Cách Sử Dụng Noun Clauses as Subjects Trong IELTS – Công Thức & Ví Dụ Band 8.0

Giới Thiệu

Noun Clauses As Subjects là một trong những cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao thường xuyên xuất hiện trong kỳ thi IELTS, đặc biệt ở phần Writing Task 2 và Speaking Part 3. Cấu trúc này cho phép người học diễn đạt ý tưởng phức tạp một cách tinh tế và học thuật bằng cách sử dụng cả một mệnh đề làm chủ ngữ thay vì chỉ dùng danh từ đơn giản. Việc thành thạo cấu trúc này không chỉ giúp bạn đa dạng hóa câu văn mà còn thể hiện khả năng sử dụng ngữ pháp phức tạp – một yêu cầu quan trọng để đạt Band 7+.

Theo thống kê từ các đề thi IELTS thực tế, Noun Clauses as Subjects xuất hiện với tần suất cao trong:

• Speaking: Part 3 khi thảo luận về các chủ đề trừu tượng và đưa ra quan điểm
• Writing Task 2: Các dạng bài Opinion, Discussion và Problem-Solution
• Reading: Thường xuất hiện trong các đoạn văn học thuật, cần nhận diện để hiểu đúng nghĩa

Ví dụ vận dụng trong IELTS:

Speaking Part 3 (Discussing education):
“What students learn in school shapes their future careers significantly.”
→ Phân tích: Mệnh đề “What students learn in school” đóng vai trò chủ ngữ của động từ “shapes”

Writing Task 2 (Opinion essay):
“Whether governments should invest in space exploration remains a controversial topic.”
→ Phân tích: Mệnh đề “Whether governments should invest in space exploration” là chủ ngữ của động từ “remains”

Speaking Part 3 (Giving opinion):
“How we educate young people today will determine the society of tomorrow.”
→ Phân tích: Mệnh đề “How we educate young people today” làm chủ ngữ cho động từ “will determine”

Writing Task 2 (Problem-Solution):
“That technology has revolutionized communication is undeniable.”
→ Phân tích: Mệnh đề “That technology has revolutionized communication” đóng vai trò chủ ngữ

Writing Task 2 (Discussion essay):
“Why many students struggle with mathematics has been studied extensively by researchers.”
→ Phân tích: Mệnh đề “Why many students struggle with mathematics” là chủ ngữ của động từ “has been studied”

Trong bài viết này, bạn sẽ học:

✅ Định nghĩa và ý nghĩa của Noun Clauses as Subjects

✅ Công thức chi tiết với các từ để hỏi (Wh-words, Whether/If, That)

✅ Cách vận dụng vào 4 kỹ năng IELTS

✅ 25+ câu ví dụ Band 7-9 từ đề thi thực tế

✅ Các biến thể nâng cao cho Band 8+

✅ Lỗi thường gặp của người Việt và cách tránh

✅ Bài tập thực hành có đáp án chi tiết

Noun Clauses as Subjects Là Gì?

Định Nghĩa

Noun Clauses as Subjects là mệnh đề danh từ đóng vai trò làm chủ ngữ của câu. Thay vì sử dụng một danh từ hoặc cụm danh từ đơn giản làm chủ ngữ, chúng ta sử dụng cả một mệnh đề hoàn chỉnh có cấu trúc chủ-vị để diễn đạt ý nghĩa phức tạp hơn.

Chức năng chính:

• Diễn đạt ý tưởng trừu tượng: Giúp trình bày các khái niệm, sự thật, hoặc quan điểm một cách học thuật
• Tạo sự nhấn mạnh: Đặt trọng tâm vào nội dung của mệnh đề thay vì hành động chính
• Thể hiện trình độ ngữ pháp: Cho thấy khả năng sử dụng cấu trúc câu phức tạp, quan trọng cho Band 7+
• Tăng tính học thuật: Làm cho văn viết và lời nói trở nên trang trọng và chuyên nghiệp hơn

Khi nào dùng trong IELTS:

• Speaking Part 3: Khi thảo luận về các vấn đề xã hội, xu hướng, hoặc đưa ra quan điểm có chiều sâu
• Writing Task 2: Trong câu chủ đề (topic sentence), câu khái quát (generalizations), hoặc khi trình bày luận điểm
• Tránh lạm dụng: Nên kết hợp với các cấu trúc câu khác để tạo sự đa dạng

