Noun Clauses and Auxiliaries Advanced Level MCQs Test With Answers 2

The gap starts a noun clause about a place: they went somewhere for their honeymoon, so we use where. What doesn't fit because nothing is missing after went.

Explain why introduces a reason: the high pound is the reason manufacturers are suffering. How long would ask about time, which makes no sense here.

After notice we use that to introduce a full statement: notice that your daughter is very talented. What can't be used because the clause is already complete.

A noun clause beginning with Whether can be the subject of a sentence: Whether we rent the shop again is the subject of depends. It shows two possibilities (we rent it or we don't).

We spend an amount of money, so the question word is how much. How often or how long don't go with spending money on flowers here.

How + adjective describes a degree: I realized how selfish Mike is (= that he is very selfish). Not what, because what cannot come directly before an adjective like selfish.

Explain why asks for a reason: the salesman should explain the reason they bought from the competitors. Where doesn't fit because the place (from our competitors) is already given.

Whether introduces an indirect yes/no question: Will the trains be running normally? → I'd like to know whether the trains will be running normally. What and which need a missing noun or object, and nothing is missing here.

Explain how asks about the process or way something happens: how glaciers were formed. Not however, which means 'in whatever way' or 'but' and cannot introduce this noun clause.

Which + noun asks about one of a limited group: which department. Not where, because where cannot come before a noun, and in already shows the place.

Whenever means 'every time that': she buys one every time she sees one for sale. Whichever would need a noun or a choice between things, which doesn't fit here.

The clause asks What is the purpose?, so we use what: I can't see what the purpose is. Not why, because the word purpose already expresses the reason.

The person is the object of the preposition to: send my letter to someone. In formal English the object form is whom: whom I should send it to. What is for things, not people.

I'm not sure whether introduces an indirect yes/no question: Is the branch manager the right person? Not whom, because the clause already has its subject (the branch manager).

People is a countable plural noun, so we ask about the number with how many. Not how much, which is used with uncountable nouns such as money or time.

What to do is a question word + infinitive meaning 'what we should do'. Where to do is wrong because the verb do needs an object, and what gives it one.

Whether introduces an indirect yes/no question: Will this sweater fit? → I'm not sure whether it will fit. How would ask about the way, which doesn't match the next sentence about size.

The present perfect have starved goes with since + a starting point in the past: since the drought started. Not when, because a past when-clause needs the past simple (died when the drought started), not the present perfect.

Which + noun asks about one choice from a group: which month of the year. When is also about time, but it cannot come directly before a noun like month.

The fact that + full clause works as the subject of a sentence: The fact that the road is closed is the subject of has meant. Not Whether or not, because the road being closed is a known fact, not one of two possibilities.

For the last few weeks plus a continuing action points to the present perfect continuous: have been working. The illness is happening now, so the noun clause uses the present continuous: what is causing it. The future forms don't fit a current situation.

The police were investigating in the past, and the gate was left open even earlier, the night before the robbery. For an action that happened before another past time, we use the past perfect: who had left the gate open. Not was left, because a passive verb cannot have an object (the gate) after it.

Your recovery comes in the future, after the operation, so we use will determine. The noun clause How you look after yourself is the subject. Not is determined, because the passive would need an agent and makes no sense with the object whether you recover.

Today shows present ability: a secretary can accomplish the work in hours. 50 years ago shows a past situation that is no longer true: it used to take days. Could accomplish / takes reverses the time references.

The main idea is about the future, so we use will be able. After the time word when, we use the present simple for the future: when I go there next month. Not am / will go, because will is not used after when in time clauses.

In the pattern It has been claimed/said/reported, a full statement follows with that: It has been claimed that…. Not if, because if introduces doubt or a yes/no question, not a reported statement.

Powder is uncountable, so we ask about the amount with how much. Not how few, which goes with plural countable nouns.

Lose count of means you can no longer remember the number. Times is countable, so we say how many times. Not how much, which goes with uncountable nouns.

Whose + noun asks who owns something: whose bag this is. Not which, because the speaker wants to know the owner, not to choose one bag from a group.

Which + noun asks about one choice from a group: which channel. The second gap is about a place, where I put the newspaper. In the other options, either the first or the second word doesn't fit.

Grumble means to complain in an unhappy way, and it fits a bad job by the builders: She grumbled that the work was terrible. Not predicted, because the job had already been done (had made).

Suspect that means to believe something is probably true without proof yet: The police suspected that the fire had been started deliberately. Not estimated, which is used for numbers and amounts.

Whenever means 'every time that': they eat there every time they go shopping. Not wherever, because the place (in Shrewsbury) is already given.

Argue that means to give reasons for an opinion: the professor argued that the nutritionist was not neutral. Not wondered, which is followed by if/whether, not that.

The former dancers performed fifty years ago, so they can remember how the dance was done, which is lucky for the producer. Not predict, which is about the future.

Claim that means to say something is true when others may not believe it, which suits a defendant: He claimed that he acted in self-defence. Not suspected, because a person knows his own reasons and doesn't just suspect them.

Behave is about manner, so we use how: that is how I want you to behave (= the way). Not what, because behave doesn't take an object.

Whether … or not shows two possibilities. After a preposition like depends on, we must use whether, not if: It depends on whether you like her. If cannot follow a preposition.

Whichever + noun means 'it doesn't matter which one': whichever charity you support. Not whoever, because it cannot come before a noun like charity.

Guess that + full statement: I guessed that my present was a cassette. The clause is complete, so what or which cannot be used.

Be posted means to be sent to work in a particular place, so the question is about place: where she will be posted. Not what, because nothing is missing after posted.

We are allergic to something, and the clause has no object after to, so we need what: find out what she is allergic to. Where or why cannot be the object of to.

Fear that means to worry that something bad will happen, which is why the fans were sent home. Not hoped, because nobody wants violence to escalate.

Stipulate means to state clearly as a rule or condition, usually in a law or contract: The law stipulates that cars must be tested. Not threatens, which is about warning of harm.

Indicate that means to show or suggest something, often from evidence or data: The results indicated that…. Not assumed, because only people can assume. Results are evidence, not opinions.