1. Noun Clauses as Subjects
Noun clauses are that clauses that have a subject and a verb. There is no comma between the main clause and the that clause. For example:
That several students came late to class annoyed the professor.
The fact that you are from South America made you ideal for the job.
It is common in speaking to move the noun clause to the end of the sentence and to put it in the subject position e.g. It annoyed the teacher that Albert smoked in class.
2. Noun Clauses as Objects
In this case, the word that is put before the clause, but it is not required e.g. The teacher reported that Albert smoked in class. or The teacher reported that Albert smoked in class.
3. Noun Clauses made from Questions
Questions can made into noun clauses and become subjects and objects. Noun clauses that are made from information question usually begin with the question word when, who, why, etc. e.g. Amanda wondered why Nick broke up with her.// It is a mystery why Nick broke up with Amanda.
Noun clauses that are made from yes-no questions begin with if, whether e.g. Amanda wonders if Nick will talk to her again. it is unknown whether the weather will be warm or rainy.
4. Reported Speech- Pronouns
We can tell about what someone said in two ways. We can use the exact words of the speaker or writer. This is called quoted speech. We must put quotations marks at the beginning and at the end of the quote. For example:
“I don’t like your attitude,” Joanna said to Jill.
Another way to tell about what someone said is to change the quote into a noun phrase. This is called reported speech. For example:
Jill said that it wasn’t his fault.
5. Reported Speech-Statements
The most common verbs used to report statements are say and tell. When tell is used in reporting speech, it is always followed by a noun or a pronoun indicating the person spoken to. For example:
Mike said that we were going to the beach on the weekend.
Mike told us that we were going to the beach on the weekend.
Other reported speech verbs commonly used are: add, admit, claim, declare, explain, indicate, mention, observe, state, reply, point out, etc.
it is important to note that if a statement was put into reported speech, the reporting verb is usually in the simple past and the verb in the reported statement is usually changed to a past tense.
Simple past =======> simple past
present progressive =======> past progressive
present perfect =======> past perfect
will =======> would
can =======> could
“You are working hard,” my teacher said to me.-> The teacher announced that I was working hard.
6. Reported Speech- Questions
Yes/No questions in reported speech begin with the word if or whether. Information questions (Who, what, etc.) in reported speech begin with the question word and also use the statement word order.
The most common verb to report questions is ask. For example:
“Is the fire under control?” (Mike to John)
Mike asked John if the fire was under control.
“How did you pass the test?” Mary to Pete.
Mary asked Pete how he had past the test.
7. Reported Speech-Imperatives
When we report orders, suggestions, or requests, we can use a verb like tell, order, request, ask, warn, urge plus a noun or pronoun followed by an infinitive. For example:
“Drive carefully,” the man said to Cris.
The man told Cris to drive carefully.
“Don’t touch the art works,” the teacher warned the kids.
The teacher warned the kids not to touch the art works.
reference:
http://netgrammar.altec.org/Units/Unit_13/a101c13_201000.html