Tần Suất Xuất Hiện Trong IELTS

Theo phân tích từ Cambridge IELTS 10-19:

Speaking:

• Part 1: Hiếm khi sử dụng (5-10%) – Các câu hỏi thường đơn giản, không yêu cầu cấu trúc phức tạp này
• Part 2: Thỉnh thoảng (15-20%) – Có thể dùng khi mở đầu hoặc tóm tắt câu chuyện
• Part 3: Thường xuyên (40-50%) – Rất phù hợp với các câu hỏi về xu hướng, vấn đề xã hội, dự đoán tương lai

Writing:

• Task 1: Hiếm (dưới 10%) – Task 1 tập trung vào mô tả dữ liệu, ít cần cấu trúc này
• Task 2: Rất thường xuyên (50-60%) – Xuất hiện trong introduction, body paragraphs và conclusion của các dạng bài Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solution

Listening/Reading:

• Xuất hiện thường xuyên trong academic contexts, lectures, và formal discussions
• Cần nhận diện để hiểu chính xác subject và verb agreement
• Thường thấy trong các câu hỏi về main idea hoặc author’s opinion

Band Score Impact:

• Band 6: Chưa sử dụng hoặc sử dụng sai cấu trúc, chủ yếu dùng simple subjects
• Band 7: Có thể sử dụng một số dạng cơ bản (What-clauses, That-clauses) với độ chính xác khá tốt
• Band 8-9: Sử dụng linh hoạt nhiều loại noun clauses as subjects, kết hợp tự nhiên với các cấu trúc khác, không có lỗi

Sơ đồ phân tích cấu trúc mệnh đề danh từ làm chủ ngữ trong câu tiếng Anh IELTS với các thành phần

Công Thức & Cấu Trúc

Công Thức Cơ Bản

Noun Clauses as Subjects có 3 dạng chính dựa trên từ mở đầu:

📌 CÔNG THỨC 1: WH-CLAUSE AS SUBJECT

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Wh-word + Subject + Verb + (Object) + Main Verb │
│ │
│ Ví dụ: What you say + matters. │
│ How we solve this + is important. │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Thành phần câu:

• Wh-word: What, How, Where, When, Why, Who, Whom, Whose, Which – Từ để hỏi mở đầu mệnh đề
• Subject + Verb trong mệnh đề: Cấu trúc hoàn chỉnh của mệnh đề danh từ (trật tự câu trần thuật, không đảo ngữ)
• Main Verb: Động từ chính của câu, thường chia ở số ít vì noun clause được coi như một danh từ số ít

Ví dụ phân tích chi tiết:

Câu: “What matters most is not how much you earn but how you spend it.”

Phân tích:

• Noun Clause (Subject): What matters most – “Điều quan trọng nhất”
  • What: Wh-word
  • matters: Động từ trong mệnh đề
  • most: Trạng từ bổ nghĩa
• Main Verb: is (động từ chính số ít)
• Complement: not how much you earn but how you spend it (bổ ngữ)

📌 CÔNG THỨC 2: WHETHER/IF CLAUSE AS SUBJECT

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Whether + Subject + Verb + Main Verb + Complement│
│ │
│ Ví dụ: Whether he agrees + is not my concern. │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Lưu ý: “Whether” thường được dùng hơn “If” khi làm chủ ngữ. “If” ít phổ biến và mang tính informal hơn.

📌 CÔNG THỨC 3: THAT-CLAUSE AS SUBJECT

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ That + Subject + Verb + Main Verb + Complement │
│ │
│ Ví dụ: That he succeeded + surprised everyone.│
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Thành phần câu:

• That: Liên từ mở đầu (có thể lược bỏ trong văn nói informal, nhưng nên giữ trong IELTS)
• Subject + Verb trong mệnh đề: Câu trần thuật hoàn chỉnh
• Main Verb: Động từ chính, thường chia số ít

Các Biến Thể

Dạng khẳng định:

“What scientists have discovered about climate change is alarming.”
→ Sử dụng để trình bày thông tin, sự thật hoặc quan điểm

