Could you find 21 errors in noun clauses

Could You Find 21 Errors in Noun Clauses?
Learning and Finding 21 Errors in Noun Clauses
Review of Noun Clauses
A noun clause is a dependent clause that functions like a noun as a subject, a subject complement, or an
object. A noun clause used as an object is the object of an introductory clause verb.
Types of Noun Clauses
There are three types of noun clauses used as an object of verb:


That clauses are made from statements and are introduced by the subordinator that.
I know that you are right.



Wh-word clauses are formed from wh-questions and are introduced by wh-words such as who,
whoever, what, whatever, where, wherever, when, which, how, how much, how many, etc.
I don't know how he will get the money.



If/whether-clauses are formed from yes/no questions and introduced by the subordinator whether
or if. The phrase "or not" may be added.
Do you know whether (or if) he will get the money?

You can improve your writing style by using noun clauses correctly. Doing the editing practice that
follows will make you aware of potential errors in this sentence pattern and alert you to look for them in
your own writing.
How far you have mastered noun clauses.
EDITING PRACTICE
Edit the following composition for errors in noun clauses. You should make 21 changes. Look for these
kinds of errors:

she is
Incorrect word order: We don't know who is she.


had
Sequence of tense rule not followed: The newspaper reported that world leaders have failed to agree at the
conference.
be
Subjunctive verb not used: Environmentalists urged that carbon dioxide emissions are decreased
immediately.
X

X

Incorrect punctuation: Everyone wonders when world peace will become a reality? Everyone hopes, that
peace will come soon.

A College Lecture
1Professor Sanchez gave a lecture on transistors last Tuesday. 2First, he explained what are
transistors. 3He said, that they are very small electronic devices used in telephones, automobiles, radios,
and so on. 4He further explained that transistors control the flow of electric current in electronic
equipment. 5He wanted to know which popular technological invention cannot operate without
transistors. 6Most students agreed, it is the personal computer. 7Professor Sanchez then asked if the
students know how do transistors function in computers. 8He said that the transistors were etched into
tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors increase computers' speed and data storage capacity.
9Then he asked the class when had transistors been invented? 10Sergei guessed that they were invented in
1947. 11The professor said that he is correct. 12Professor Sanchez then asked what was the importance of
this invention? 13Many students answered that it is the beginning of the information age. 14At the end of
the lecture, the professor assigned a paper on transistors. 15He requested that each student chooses a topic
by next Monday. 16He suggested that the papers are typed.

etched: cut into the surface

Model answer:
In sentence 2 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: First, he explained what are transistors.
Correct: First, he explained what transistors were.

In sentence 3 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect punctuation and sequence of tense rule not followed


Incorrect: He said, that they are very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles, radios, and
so on.
Correct: He said that they were very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles, radios, and
so on.

In sentence 4 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: He further explained that transistors control the flow of electric current in electronic equipment.
Correct: He further explained that transistors controlled the flow of electric current in electronic
equipment.

In sentence 5 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: He wanted to know which popular technological invention cannot operate without transistors.
Correct: He wanted to know which popular technological invention could not operate without
transistors.

In sentence 6 there are 3 mistakes: incorrect punctuation, sequence of tense rule not followed, and
omitted subordinator that.
Incorrect: Most students agreed, it is the personal computer.
Correct: Most students agreed that it was the personal computer.

In sentence 7 there are 3 mistakes: 2 times sequence of tense rule not followed and incorrect word order.
Incorrect: Professor Sanchez then asked if the students know how do transistors function in computers.
Correct: Professor Sanchez then asked if the students knew how transistors functioned in computers.

In sentence 8 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: He said that the transistors were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors
increase computers' speed and data storage capacity.
Correct: He said that the transistors were etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors
increased computers' speed and data storage capacity.


In sentence 9 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and incorrect punctuation.
Incorrect: Then he asked the class when had transistors been invented?
Correct: Then he asked the class when transistors had been invented.

In sentence 11 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: The professor said that he is correct.
Correct: The professor said that he was correct.

In sentence 12 there are 2 mistakes: incorrect word order and incorrect punctuation.
Incorrect: Professor Sanchez then asked what was the importance of this invention?
Correct: Professor Sanchez then asked what the importance of this invention was.

In sentence 13 there is one mistake: sequence of tense rule not followed.
Incorrect: Many students answered that it is the beginning of the information age.
Correct: Many students answered that it was the beginning of the information age.

In sentence 15 there is one mistake: subjunctive verb not used.
Incorrect: He requested that each student chooses a topic by next Monday.
Correct: He requested that each student choose a topic by next Monday.

In sentence 16 there is one mistake: subjunctive verb not used.
Incorrect: He suggested that the papers are typed.
Correct: He suggested that the papers be typed.

The following composition has been improved.


A College Lecture
1Professor Sanchez gave a lecture on transistors last Tuesday. 2First, he explained what
transistors were. 3He said that they were very small electronic devices used in telephone, automobiles,
radios, and so on. 4He further explained that transistors controlled the flow of electric current in
electronic equipment. 5He wanted to know which popular technological invention could not operate
without transistors. 6Most students agreed that it was the personal computer. 7Professor Sanchez then
asked if the students knew how transistors functioned in computers. 8He said that the transistors were

etched into tiny silicon microchips and that these transistors increased computers' speed and data storage
capacity. 9Then he asked the class when transistors had been invented. 10Sergei guessed that they were
invented in 1947. 11The professor said that he was correct. 12Professor Sanchez then asked what the
importance of this invention was. 13Many students answered that it was the beginning of the information
age. 14At the end of the lecture, the professor assigned a paper on transistors. 15He requested that each
student choose a topic by next Monday. 16He suggested that the papers be typed.

This is only my own answer model. Maybe, you have your own model answer. Please feel free to discuss
and try to find the best model answer.

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