Sentence Complexity and Embedding

Subordinate Noun Clauses

Activity 15.4: Noun Clause Structure

Each sentence below has a subordinate noun clause in it.  Draw a vertical line to separate the noun clause from the main clause.  Then consider what helped you decide where to draw the line.

1. We heard | that Lisa won the lottery.
2. We heard | whether Lisa won the lottery.
3. We heard | if Lisa won the lottery.

4. I asked | whether he liked fish.
5. I asked | if he liked fish.

6. She doubted | that I could lift a Hummer.
7. She doubted | whether I could lift a Hummer.
8. She doubted | if I could lift a Hummer.

9. That Lisa won the lottery | is untrue.

10. Whether he likes fish | is unimportant.
11. If he likes fish | is unimportant.

12. That I could lift a Hummer | surprised everyone.
13. If I could lift a Hummer | created great interest.
14. Whether I could lift a Hummer | generated a lot of speculation.

15. We talked about | whether we should see a movie.
16. We talked about | if we should see a movie.

17. That teacher gives grades according to | whether she likes a student.
18. That teacher gives grades according to | if she likes a student.

Rule:

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