II): The defense attorney proved (to the jury) that his client was not guilty. • (G III): The doctor assured the worried parents that their child would recover. • (G IV): He promised (them) that they could see their child immediately after the operation. • Introductory clause verbs are often written in passive voice with a neutral subject it. • Ex. It was agreed/stated that… It has been asserted/proven that…

11. ※Test Yourselves: • Ex. Researchers (know/assert/agree) that men’s and women’s • brains are different. • It (has been proven) that men’s and women’s brains are different. • 1. Expert ____ women learn languages more easily than men do. • 2. They ­­­____ a certain area of the brain controls language. • 3. A recent study ____ women have more brain cells in the • language area than men do. • 4. In the report, it ___ women are not more intelligent than men just • because they have more cells in the brain’s language area. • 5. It ___ men and women have different abilities involving spatial • tasks; for example, men can read maps more easily, but women • can remember the location of objects better. • 6. It ___ men are, in general, better at math and reasoning than • women.

12. 3. Subjunctive Moods Noun Clauses: • Purposes: urgency, advisability, necessity, and desirability.

13. Examples: • The company president urged that the sales department be more aggressive. • She insisted that the company not lose any more customers to its competitors. • It is necessary that each salesperson work longer hours. (The introductory clause verb can also be written in passive voice): • It was recommended that the department not hire new staff at this time.

14. ※Test Yourselves: • Ex. What did the government order? Citizens must decrease their water use; they should not waste water. • 1. What did the government demand? Each family must reducer its water use by 40 percent. • 2. What is necessary? All citizens must comply with the new restrictions. • 3. What did the government propose for city-dwellers? Everyone must Take care five-minute showers. • 4. What is advisable? People should conserve water whenever possible. • 5. What has been demanded of farmers? Farmers should cut their water use by 25 percent. • 6. What was suggested? Every farmer should install a drip irrigation system. • 7. What did the government urge? People must not use water to wash cars, sidewalks, or streets.

15. ※Wh-Word Clauses: • (who/what/where/why/how much/which, etc.) • 1. The basic structure: (wh-word + subject + verb + complement) • Ex. … who the president of South Africa is. • … how many citizens voted in the last election. • (when the wh-word and the subject of the clause are the same word) • Ex. …who made the error. … what happened at the committee.

16. 2. To change a wh-question into a wh-word clause:

17. 3. Test Yourselves : • Ex. Who plays lead guitar in the band Behind Bars? • We don’t know who plays lead guitar in the band Behind Bars. • A. Which company produces their CDs? • We ask the store manager _________________________. • B. Where will their next concert be held? • They will announce tomorrow ___________________. • C. When did they last perform in Europe? • I remember very clearly ___________________. • D. Which of their songs do you like the best? • I can’t really ______________. • E. What happened to their female vocalist? • They agent wouldn’t reveal __________________. • F. Who was Pablo Picasso? Do you know ______________? • G. Where was he born? Do you know _________________? • H. Where did he live most of his life? Do you know _____________? • I. Who was his favorite model? Do you know __________?

18. ※If/Whether-Clauses: • Basic structure: (whether [if] + subject + verb + complement) • Ex. … whether the airplane landed safely. … whether he will win the race again.

19. 1. To change a yes/no question into an if/whether-clause: • Tips: (SV statement; delete help verbs; add if/whether; “or not” is optional)

20. 2. Complex sentences using if/whether clauses:

21. 3. Test Yourselves: • A. Is acupuncture a risky medical procedure? Westerners would like to know ______________. • B. Do acupuncture needles relieve pain after dental surgery? • Please tell me _______________. • C. Has the safety of acupuncture, which is practiced widely in Asia and Europe, ever been tested? • A new report hadn’t revealed __________________. • D. Can acupuncture strengthen your immune system? • It is not certain _________________.

22. ※Review

23. Notes on Tenses • The sequence of tenses rules when writing a complex sentence with a noun clause: • 1. If the introductory clause verb is in the present, present perfect, or future tense, the verb in the noun clause can be in any tense (depending on the “intention” of the introductory clause). • 2. If the introductory clause verb is in past tense, the verb in the noun clause must be in a past tense unless it states a general truth.

24. ※Editing Practice:

25. Reference: • Longman, Wesley Addison. Writing Academic English. 3rd Ed. NY: Pearson Education, 1999.