Noun clauses introduced by question words and Empty subject it
Step 1: Noun clauses introduced by question words
Remember: Noun clauses introduced by question words can be used as the subject, object or predictive of the sentence.
1. Let’s go through English and its history on pages 22 and 23 and try to find as many noun clauses as possible. Such as:
In fact, it is certain that we would not be able to understand it if we heard it today. (subject)
The question of whether English will continue changing in the future is easy to answer. (object)
That is why English is a language with so many confusing rules. (predictive)
2. Go over Part 1 on page 28 to get to know which question words are usually used to introduce noun clauses. Such as: wh at, which, who/whom, whose, when, where, why and how.
3. Let’s read the example sentences in Part 2 and we should pay special attention to the word order in the noun clause.
4. Please focus on Part 3. Note that all the question words introducing the noun clauses are used as a certain element in the sentence, so they cannot be left out.
5.Read the diary in Part A on page 28 to find out what sentence element each noun clause is in the sentence.
Answers (page 28)
(1) O (2) S (3) P (4) O (5) O (6) P
6. Finish Part B on page 29 individually.
Answers (page 29)
B (1) why (2) What (3) which (4) how/why (5) how (6) who (7) How (8) Which
7. Finish Part C1 on page 100 in the Workbook to practice what you’ve learnt in this part.
Answers (page 100)
C1 (1) how (2) What (3) whether (4) What
(5) whoever (6) how (7) what (8) that (9) why

高考鏈接
1. Along with the letter was his promise ________ he would visit me this coming Christmas. （2005上海）
A. which B. that C. what D. whether
2. The place _______ the bridge is supposed to be built should be________the cross-river traffic is the heaviest. （2005 江蘇）
A. which; where B. at which; which
C. at which; where D. which; in which
3. By improving reading skills, you can read faster and understand more of ___you read．（2007上海春）
A. that B. what C. which D. whether
4. It is none of your business other people think about you. Believe yourself. (2007福建)
A. how B. what C. which D. when
5. Why not try your luck downtown, Bob? That’s ______ the best jobs are.（2007浙江）
A. where B. what C. when D. why
答案：1-5 BCBBA
Step 2: Empty subject it
You are to learn that the empty subject it is often used to balance the sentence with a long subject. The empty subject it acts as its grammatical subject and the real subject is at the end of the sentence.
1. Let’s analyse the sentences below and find the real subject of each sentence.
It is important for us to learn English well today. (subject: to learn English well today)
It is important that we should learn English well today. (subject: that we should learn English w ell today)
It is no use wasting your time reading such books all day. (subject: wasting your time reading such books all day)
2. Go over Point 1 on page 30 to familiarize us with situations in which empty subject it is used.
3. Go over Point 2 on page 30 in pairs to familiarize us with how to use it. More examples are given as follows:
4. Read Point 3 on page 30 to make sure you understand situations that call for empty subject it.
For reference: Empty subject /object it
（一）根據(jù)句子結(jié)構(gòu)的需要，it用做形式主語或形式賓語，而真正的主語或賓語（to do 短語，名詞性從句）則放在句尾。
主要句型：
It’s +形容詞/名詞+ 連詞+名詞性從句
to do sth.
It’s useless (no use, no good, no harm, a waste of time) doing sth.
find / make / think / feel it +形容詞/名詞+ 連詞+名詞性從句
to do sth.
doing
例句：
1. It will become more and more important to have a good knowledge of English.
2. It’s usual for close friends to have similar ideas and beliefs.
3. It’s a pity that I didn’t think of it earlier.
4. It’s no use going there so early.
5. Our teacher thinks it no good learning without practice.
6. Didn’t I make it clear to you that I was not coming?
7. We found it strange that no one would take the money.
（二）其他句型
1. It takes +sb. +時(shí)間/金額+ to do sth.
2. 表示“據(jù)說，據(jù)報(bào)道，/人們認(rèn)為/相信/建議等
It’s said that…
It’s reported that …
It’s believed/thought/suggested that…
例句：
1. It generally takes time to reach this point—being on the same wavelength.
2. It is believed that the two children went off exploring（探險(xiǎn)）on their own and get stuck on the cliff.
3. It’s suggested that we should have a meeting to discuss the problem.
4. It was once predicted（預(yù)測）that British and American English would become separate languages finally.
（三）it在強(qiáng)調(diào)句型中：在英語..