TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Do you know what a noun clause is?

Activity Type Introduction

Grammar Exercises:
Here is a noun clauses worksheet for upper-intermediate students.
identifying, gap-fill,
unscrambling, writing
sentences, matching Procedure

Give each student a copy of the two-page worksheet.

Focus
First, students identify noun clauses in sentences and then
Noun clauses indicate whether each noun clause acts as a subject, an object,
or functions as a compliment.

Aim Exercise A - Answer key

To practice noun clauses.
1. that it was Friday, C 4. who she is, O
2. what you said, S 5. whatever you do, S
Preparation 3. that he is a doctor, O 6. that he was right, C

Make one copy of the Next, students complete each noun clause sentence with a
two-page worksheet for subordinator from a box. Each subordinator can be used more
each student. than once.

Exercise B - Answer key

Level
Upper-intermediate (B2) 1. that 8. that
2. whoever 9. why
3. where 10. what
Time 4. who 11. that
5. whether 12. whether / if
30 minutes 6. how 13. what
7. if / whether 14. what

Students then put words in order to make noun clause sentences,

adding a suitable subordinator.

Exercise C - Answer key

1. Nobody knew whether he would come or not.

2. What he said was very hurtful.
3. I wish I knew how to use this washing machine.
4. Sara can date whomever she chooses.

(continued on the next page)

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 TEACHER’S NOTES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Do you know what a noun clause is?

Activity Type Procedure continued

Grammar Exercises:
After that, students combine each pair of sentences to form a
identifying, gap-fill,
sentence that contains a noun clause. The new sentences should
unscrambling, writing
retain the original meaning.
sentences, matching
Exercise D - Answer key
Focus
1. How he spoke to me was not very polite.
Noun clauses 2. We couldn't believe that school was cancelled.
3. We weren't sure whether / if we should tell her.
4. She didn't say how she'd broken her wrist.
Aim 5. John now understands that you shouldn’t cheat on a test.
6. I said he could bring whoever he wanted.
To practice noun clauses.
Lastly, students match sentence halves together and add a
suitable subordinator to complete each sentence.
Preparation
Make one copy of the Exercise E - Answer key
two-page worksheet for
each student. 1. b, why / that 5. c, whoever
2. g, wherever 6. h, that
3. a, when 7. d, whatever
Level 4. e, where / that 8. f, that
Upper-intermediate (B2)

Time
30 minutes

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 NOUN CLAUSES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Do you know what a noun clause is?

Noun clauses are dependent clauses that work as nouns in a sentence. They always begin with
a subordinator, (e.g. that, if, whether, who, whoever, whatever, whenever, etc.), and contain
a subject and a verb. Noun clauses can be used in either the first or second part of a sentence,
and can be used in the following ways:

As the subject of a sentence: What he did made her angry.

As the object of a sentence: You can do whatever you want.

As a compliment: She was upset that he had betrayed her.

A. Underline the noun clause in each sentence. Write 'S' next to the sentences where
the noun clause is the subject, 'O' where it is the object, and 'C' where it functions as
a compliment.

.......... 1. I didn't realise that it was Friday. .......... 4. I don't know who she is.

.......... 2. What you said makes no sense. .......... 5. Whatever you do is fine by me.

.......... 3. Everyone knows that he is a doctor. .......... 6. He believed that he was right.

B. Complete each noun clause sentence with a subordinator from the box. Each
subordinator can be used more than once.

who what where that why whoever how whether if

1. Nobody realised ....................... the snake had escaped.

2. ....................... did this will be punished.

3. I couldn't remember ....................... I'd left it.

4. The girl with the short hair is ....................... I want on my team.

5. He couldn't decide ....................... to accept the offer or not.

6. I saw ....................... the accident happened.

7. We weren't sure ....................... it would work.

8. He kept insisting ....................... it was my fault.

9. Nobody could understand ....................... he'd done it.

10. Do you know ....................... time it is?

11. We were shocked when we found out ....................... he'd been lying.

12. Bill didn't know ....................... he should tell the teacher.

13. ....................... he did was very irresponsible.

14. I don’t understand ....................... the teacher is saying.

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 NOUN CLAUSES

WORKSHEETS, ACTIVITIE S & GA ME S Do you know what a noun clause is?

C. Put the words in order to make sentences, adding a suitable subordinator below.

whomever how what whether

1. ...............................................................................................................................
(nobody / not / knew / he / come / or / would)

2. ...............................................................................................................................
(he / said / very / was / hurtful)

3. ...............................................................................................................................
(this / I / I / wish / knew / to / use / washing machine)

4. ...............................................................................................................................
(date / can / Sara / chooses / she)

D. Combine each pair of sentences to form one noun clause sentence.

1. ..............................................................................................................................
He spoke to me. It was not very polite.

2. ...............................................................................................................................
School was cancelled. We couldn't believe it.

3. ...............................................................................................................................
Should we tell her? We weren't sure.

4. ...............................................................................................................................
She'd broken her wrist. She didn't say how.

5. ...............................................................................................................................
You shouldn't cheat on a test. John now understands.

6. ...............................................................................................................................
I said he could bring someone. It didn't matter who.

E. Match the sentence halves and add a suitable subordinator to each sentence.

1. Jim didn't tell us ....... a. ....................... she went to Disneyland.

2. He carries his passport ....... b. ....................... he'd quit the team.

3. Ann's best memory was ....... c. should clean it up.

4. They didn't tell me ....... d. ....................... you like.

5. ....................... made this mess ....... e. ....................... they were going.

6. Sara didn't tell me ....... f. ....................... he is very considerate.

7. You can order ....... g. ....................... he goes.

8. Pierre's best quality is ....... h. ....................... she was married.

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