Object clauses which begin with whether or if

Yes/No QuestionWill she come?

Does he need help?

Object clause

(a)I don't know whether she will come.

I don't know if she will come. (b)I wonder whether he needs help.

I wonder if he needs help.

(c) I wonder whether or not she will come.

(d) I wonder whether she will come or not.

(e)I wonder if she will come or not.

When ayes/no question is changed to an object clause, whether or if is used to introduce the clause.

(Note: whether is more acceptable in formal English, but if is quite commonly used, especially in speaking.)

In (c), (d), and (e): notice the patterns when or not is used.

I. Change the questions to object clauses.

1. (Did Steve go to the bank?) I don't know if (whether) Steve went to the bank. 2. (Where did Steve go?) I don't know where Steve went. 3. (Is Karen at home?) Do you know...? 4. (Where is Karen?) Do you know...? 5. (How is Pat feeling today?) I wonder... 6. (Is Pat feeling better?) I wonder... 7. (Does the bus stop here?) Do you know...? 8. (Where does the bus stop?) I wonder... 9. (Why is Elena absent today?) The teacher wants to know... 10. (Is Elena going to be absent again tomorrow?) I wonder... 11. (Where did Janet go last night?) Do you know...? 12. (Should I buy that book?)

I wonder... 13. (Which book should I buy?) I wonder... 14. (Can Jerry speak French?) I don't know... 15. (How much does that book cost?) Do you know...? 16. (Is there life on other planets?) jsfo one knows... 17. (Are we going to have a test tomorrow?) Let's ask the teacher... 18. (Is there a Santa Claus?) The little boy wants to know... 19. (Does sound travel faster than light?) Do you know...? 20. (What's on TV tonight?) I wonder... 21. (Will it rain tomorrow?) I wonder... 22. (Why is the sky blue?) Annie wants to know... 23. (Does the store accept credit cards?) Do you know...? 24. (Do insects have ears?) The little girl wants to know... 25. (When will the next earthquake occur in California?) No one knows... 26. (Do animals have the same emotions as human beings?) The little boy wants to know... 27. (How do dolphins communicate with each other?) Do scientists know...? 28. (Can people communicate with dolphins?) I want to find out... 29. (Have beings from outer space ever visited the earth?) I wonder...? 30. (Is there a pay phone in this building?) Do you know...? 31. (Does your sister speak French?) I wonder... 32. (Is this information correct?) Do you know...? 33. (Does this bus go downtown?) Could you please tell me...? 34. (How long does a butterfly live?) I wonder... 35. (Where is the library?) Could you tell me...? 36. (How far is it to Florida?) I wonder... 37. (Does she need any help?) I wonder... 38. (When is Flight 62 expected to arrive?) Could you please tell me...? 39. (What is he doing?) I wonder ... 40. (Who took my dictionary?) Do you know...? 41. (Will people live on the moon someday?) I wonder... 42. (Has she been waiting long?) I'd like to know...

II. Imagine you overheard these conversations in a restaurant. In your curiosity, what other information would you like to know?

"He earns over one hundred thousand pounds a year."

I wonder what his job is.

I wonder what he spends it on.

I'd love to know where he lives.

a. "She's had so many husbands, she forgets their names."

b. "I've never worked a single day in my life."

c. "And then a complete stranger kissed me on both cheeks."

d. "I find it takes me about six weeks to learn a language."

III. Write some indirect questions about the following newspape, headlines.

Man wins record amount on football pools.

I wonder what he's going to do with it. We don't know how much he won.

a. Round-the-world yachtsman returns home. I wonder... I'd like to know...

b. President resigns!

I wonder... I can't imagine...

c. Oldest man in the world celebrates birthday. We don Ч know... I wonder....

d. Bank robber escapes from prison. Nobody knows... I wonder...

e. Teachers promised pay rise by government. I wonder... I'd like to know...

Object clauses which begin with that Object Clause

Statement

(Expression of an

idea or fact)

He is a good actor.

The world is round.

(a) I think that he is a good actor. (b)l think he is a good actor, (c) We know (that) the world is round.

In (a): that he is a good actor is an object clause. It is used ^ the object of the verb think.

The word that, when it introduces an object clause, has no meaning in itself. It simply marks the beginning of the clause Frequently it is omitted, as in (b), especially in speaking. (If used in speaking, it is unstressed.)

"That clauses" are frequently used as the objects of ver^ < which express mental activity. (See the list below.)

1. Common verbs followed by "that clauses".

agree, assume, believe, conclude, decide, discover, doul dream, fear, feel, find out, forget, guess, hear, hope, imagii, know, learn, notice, predict, pretend, prove, read, realize, reca

say, tell, regret, remember, say, show, suppose, suspect, tell, think and others.

I hope that you can come to the game. I know that Jack has won the game. Mary realizes that she should study harder. I dreamed that I was on the top of a mountain. I think that Mr Jones is a good teacher.

2. Common expressions followed by "that clauses".

be amazed, be afraid, be angry, be ashamed, be aware, be astonished, be certain, be convinced, be disappointed, be delighted, be furious, be glad, be happy, be impressed, be lucky, be pleased, be proud, be sad, be sorry, be sure, be surprised, be worried and others.

I was sorry that I hadn't seen the performance. I'm afraid she will miss the tram.

3. "77га/ clauses" may come after nouns.

It's a pity that he is going to be late. It's a fact that children like sweets.

I. Complete these sentences with object clauses.

1. He feels angry. It's not surprising (that) he feels angry.

2. She has resigned from her job. It's a shame...

3. You don't tmst me. It's annoying...

4. You are feeling better. I'm glad... 3. She's upset. I'm sorry...

6. He didn't get the contract. He told me...

7. It's a fair price. He believes...

8. You're leaving. He has guessed...

9. She's been a fool. She agrees...

10. She passed the test. She is pleased... 11.1 haven't seen that film. I regret... 12. It's true. I feel...

П. Complete the following with your own ideas by using "that clauses."

A. 1. There are several reasons why I'm studying English.

One reason is that... Another reason is... A third reason is... 2. I have had three problems since I came here. One problem is that... Another problem is that... The third problem I have had is that... 3. One advantage of owning your car is... Another advantage is... 4. One disadvantage, however, of owning your own car is... 5. There are two reasons why I do not want to go out tonight. The first reason is... The second reason is...

B. 1. I'm sorry (that)... 2. I'm glad (that)... 3. I'm disappointed (that)... 4. I'm pleased (that)... 5. I'm surprised (that)... 6. I'm sure (that)... 6. I'm amazed (that)... 7. I'm happy (that)... 8. Yesterday I was annoyed (that)... 9. I'm afraid (that).. 10. It is surprising (that)... 11. It is true (that)... 12. It is obvious (that)...

C. I.I doubt that... 2.1 believe that... 3. I've discovered that... 4. Do you realize that...? 5. Do you think that...? 6. Have you ever noticed that...? 8. I hope that... 9. Last night I dreamed that... 10. Did you know that...? 11. I suspect that... 12. I guess that... 13. I've heard that... 14. I can prove that...