“How technology influences young minds needs careful examination.”
→ Nhấn mạnh tầm quan trọng của việc nghiên cứu vấn đề

“That globalization has both benefits and drawbacks is widely acknowledged.”
→ Trình bày một sự thật được chấp nhận rộng rãi

Dạng phủ định (trong mệnh đề):

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
→ Phủ định nằm trong noun clause

“Whether students do not understand the material is a concern for teachers.”
→ Phủ định trong mệnh đề whether

Dạng nghi vấn (ít phổ biến với noun clause as subject):

Khi noun clause làm chủ ngữ, câu hỏi thường được hình thành bằng cách đảo trợ động từ:

“Does what you’re saying make sense?”
→ Đảo “does” lên trước noun clause subject

“Is whether he attends really that important?”
→ Đảo “is” lên trước noun clause subject

Dạng nhấn mạnh với “It” (Cleft Sentence):

Thay vì đặt noun clause làm chủ ngữ trực tiếp, có thể sử dụng cấu trúc “It + be + adjective/noun + that-clause” để nhấn mạnh:

Trực tiếp: “That he lied is unfortunate.”
Nhấn mạnh: “It is unfortunate that he lied.”

Trực tiếp: “What you need is more practice.”
Nhấn mạnh: “It is more practice that you need.” (ít phổ biến hơn)

Signal Words – Từ Mở Đầu Noun Clauses

Các từ/cụm từ thường mở đầu Noun Clauses as Subjects:

Signal Words	Ý nghĩa	Ví dụ IELTS
What	Cái gì, điều gì	What concerns me most is the lack of environmental awareness.
How	Như thế nào, cách thức	How governments respond to climate change will affect future generations.
Whether	Liệu có…hay không	Whether technology improves our lives is debatable.
That	Rằng, việc mà	That education is important is undeniable.
Why	Tại sao, lý do	Why students lose motivation needs to be investigated.
Where	Nơi nào, ở đâu	Where people choose to live depends on various factors.
When	Khi nào	When the project will be completed remains uncertain.
Who	Ai	Who wins the election matters to everyone.
Which	Cái nào	Which method works best varies from person to person.
Whoever	Bất cứ ai	Whoever arrives first can choose the best seat.
Whatever	Bất cứ cái gì	Whatever happens next will shape our future.
Whichever	Bất cứ cái nào	Whichever option you choose has consequences.

Lưu ý quan trọng về verb agreement:

Noun clauses as subjects thường được coi là số ít, nên động từ chính chia ở dạng số ít:

✅ “What they need is more time.” (không phải “are”)

✅ “Whether students study abroad affects their career.” (không phải “affect”)

Cách Vận Dụng Vào IELTS

Speaking

Part 1 – Introduction & Interview:

Ở Part 1, các câu hỏi thường đơn giản về bản thân, gia đình, sở thích. Noun clauses as subjects ít được sử dụng ở phần này vì có thể nghe không tự nhiên với các câu hỏi cơ bản.

Topic thường gặp: Hometown, Family, Hobbies, Daily Routine

Ví dụ câu hỏi & trả lời (ít sử dụng):

Q: “What do you like about your hometown?”
A: “Well, what I appreciate most about my hometown is its peaceful atmosphere and friendly people.”
→ Phân tích: Có thể dùng nhưng cấu trúc “I appreciate…” sẽ tự nhiên hơn cho Part 1

Part 2 – Long Turn:

Part 2 là nơi bạn có thể áp dụng noun clauses as subjects một cách tự nhiên hơn, đặc biệt khi mở đầu hoặc tóm tắt câu chuyện.

Cue card example:

Describe an important decision you made.

You should say:

• What the decision was
• When you made it
• How you made it
• And explain why it was important

Sample answer:

“I’d like to talk about a significant decision I made last year regarding my career path. What influenced my decision most was my passion for teaching and helping others learn. After graduating from university, I had two job offers – one from a multinational corporation with a high salary, and another from a language center with modest pay but great opportunities to work with students.

How I approached this decision involved careful consideration of my long-term goals rather than immediate financial benefits. I made a list of pros and cons, talked to my family and mentors, and reflected on what would truly make me happy.

