noun clause

A noun clause is a dependent clause and cannot stand alone as a sentence.  It must be connected to an independent clause, a main clause. A noun clause has its own subject and verb. It can begin with a question word. It can begin with if or whether. And it can begin with that.  a) Noun clauses with question words: The following question words can be used to introduce a noun clause: when, where, why, how, who, whom, what, which, whose.  Example:  Answer this question using 'I don't know...' Where does Maria live? I don't know -------------. It is incorrect to say, "I don't know where does she live." Notice that "does she live" is a question form.  Noun clauses cannot be in question form; it has to be a statement. "I don't know where she lives" is the correct answer.  Noun clauses with who, what, whose + be: A noun or pronoun that follows main verb 'be' in a question comes in front of 'be' in a noun clause.  Example: --> Who is that boy? I don't know who that boy is. --> Whose pen is this? I don't know whose pen this is. A prepositional phrase does not come in front of 'be' in a noun clause.  Example: --> Who is in the office? I don't know who is in the office. --> Whose pen is on the desk? I don't know whose pen is on the desk. Notice that usual word order is not used when the question word is the subject of the question as in 'who' and 'what'.  In this case, the word order in the noun clause is the same as the word order in question. Be sure to complete the exercises in the assignments. b) Noun clauses, which begin with if or whether: When a yes/no question is changed to a noun clause, if is usually used to introduce the clause.   Example: --> Is Maria at home?                I don't know if Maria is at home. --> Does this bus go to Los Angeles?                I don't know if this bus goes to Los Angeles. --> Did Juan go to Mexico?                I wonder if Juan went to Mexico. Frequently, speakers may add 'or not'.  This comes at the end of the noun clause in sentences with 'if' and immediately after 'whether' in sentences with 'whether'. Example: --> I don't know if Maria is at home or not.  --> I don't know whether or not Maria is at home. Notice that we cannot use 'or not' immediately after 'if'. c) Noun clauses which begin with that:  A noun clause can be introduced by the word 'that'. --> I think that Ms. Weiss is a good teacher. In the sentence above, 'Ms. Weiss is a good teacher' is a noun clause. It is the object of the verb 'think'. That clauses are frequently used as the object of verbs which express mental activity. Here are some common verbs followed by 'that clauses'.  Assume that   believe that  discover that dream that Guess that    hear that     hope that     know that Learn that    notice that   predict that  prove that    Realize that  suppose that  suspect that  think that There are many more verbs that can be followed by "that" clause.  http://www.testyourenglish.net/english-online/subjects/nouncl1.html

Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled. There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Type 1

f + Simple Present, will-Future

Example: If I find her address, I will send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I will send her an invitation if I find her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Present und will-Future on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I don’t see him this afternoon, I will phone him in the evening.

Type 2

if + Simple Past, main clause with Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I would send her an invitation if I found her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Simple Past und Conditional I on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I had a lot of money, I wouldn’t stay here.

 

 

Were instead of Was

In IF Clauses Type II, we usually use ‚were‘ – even if the pronoun is I, he, she or it –.

Example: If I were you, I would not do this.

Type 3

if + Past Perfect, main clause with Conditional II

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

The main clause can also be at the beginning of the sentence. In this case, don't use a comma.

Example: I would have sent her an invitation if I had found her address.

Note: Main clause and / or if clause might be negative. See Past Perfect and Conditional II on how to form negative sentences.

Example: If I hadn’t studied, I wouldn’t have passed my exams.

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences