Corso di Laurea:

Insegnamento:
n° Lezione:
Titolo:

LINGUA INGLESE 4

LESSON 25

In this lesson, you will focus on noun clauses. You also have the audio
track. Listen to it in order to improve your pronunciation and memorize
the grammar.

Noun Clauses
A noun clause is a dependent clause that acts as a noun. It can be used
as the subject, direct object, indirect object, object of a preposition,
subject complement, or appositive.

Subject: What I had thought was that my son wanted a new jacket.
Direct object: You must choose which job to apply for.
Indirect object: I will answer whoever will ask.
Object of a preposition: We are not interested in whatever you say.
Subject complement: His excuse was that he had lost my number.
Appositive: It seems to bother the coach that all the athletes were
already tired.

It can also be used as an adverbial noun (an adverbial objective or

adjective complement), which is a noun that acts like an adverb
modifying a verb, an adjective, or an adverb.
I’m afraid that we won’t produce that mascara anymore.

Noun clauses often begin with pronouns, subordinating conjunctions,

or other words. The introductory word generally has a grammatical
function in the sentence.

Relative pronouns: that, which, who, whom, whose, what

Indefinite relative pronouns: whoever, whomever, whatever,
whichever, whether, if
Interrogative pronoun: who
Interrogative adjective: what
Interrogative adverb: how
Subordinating conjunctions: how, if, when, whenever, where, whether,
why
NOTE!
Whoever is responsible for this accident will pay for it. (Whoever is Pag.
the subject of the verb is responsible.)
Whomever you hit accidentally deserves an apology. (Whomever is
the direct object of the verb hit).

Some noun clauses, especially those used as subjects, begin with that,
which seems to serve no function. It makes sense if you include the
fact or the idea before it. Some modern English constructions that
seem to make no sense are the result of our dropping words:

That we were late to the party made Patricia really angry.

The fact that we were late to the party made Patricia really angry.

Question clauses
In a noun clause, even if the main clause is a question, the dependent
clause is written as a declarative:

Where is Ann? → Do you know where Ann is? (NOT Do you know
where is Ann?)
When did you make that? → We all asked when you made that. (NOT
We all asked when did you do that)

Let’s move now to the Focused practice section. The exercises offer you the
chance to practice what you’ve learned so far about the use of noun clauses.

Keys to exercise 1
A. What wasn’t so admirable was the rivalry among the three. S
What the sons wanted was a secure place in their mother’s affections. S
That the boys were intensely competitive had always bothered the lady. S
They didn’t understand that their mother loved each boy for his own uniqueness.
O
The boys realized that their mother’s final days were approaching. O
Each searched for a way to prove he was the best son. O
Each boy promised to buy her whatever she wanted. O
He was sure that the mansion would be the very best thing any of them could
give her. C
B. Each brother was constantly trying to figure out how he could outdo the other
two.
Direct question: How could he outdo the other two? . . . but she didn’t know
what to do about it.
Direct question: What should / could she do about it?
Curly, son number three, was in a dilemma, wondering what he could do to top
the gifts of the other two brothers.
Direct question: What could he do to top the gifts of the other two brothers?
One could ask the parrot whatever one wanted to know.
Direct question: What did one want to know? I don’t know if you believed me,
though, when I said that I didn’t need anything.
Direct question: Did you believe me? I don’t know what you mean, son.
Direct question: What do you mean?
Keys to exercise 2
2. what the name of the nearest town was
3. if there was a telephone booth nearby
4. if there were any towing companies
5. if he knew
6. how long he had lived
7. what his name was
8. if he knew anything at all

Useful vocabulary of exercise 2

tow: to pull a vehicle or ship along behind another vehicle using a rope or
chain.

Keys to exercise 3
A. Possible answers:
1. What is a pun? I don’t know what a pun is.
2. What does hyperbole mean? I have no idea what hyperbole means.
3. What is the humor of the unexpected happening? I’m not sure what the humor
of the unexpected happening is.
4. How does repetition work in humor? I’m not entirely sure how repetition
works in humor.
5. What is the humor of the incongruous situation? I don’t have a clue what the
humor of the incongruous situation is.
6. How does sarcasm differ from other humor? I don’t know how sarcasm differs
from other humor.
7. Why is it impossible to tickle yourself? I’m not sure why it is impossible to
tickle yourself.
8. What are endorphins? I have no clue what endorphins are.
B. Possible answers:
1. What is a pun? A pun is a kind of humor that depends on similarities in sound
or meaning between two words.
2. What does hyperbole mean? Hyperbole means exaggeration.
3. What is the humor of the unexpected happening? An example of the
unexpected happening is when a woman opens her purse, and a bird flies out of it.
4. How does repetition work in humor? Repetition works by repeating an element
in a humorous story.
5. What is the humor of the incongruous situation? The humor of the incongruous
situation depends on normal things happening in unusual places.
6. How does sarcasm differ from other humor? Sarcasm is often more biting and
hurtful than other humor.
7. Why is it impossible to tickle yourself? It is thought that we must perceive
tickling as a pretended attack by someone. However, our brain is aware of itself.
8. What are endorphins? Endorphins are hormones that are created in the brain
when we laugh or exercise.

