Grammar for Speaking & Listening
  • Noun Clauses with That

    • Noun Clauses with That

    Sentence Variety
    Sentence variety is a strategy to enhance the flow of ideas, intensify points, and sustain the interest of your listeners. Varying the length, rhythm, and structure of sentences are three ways to create variety and interest in your speech.

    Objectives

    1. Identify noun clauses with that.
    2. Explain the purpose of a noun clause.
    3. Use noun clauses to provide additional information.

    Noun Clauses with That

    Noun clauses can be introduced with the word that. These noun clauses are typically used after verbs that indicate what someone says, thinks, or feels. It is not necessary to include that since it is not answering an information or yes/no question, but it does help mark the clause.

    Examples:

    Matthew had to agree that the reason made sense even if he wanted the answer to be different. (object of an infinitive)

    Also acceptable = Matthew had to agree the reason made sense even if he wanted the answer to be different.

    I have realized that English grammar is very interesting. (object of a verb)

    Also acceptable = I have realized English grammar is very interesting.

    Did you know that many items we consume come from the area around us? (object of a verb)

    Also acceptable = Did you know many items we consume come from the area around us?

    Exercise 1: Listen

    Watch this video about how words are added to the dictionary. There are examples of noun clauses using that in the video. Check the transcript after you listen to see if you heard all of the examples.

    Marked Clauses

    He believed that as a new nation, the United States needed its own distinct version of English to assert its independence from Britain. 

    But he argued that these words captured local variations of language—  

    and that we should write the way we speak as much as possible. 

    he added that “women are soft, mild, pitiful, and flexible.”

    The current criteria for including a word in the dictionary are that it has “widespread, sustained, and meaningful use.”  

    some argue that including them might legitimize them.

    Speaking Practice

    • As explained in the video, some people have strong opinions that certain words should not be considered "real." What are your opinions about this idea?
    • What are some examples of words you have heard people debate before?
    • There is a theme in this video that control over "proper language" and definitions can be used to exercise a control over minority groups (or those without as much influence) in a culture. What examples did the speaker give? Explain how those examples show power dynamics between subgroups in a society.

    Exercise 2: Word of the Year

    • Here is a list of some examples from different groups of "Word of the Year" or "Word of the Month"
    • Learn the meaning of the word if you aren't familiar with it. Be prepared to share the meaning of it with the class using noun clauses with that to explain it.
      • 2010 - app (American Dialect Society)
      • 2012 - hashtag (American Dialect Society)
      • 2013 - because introducing a noun (ex. because reasons) (American Dialect Society)
      • 2015 - singular they (American Dialect Society)
      • 2016 - dumpster fire (American Dialect Society)
      • 2017 - fake news (American Dialect Society)
      • 2020 - doomscrolling (dictionary.com)
      • 2020 - adulting (Oxford English Dictionary, newly added word)
      • 2018 - mansplaining (Oxford English Dictionary, newly added word)
      • 2018 - hangry (Oxford English Dictionary, newly added word)
      • 2018 - binge-watch (Oxford English Dictionary, newly added word)
      • 2016 - glamp (Oxford English Dictionary, newly added word)
      • You can find more examples here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Word_of_the_year

    Exercise 3: Sharing Learning

    • With a partner, practice using noun clauses with that to explain what you have learned so far in this semester.
      • Use verbs like believe, realize, understand, learn, know, share, etc to introduce the noun clause

    This content is provided to you freely by EdTech Books.

    Access it online or download it at https://edtechbooks.org/advanced_mid_listening__speaking/noun_clauses_with_that.