Noun Clause grammar exercises worksheet for language learners.

Let's solve Exercise 1 and Exercise 2 step by step, focusing on noun clauses — which are dependent clauses that function as nouns in a sentence. These often follow verbs like *say, think, know, wonder*, etc., and usually begin with question words (*what, when, where, why, how*) or *that*.

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## ✔ Exercise 1: Identify the errors in the following sentences and correct them

1. Excuse me. May I ask if how old are you?

- ✘ Error: "if how old are you?" is incorrect word order.
- ✔ Correction: Excuse me. May I ask how old you are?
> Explanation: In noun clauses, we use statement word order, not question form. So “how old are you” → “how old you are”.

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2. I wonder did Rashed pick up something for dinner?

- ✘ Error: "did Rashed" uses question form instead of statement form.
- ✔ Correction: I wonder if Rashed picked up something for dinner.
> Explanation: After *wonder*, we use a noun clause with subject-verb order: "Rashed picked up..." (not "did Rashed...").

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3. I'm unsure what does Lawrence do for a living.

- ✘ Error: Incorrect word order in the noun clause.
- ✔ Correction: I'm unsure what Lawrence does for a living.
> Explanation: Noun clauses use subject + verb order: "what Lawrence does", not "what does Lawrence do".

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4. Fernando said, “the best time for me to meet would be Thursday morning.”

- ✘ Error: Missing capitalization and quotation marks; also, direct speech needs proper punctuation.
- ✔ Correction: Fernando said, “The best time for me to meet would be Thursday morning.”
> Explanation: The first word inside quotes should be capitalized. Also, it's fine as direct speech, but ensure grammar is correct.

Alternatively, indirect speech:
> Fernando said that the best time for him to meet would be Thursday morning.

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5. Eriko said to me was I coming to the graduation party. I say her that I wasn't.

- ✘ Errors: Mixed structure, incorrect verb tense, wrong pronoun use.
- ✔ Correction: Eriko asked me if I was coming to the graduation party. I told her that I wasn’t.
> Explanation:
> - “said to me was I coming” → This is ungrammatical.
> - Use asked for questions.
> - “I say her” → Should be I told her (past tense).
> - Use if to introduce the yes/no question in reported speech.

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6. I hope so that I will do well on my final exams.

- ✘ Error: “so that” is used incorrectly here.
- ✔ Correction: I hope that I will do well on my final exams.
> Explanation: “So that” means “in order that”, implying purpose. Here, it's just expressing a wish. So use hope that.

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7. Antonio asked his mother what does she want for her birthday?

- ✘ Error: Question word order in the noun clause.
- ✔ Correction: Antonio asked his mother what she wanted for her birthday.
> Explanation: In reported speech, use statement order: “what she wanted”, not “what does she want”.

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8. I'm not sure if the price include sales tax.

- ✘ Error: Subject-verb agreement error (“include” vs. “price”).
- ✔ Correction: I'm not sure if the price includes sales tax.
> Explanation: “Price” is singular → “includes”.

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9. My mother said to me that."How many hours you spent on your homework?"

- ✘ Errors: Quotation mark placement, missing capitalization, incorrect word order.
- ✔ Correction: My mother said to me, “How many hours did you spend on your homework?”
> Or in indirect speech: My mother asked me how many hours I had spent on my homework.
> Explanation: Direct speech must have proper punctuation and word order. Indirect speech changes to past tense and statement form.

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10. Pedro asked is that OK? (2 answers: direct and indirect speech)

- ✔ Direct: Pedro asked, “Is that OK?”
- ✔ Indirect: Pedro asked if that was OK.
> Explanation: Convert yes/no question to if/whether in indirect speech.

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11. Mika told she would going to stay home today.

- ✘ Errors: Missing object pronoun, incorrect verb form ("going").
- ✔ Correction: Mika told me that she would be going to stay home today.
> Explanation:
> - “Told” requires an object: “told me”.
> - “Would going” → “would be going” (future continuous).

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12. I'd like to know how do you do that.

- ✘ Error: Question word order in noun clause.
- ✔ Correction: I’d like to know how you do that.
> Explanation: Use statement order: “how you do that”, not “how do you do that”.

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13. My parents knew what did Sam and I do.

- ✘ Error: Incorrect word order and double subject.
- ✔ Correction: My parents knew what Sam and I did.
> Explanation: Use statement order: “what Sam and I did”. No need for auxiliary verb “did” at the beginning.

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14. Beth said she had working hard all week but now had some time off.

- ✘ Error: Verb form — “had working” is incorrect.
- ✔ Correction: Beth said she had been working hard all week but now had some time off.
> Explanation: “Had working” → should be had been working (past perfect continuous).

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15. Is a fact that life always changes.

- ✘ Error: Missing subject.
- ✔ Correction: It is a fact that life always changes.
> Explanation: Use “It is a fact that…” as a common expression.

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## ✔ Exercise 2: Complete the question and noun clause forms

We’ll complete each sentence using both question form and noun clause form (reported speech).

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1. Marcos left at 11:00 – When ________?

- Question: When did Marcos leave?
- Noun clause: I don’t know when Marcos left.

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2. He said good-bye – What ________?

- Question: What did he say?
- Noun clause: I didn’t hear what he said.

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3. The post office is on Second Street – Where ________?

- Question: Where is the post office?
- Noun clause: Could you please tell me where the post office is?

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4. It’s half-past six – What time ________?

- Question: What time is it?
- Noun clause: Could you please tell me what time it is?

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5. David arrived two days ago – When ________?

- Question: When did David arrive?
- Noun clause: I don’t know when David arrived.

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6. Anna is from Peru – What country ________?

- Question: What country is Anna from?
- Noun clause: I’d like to know what country Anna is from.

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7. Kathy was absent because she was ill – Why ________?

- Question: Why was Kathy absent?
- Noun clause: Do you know why Kathy was absent?

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8. Pedro lives next door – Who ________?

- Question: Who lives next door?
- Noun clause: Do you know who lives next door?

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9. Eric invited Sonya to the party – Whom ________?

- Question: Whom did Eric invite to the party?
- Noun clause: Do you know whom Eric invited to the party?

> Note: “Whom” is formal; “who” is acceptable in modern English.

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10. The Bakers borrowed our camping equipment – Who ________?

- Question: Who borrowed our camping equipment?
- Noun clause: Do you remember who borrowed our camping equipment?

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11. The restrooms are located down the hall – Where ________?

- Question: Where are the restrooms located?
- Noun clause: Could you please tell me where the restrooms are located?

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## 📌 Summary of Key Rules Used:

| Rule | Example |
|------|--------|
| Noun clauses after verbs (know, wonder, hope) use statement order | "I wonder what she wants." ✔ (not "what does she want") |
| Reported speech changes tense and word order | “She said, ‘I am tired.’” → “She said that she was tired.” |
| Yes/no questions become if/whether in reported speech | “Do you like it?” → “He asked if I liked it.” |
| Wh-questions keep the wh-word but change to statement order | “Where is it?” → “She asked where it was.” |
| Subject-verb agreement must be correct | “The price includes” (not “include”) |
| Use “it is a fact that…” for general truths | “It is a fact that life changes.” |

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