Patterns with noun clauses

 Thẩm Tâm Vy, Nov 9th, 2020 PATTERNS WITH NOUN CLAUSES 
PATTERNS WITH NOUN CLAUSES 
Pattern A. You know that we haven't any money 
1 A noun clause can be the object of a verb. 
 - Tim wouldn't say where he was going. 
 - No one believes (that) the project will go ahead. 
 - We regret that you did not find our product satisfactory. 
 - I wonder whether that's a good idea. 
NOTE 
 We can use a wh-clause or if/whether when the noun clause expresses a question or 
the answer to a question. 
 - I'll ask when the next train is. 
 - The figures show how much the population has increased. 
2. With think and believe, we usually put a negative in the main clause, not in the noun 
clause. 
 - I don't think we've got time. 
 - I think we haven't got time is less usual. 
 With suppose, imagine and expect, we can put the negative in either clause. 
 - I don't suppose you're used to this weather. 
 - I suppose you aren't used to this weather. 
3. Here are some verbs we can use before a noun clause. 
accept demonstrate mean reply 
add discover mention report 
advise doubt mind request 
agree dream notice reveal 
announce estimate object say 
answer expect observe see 
anticipate explain order show 
argue fear point out state 
arrange feel predict suggest 
ask find prefer suppose 
assume forecast presume suspect 
beg forget pretend swear 
believe guarantee promise teach 
check guess propose think 
claim hear protest threaten 
command hope prove understand 
complain imagine realize undertake 
confirm imply recognize urge 
consider indicate recommend warn 
decide insist regret wish 
declare know remark worry 
demand learn remember write 
 Some of these verbs can also take a to-infinitive or gerund. Some verbs take a to-
infinitive or gerund but not a noun clause, e.g. aim, avoid, finish, involve, offer, 
refuse. 
4. Sometimes there is a phrase with to. . . . 
 - We explained (to the driver) that we hadn't any money. 
 In this pattern, we can use announce, complain, confirm, declare, demonstrate, 
explain, imply, indicate, mention, observe, point out, pretend, propose, protest, prove, 
recommend, remark, report, reveal, show, state, suggest, swear, write. 
 Sometimes there is an indirect object. 
 - We told the driver that we hadn't any money. 
 In this pattern we can use advise, assure, convince, inform, notify, persuade, promise, 
reassure, remind, show, teach, tell, warn. 
 With most of these verbs we cannot leave out the indirect object. 
Pattern B. The problem is that we haven't any money 
 A noun clause can be a complement of BE. 
 - The truth is (that) I don't get on with myflat-mate. 
 - The difficulty was how Emma was going to find us in the crowd. 
Pattern C. That we haven't any money is a pity 
 We sometimes use a noun clause as subject. 
 - That everyone got back safely was a great relief. 
 - Which route would be best isn't obvious. 
 But it is more usual to use Pattern D. 
 We do not leave out that when the clause is the subject. 
 NOT Everyone got back safely was a great relief. 
NOTE 
 We can use whether (but not if) when the clause is the subject. 
 - Whether I'll be able to come depends on a number of things. 
Pattern D. It's a pity that we haven't any money 
 We often use the empty subject it. 
 - It was a great relief that everyone got back safely. 
 - It isn't obvious which route would be best. 
 Thẩm Tâm Vy, Nov 9th, 2020 PATTERNS WITH NOUN CLAUSES 
 - It's hard to say if/whether it's going to rain (or not). 
 - It's nice (that) you've got some time off work. 
NOTE 
1. We can also use the fact that or the idea that. 
 - The fact that everyone got back safely was a great relief. 
2. For it as empty object, 
 - I thought it obvious which route would be best. 
3. For it with seem, happen etc 
 - It seems (that) I've made a mistake. 
4. For the passive pattern 
 - It was decided that we should take this route. 
Pattern E. I'm interested in how we can earn some money. 
 A wh-clause or whether can come after a preposition. 
 - The government is looking into what needs to be done. 
 - He made no comment on whether a decision had been reached. 
 We cannot use if. 
 We cannot use a that-clause after a preposition. Compare these sentences. 
 - No one told me about Nicola's illness/about Nicola being ill. [a noun phrase] 
 - No one told me (that) Nicola was ill. 
NOTE 
 Sometimes we can leave out the preposition. 
 - I was surprised (at) how cold it was. 
 - There's the question (of) whether we should sign the form. 
 Other expressions are to ask (about), aware (of), to care (about), certain (of/about), 
conscious (of), curious (about), to decide (on/about), a decision (on/about), to depend 
(on), to inquire (about), an inquiry (about), to report (on/about), sure (of/about), to 
think (of/about), to wonder (about). 
 But with some expressions we cannot leave out the preposition. 
 - There was a discussion about when we should leave. 
Others are confused about, difficulty over/about, an effect on, an expert on, an 
influence on/over, interested in, a report on/about, research into, worried about. 
Pattern F. I'm afraid that we haven't any money. 
1. We can use a that-clause after some adjectives. 
 - I'm glad (that) you enjoyed the meal. 
 - We were worried (that) there were no life guards on duty. 
- Lucy was sure (that) she could identify her attacker. 
 Some adjectives in this pattern are: 
afraid convinced impatient 
amused delighted pleased 
annoyed determined proud 
anxious eager sorry 
aware glad sure 
certain happy surprised 
confident horrified willing conscious 
NOTE 
 We can often use should. 
 - I was surprised that Tom should be so upset over nothing. 
 - The organizers were anxious that nothing should go wrong. 
2. We can use a wh-clause after sure and certain. 
 - I wasn't sure when the visitors would arrive. 
 After some adjectives we can use how or what expressing an exclamation. 
 - I was surprised how upset Tom seemed. 
 - Melissa was aware what a difficult task she faced. 
Pattern G. The fact that we haven't any money is a problem 
We can use a that-clause after some nouns, mainly ones expressing speech or thought. 
 - The news that the plane had crashed came as a terrible shock. 
 - You can't get around the fact that it's against the law. 
 - Whatever gave you the idea that I can sing? 
 - I heard a rumour that there's been a leak ofradioactivity. 
 We do not usually leave out that in this pattern.