UNIT 4

 READING FOR PLEASURE

GRAMMAR 1 

NOUN CLAUSES

A noun clause is a clause that plays the role of a noun. 

Noun clauses are a kind of subordinate clause that functions as a noun. They have a subject and a verb, but unlike a regular clause, it does not express a complete thought. Noun clauses usually begin with words such as "what," "why," "who," "when," "how," or "that," and can be used to provide more information about a noun in the sentence.

A noun clause can be introduced by that

Example

I didn’t know that he wrote this book.

I think that Isabel Allende’s novels are fantastic.

GRAMMAR 2

NOUN CAUSES: EMBEDDED QUESTIONS

Embedded questions, also known as noun clauses, can sound more polite (softer) than a direct question. Compare:

Direct Question: What are you doing?

Embedded Question: Could you tell me what you are doing?