Noun Clauses Test Exercises – Multiple Choice Questions With Answers – Advanced Level 13

A noun clause can be the subject of a sentence. A mystery is something we can't explain, so the missing information is the reason: Why they didn't attend ... is still a mystery to us. Not Because: because begins an adverb clause and cannot be the subject of is.

The noun clause after realized that follows the past tense of the main verb. The forgetting happened before the realizing, so we need the past perfect: I had forgotten to take the key. The other options use the wrong tense or make no sense in this situation.

How + adjective/adverb begins a noun clause that shows degree: how easily he gave up. The clause is the object of believe. Not whether: we don't say believe whether, because believe needs a statement, not an open question.

After It seems, we use a that-clause to report a statement: It seems that he won't be able to catch the last bus. As would need if or though (It seems as if...), and why/what/when make no sense here.

The noun clause is the subject of is not known. Go is intransitive and this summer already gives the time, so the missing information is the place: Where he chose to go this summer is not known by anyone. Not What or Which: these need an object, and go doesn't take one.

If (= whether) begins a noun clause for a yes/no question: No one knows if he has finished. The clue is I will ask him tomorrow, which shows the answer is unknown. Not that: that would present it as a known fact, which contradicts the second sentence.

A noun like belief can be followed by a that-clause that gives its content (an appositive clause): a common belief that the stars can tell us about our future. Here that cannot be left out. The other options have no that, and where to live doesn't express a belief.

An embedded (indirect) question after I wonder uses statement word order: subject + verb, how a person can run. The other options keep question word order (how can he be, what does he think, why is he), which is wrong inside a noun clause.

The what-clause What he was talking about in public is the subject, and it needs a main verb. A noun clause takes a singular verb, so is is correct. Not have been: a clause subject is singular, and the sentence needs a simple present statement here.

What means the thing(s) that. It begins a noun clause that is the subject: What the speaker said next was lost in the uproar. Said needs an object, and what provides it. Not That: a that-clause must be complete, but the speaker said next has no object.

When begins a noun clause about time and is the object of known: I couldn't have known when the bus comes (= at what time). The present comes is possible because it refers to a timetable. Where or how would not make sense with comes here.

When begins a time clause: I'd rather you didn't say anything when he proposed to you, meaning at that moment. After I'd rather you, a past form (didn't say) expresses a wish about someone else's action. Whether and what would need a different structure (e.g. about whether...).

After It is obvious, the real subject is a that-clause with statement word order: It is very obvious that the internet has changed social practices. The wrong options use question word order (what did he ask, is it impossible) or have a grammar error (the one of).

Enter is transitive (we enter a store, not enter in it), so the relative clause needs an object pronoun: every store that he enters. Not where or in which: these would only work with a verb like go in or shop in (every store in which he shops).

Why begins a noun clause about a reason and is the object of understand: No one could understand why he left. Leaving at the very beginning is surprising, so people want to know the reason. Whether doesn't fit, because it is certain that he left.

After verbs of thinking such as believe, a statement is introduced by that: Experts believe that money is an important symbol... The clause after the gap is a complete statement, so no question word is needed.

A full statement can be the subject of a sentence only as a noun clause, introduced by That: That regular exercise can improve our mood is supported by many studies. Not Regular exercise can improve our mood: without that, the sentence would have two main verbs (can improve and is).

After nouns like idea, fact and belief, a that-clause gives the content of the noun (an appositive clause): the idea that we should go on a picnic. The clause is complete, so a question word like what or why cannot be used.

The fact that + a complete statement is a fixed pattern: The fact that you have to go ... is none of my business. Fact means something true, so it is followed by that, not by whether or a question word.

After a comma, a non-defining relative clause about a thing uses which. Here which is the subject of sends: a warehouse, which sends them the items. Not where: where cannot be the subject of a verb.

A defining relative clause about things uses that (or which) as the subject: screens that show pictures of products. Not who: who is for people.

What (= the thing that) begins a noun clause and is also the object of give: is what I forgot to give you. Not that: a that-clause must be complete, but I forgot to give you has no direct object.

In an indirect question about age we use how old, with statement word order: I asked ... how old the little boy was. The verb is backshifted to was after the past asked.

The subject of encourages must be a noun phrase. His believing that he will be promoted soon is a gerund phrase with a that-clause inside it. The other options are complete sentences or a broken conditional, so they cannot be the subject of another verb.

A defining relative clause about things uses that (or which), here as the object of need: things that they don't need. Not what: what already means the things that, so it cannot follow the noun things.

Learn + that-clause reports a fact someone comes to understand: he will learn that nothing bad will happen. The clause after the gap is a complete statement, so no question word is needed.

People were surprised by his action, so they couldn't understand the reason for it: couldn't perceive why he left school. Why begins a noun clause about a reason. Whether/if don't fit, because it is certain that he left.

An indirect question after I don't know uses statement word order: whether he is telling the truth or not. The other options keep question word order (will he do, did the concert start, does the professor recommend), which is wrong in a noun clause.

After It is obvious, the real subject is a that-clause with statement word order: It is very obvious that Michael Jordan is one of the most famous players. The wrong options use question word order, an extra which, or an infinitive that has no logical subject.

How + to-infinitive means the way to do something: he doesn't know how to use the computer. The other question words don't fit use the computer. What would need an object (what to do).

A statement can be the subject of is accepted only as a that-clause: That a person can learn better when he is relaxed is accepted by many scientists. The other options are complete sentences without that (so there would be two main verbs), or a why-clause, which gives a reason rather than a claim that can be accepted.

Secretaries are people, and the pronoun is the subject of typed, so we use who: secretaries who typed, filed papers... Not whom: whom is an object pronoun. Not which: which is for things.

The subject of must be taken into account has to be a noun clause, introduced by That: That he may be telling lies must be taken into account. Not He may be telling lies: without that, the sentence has two main verbs. Not Owing to the fact...: this is an adverbial phrase, not a subject.

Whether ... or not begins a noun clause for a yes/no question, and here the clause is the subject: Whether the play was performed efficiently or not will be questioned. The clue is or not, which goes with whether, not if or that.

The subject is The fact that he has come late every night, and it needs a main verb. Is + because-clause gives the explanation: The fact ... is because he is not happy at home. Not stemmed from: it would need a noun after it (stems from his unhappiness), not because.

Where (= in the place that) refers to a place and is needed because went takes no object: spend my holiday where we went last year. Not in which or at which: they need a noun before them (the town to which we went).