What made this decision particularly important was that it would determine the direction of my entire career. Whether I chose money or passion was essentially choosing between two different lifestyles. Ultimately, I decided to take the teaching position.

Looking back now, what I learned from this experience is that following your heart often leads to greater satisfaction than pursuing material rewards. That I made the right choice has been proven by how fulfilled I feel every day when I see my students improve.”

→ Phân tích Band 8+ features:

• Sử dụng 5 noun clauses as subjects tự nhiên trong bài nói
• Kết hợp với các cấu trúc phức tạp khác (relative clauses, past perfect)
• Từ vựng academic (influenced, consideration, reflected, essentially)

Part 3 – Discussion:

Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để sử dụng noun clauses as subjects vì các câu hỏi thường trừu tượng, yêu cầu phân tích và đưa ra quan điểm.

Topic: Education Changes

Q: “How has education changed in your country over the past few decades?”

A: “Well, education in Vietnam has undergone significant transformations. What has changed most dramatically is the teaching methodology – we’ve shifted from rote learning to more interactive, student-centered approaches.

How technology has been integrated into classrooms represents another major shift. Students now use tablets, online resources, and educational apps, which was unimaginable 20 years ago.

However, whether these changes have improved the quality of education remains debatable. While students have access to more information, what concerns many educators is that critical thinking skills may not have developed proportionally.

That we need continuous reform is clear, but how we balance traditional values with modern methods is the real challenge facing our education system today.”

→ Band 8+ features:

• 6 noun clauses as subjects được phân bố tự nhiên
• Thể hiện khả năng phân tích nhiều góc độ
• Kết nối ý mạch lạc với linking words

Topic: Technology Impact

Q: “Do you think technology has improved people’s lives?”

A: “That’s an interesting question with no simple answer. What cannot be denied is that technology has brought tremendous convenience to our daily lives – from online shopping to instant communication.

How technology has revolutionized healthcare is particularly impressive, with telemedicine and advanced diagnostic tools saving countless lives.

On the other hand, what worries many experts is the negative impact on mental health, especially among young people. Whether social media makes us more connected or more isolated is a paradox worth examining.

In my view, what matters most is not technology itself but how we use it. That technology is a tool rather than a solution is something we must remember. How future generations learn to balance digital and real-world experiences will determine whether technology truly improves our lives or not.”

→ Band 9 features:

• 7 noun clauses as subjects với variety cao
• Sophisticated vocabulary (tremendous, revolutionized, paradox)
• Balanced argument với nhiều perspectives
• Natural flow không gượng ép cấu trúc

Ví dụ minh họa cách áp dụng noun clauses as subjects trong IELTS Speaking với người đang trả lời câu hỏi

Writing Task 1

Khi nào dùng:

Trong Writing Task 1, noun clauses as subjects ít được sử dụng vì phần này tập trung vào mô tả dữ liệu, biểu đồ, quy trình. Tuy nhiên, có một số trường hợp phù hợp:

• Trong câu overview tổng quát xu hướng
• Khi so sánh hoặc nhấn mạnh điểm đặc biệt
• Trong câu kết luận

Ví dụ Line Graph (describing trends):

The graph shows the population growth in three cities from 2000 to 2020.

Sample sentences:

“What stands out from the graph is that City A experienced the most dramatic population increase, rising from 2 million to 5 million over the 20-year period.”
→ Vận dụng: Sử dụng “What stands out” để nói về đặc điểm nổi bật

“What is particularly noteworthy is the decline in City C’s population after 2015, contrary to the upward trend in the other two cities.”
→ Vận dụng: Nhấn mạnh điểm đặc biệt, khác biệt

“How the three cities’ populations changed reveals different patterns of urbanization.”
→ Vận dụng: Trong câu tổng quát về xu hướng chung

Ví dụ Process Diagram:

“What the diagram illustrates is the step-by-step process of recycling plastic bottles into usable products.”
→ Mở đầu mô tả quy trình

Lưu ý: Không nên lạm dụng trong Task 1. Sử dụng 1-2 lần trong overview hoặc conclusion là đủ. Phần lớn Task 1 nên dùng cấu trúc đơn giản, trực tiếp để mô tả số liệu.