Keys to exercise 4
Possible answers:
1. Honk if you’re illiterate: What’s funny about this is that anyone who is
illiterate couldn’t read the bumper sticker.
2. If you don’t like the way I drive, stay off the sidewalk: What this is referring to
is some people’s tendency to drive wildly—even going onto the sidewalk.
3. Missing: Husband and Dog. Attention: $100 reward for dog: What’s funny
about this is the fact that some wives like to joke about their animals being more
valuable than their husbands.
4. Change is inevitable—except for vending machines: What the humor depends
on is the pun on the meaning of change. Change means “alteration in
circumstances” or “excess money returned when one makes a purchase.” Vending
machines sometimes do not return change correctly or at all.
5. I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to work: What this is about is the feeling on
the part of some employees that work is not satisfying or fulfilling.
6. Everyone is entitled to my opinion: What the humor depends on is the similar
saying, “Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion.”
7. Forget about world peace. Visualize using your turn signal: What the humor
depends on is a commonly seen bumper sticker that says “Visualize World
Peace.” This bumper sticker asks people to think of less grand things than world
peace (while driving) and concentrate on driving properly.
8. Eschew obfuscation: What the humor depends on is knowing the meanings of
eschew and obfuscation. Eschew is a fancy word for “avoid.” Obfuscation is a
fancy way to say “making things confusing.”

Useful vocabulary of exercise 4

inevitable: certain to happen and impossible to avoid.
eschew: to deliberately avoid doing, using, or having something.
obfuscation: deliberately making something unclear or difficult to
understand.

Useful vocabulary of exercise 5

vulgar: dealing with or talking about sex and body wastes in a way
people think is disgusting and not socially acceptable
punch line: the last few words of a joke or story that make it funny or
surprising.
animated: showing a lot of interest and energy.

Keys to exercise 5
1. Make sure is the joke you’re telling is funny.
2. The best jokes are broad enough so that everyone can enjoy them. Be
certain that no what one will be embarrassed by that which you tell.
3. Also make certain that whichever whatever you’re saying won’t
embarrass anyone.
4. Ask yourself is if the joke you want to tell is vulgar. If it is, don’t tell it.
5. Before you begin, be certain you remember what the key details are are
the key details. Run through them in your mind before you start speaking.
6. Make sure that what you have everybody’s attention when you’re ready to
start.
7. Be certain that whether you remember what the punch line of the joke is.
Nothing is worse than listening to a joke when the teller can’t remember the
punch line.
 8. The fact (that) you can can you remember a joke doesn’t guarantee
success. You have to make the experience a performance. Be animated and
dramatic.
9. Whether (or not) If to laugh at your own jokes is always a question. Many
comedians are criticized because they laugh at their own jokes. Don’t laugh
at what you’re saying. Let others do the laughing.

Keys to exercise 6
Suggested answers:
2. The expectation is that you’ll laugh, whether you think the joke is funny or not.
3. If you don’t laugh, everyone thinks you’re no fun.
4. The other problem is that you’re forced to be dishonest.
5. He feels like he’s stupid.
6. The problem was that they were leaving lip prints all over the mirror.
7. The principal of the school decided that something had to be done about the
problem.
8. The principal wanted to show the girls how difficult it was to clean the mirror.

Keys to exercise 7
Possible answers:
2. People like to be called by their names, and it’s good for business.
3. You need to notice one particular thing about a person and link that thing with
the person’s name.
4. The visitor told them to put their hands up.
5. a. The man had a toy gun. b. The leader didn’t act like this was an interruption.
6. It’s not the usual way to say good-bye.
7. They have to learn to focus their attention consistently.

Useful vocabulary of exercise 7

aviation: the science or practice of flying aircraft.
controller: someone at an airport who gives instructions to pilots by
radio about where and when they can leave the ground or come down
to the ground.
cargo: the goods being carried in a ship, airplane, truck, etc.
cargo hold: the part of a ship or a plane where goods are stored.
pound: a place where dogs and cats that are found on the street are
kept until someone comes to get them.
handler: someone whose job it is to deal with a particular type of
object, especially to move it or lift it.
gauge: an instrument for measuring the amount, size, or speed of
something.

Note! The keys of exercises 7-9 are missing: you can fill the gaps using
your imagination. Let your creativity work!

Now, let’s write!

DISCUSSION TOPIC: Do you know any famous couple of siblings?
Perhaps you could talk about famous siblings in movies or books. Try to
brainstorm your ideas about the topic and expose them, since you
may be asked to do it during your oral exam.