In each exercise, reduce the noun clause to infinitive phrase, gerund phrase, or noun phrase. First try to reduce the clause to infinitive phrase or gerund phrase, and if it’s not possible, then go for noun phrase. In few cases where reduction to none of the three is possible without change in meaning or the sentence sounding awkward, don’t reduce. Note that there can be more than one answer in case you reduce the clause to a noun phrase.
Here is a sample question answered for you:
Q. I am excited about what we can accomplish together.
A. I am excited about accomplishing things together.
The reduction, however, comes at a cost. The meaning has changed somewhat: It’s no longer what we can accomplish together. In such cases, it’s best not to reduce the noun clause.
If you’ve any confusion on how noun clauses are reduced, you may go through the post on how to reduce noun clauses?
Exercise 1
1. They decided that they would leave early.
2. I’m not sure whether we should stay or leave.
3. She asked why they canceled the event.
4. I’m not sure which book he recommended for the class.
5. He acknowledged that he had made a mistake.
6. They denied that they had seen the incident.
7. They discussed who should lead the project.
8. The decision depends on whom they choose.
9. We’re thinking about whether we should expand the business.
10. What he said was surprising.
1. They decided to leave early.
2. I’m not sure whether to stay or leave.
3. She asked the reason for cancellation. [Noun phrase]
4. The noun clause is hard to reduce without making the sentence awkward. This, for example, won’t be an ideal sentence: I’m not sure of his recommendation for the book for the class.
5. He acknowledged making a mistake.
6. They denied seeing the incident.
7. The noun clause is hard to reduce without making the sentence awkward or changing the meaning. You can, for example, reduce the noun clause to They discussed the project leader, but here the meaning has changed. It could mean that they discussed about the current project leader.
8. The decision depends on their choice of person. [Noun phrase]
9. We’re thinking about expanding the business.
10. His words were surprising. [Noun phrase]
Exercise 2
1. He believes that he can win the competition.
2. She was eager to know what she should do next.
3. I appreciate that you helped me.
4. They couldn’t understand why he left early.
5. He feared that he might lose.
6. She forgot where she left her keys.
7. He hopes that he can win the race.
8. She insisted that we stay longer.
9. We’re confident that we’ll finish on time.
10. We were surprised by how she managed to succeed.
1. The noun clause is hard to reduce without making the sentence awkward. Note that He believes that he can win the competition is not reduction. Only the marker word has been dropped. It still is a noun clause.
2. She was eager to know what to do next.
3. I appreciate your help. [Noun phrase]
4. They couldn’t understand his early departure.
Its meaning is fine, but departure sounds little awkward. It’s better to write the noun clause than to write its reduced form.
5. He feared losing.
6. The noun clause is hard to reduce without making the sentence awkward.
7. He hopes to win the race.
8. She insisted on our staying longer.
Its meaning is fine, but our staying sounds little awkward. It’s better to write the noun clause than to write its reduced form.
9. We’re confident of finishing on time.
You’ll notice that the noun clause has been reduced to a prepositional phrase, which is not one of gerund phrase, infinitive phrase, or noun phrase. This is because the noun clause here is not functioning in regular roles such as object of verb. Here, it’s functioning as complement of adjective confident, and a prepositional phrase can be a complement of adjective. See the post on reduction of noun clause linked to earlier for details.
10. The noun clause is hard to reduce without making the sentence awkward or changing the meaning. You can, for example, reduce the noun clause to We were surprised by her success, but here the meaning has changed. Now we’re surprised by her success (say, winning a medal) and not the process she followed to succeed.