Writing Task 2

Essay types sử dụng Noun Clauses as Subjects:

Đây là phần quan trọng nhất để thể hiện khả năng sử dụng cấu trúc này, đặc biệt trong Opinion, Discussion, và Problem-Solution essays.

Opinion Essay:

Topic: Some people believe that the government should invest more money in public transportation rather than building new roads. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Sample Introduction:

“Whether governments should prioritize public transportation over road construction has become a topic of considerable debate in recent years. What many urban planners argue is that efficient public transport systems can significantly reduce traffic congestion and environmental pollution. I strongly agree with this viewpoint, and this essay will examine why investing in public transportation yields greater long-term benefits for society.”

→ Phân tích:

• “Whether…over road construction” – Noun clause giới thiệu topic
• “What many urban planners argue” – Noun clause trình bày quan điểm chuyên gia
• Thể hiện academic style và sophisticated structure

Sample Body Paragraph 1:

“What makes public transportation a superior investment is its capacity to serve large numbers of people simultaneously while reducing carbon emissions. A single bus or train can carry dozens or even hundreds of passengers, whereas the same number of private vehicles would occupy far more road space and produce substantially more pollution. How cities like Singapore and Tokyo have transformed their transportation systems demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach – both cities have achieved remarkable reductions in traffic congestion through comprehensive metro networks. Moreover, that public transport reduces individual transportation costs benefits lower-income families who might struggle with the expenses of car ownership, insurance, and fuel.”

→ Band 8+ features:

• 3 noun clauses as subjects được integrate tự nhiên
• Supporting ideas với examples cụ thể
• Logical flow với cohesive devices

Discussion Essay:

Topic: Some people think that schools should teach children how to be good members of society. Others believe that school is the place to learn how to be a good individual. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample Body Paragraph:

“On one hand, what proponents of social education emphasize is the importance of preparing children to function effectively within their communities. How individuals interact with others and contribute to society ultimately determines the quality of our collective life. Schools teaching teamwork, civic responsibility, and cultural awareness help students understand their role beyond personal success. That social skills are essential for career success is also evident in modern workplaces where collaboration and communication abilities often matter as much as technical expertise.

On the other hand, what advocates of individual development argue is that strong individuals naturally create strong societies. Whether children develop critical thinking, creativity, and self-confidence fundamentally affects their ability to make meaningful contributions later in life. What history teaches us is that individuals with strong personal values and independent thinking often become the drivers of positive social change.”

→ Band 9 features:

• Balanced discussion với 6 noun clauses
• Sophisticated argumentation
• Natural transition between viewpoints

Problem-Solution Essay:

Topic: Many people today find it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance. What are the causes of this problem? What can be done to improve the situation?

Sample Body Paragraph (Causes):

“What contributes most significantly to this imbalance is the increasingly demanding nature of modern work culture. Many companies expect employees to be available beyond traditional working hours, responding to emails and messages even during personal time. How technology has blurred the boundaries between work and home life exacerbates this issue – smartphones and laptops mean that work follows people everywhere. Additionally, that job security has become less certain in many industries pushes employees to work longer hours to prove their value. What many workers fear is that refusing overtime or additional responsibilities might jeopardize their positions.”

→ Phân tích:

• 4 noun clauses analyzing causes deeply
• Shows cause-effect relationships clearly
• Academic vocabulary và complex structures

Sample Body Paragraph (Solutions):

“What companies must implement are clear policies regarding after-hours communication and mandatory time-off periods. How organizations in countries like Denmark and Sweden have achieved excellent work-life balance provides valuable models – these countries enforce strict working hour limits and generous vacation policies. That employers benefit from well-rested, motivated employees should be emphasized through workplace education programs. At the individual level, what workers need to develop is the ability to set boundaries and prioritize their wellbeing without guilt.”

→ Solutions paragraph với practical suggestions và noun clauses

Advantage-Disadvantage Essay:

Topic: More and more people are working from home. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this trend?

Sample Introduction:

“The trend of remote work has accelerated dramatically in recent years, particularly following the global pandemic. Whether working from home benefits or harms productivity and wellbeing has become a pressing question for both employers and employees. What this essay will examine are the key advantages and disadvantages of this working arrangement, ultimately arguing that while remote work offers significant benefits, it also presents challenges that require careful management.”

Sample Body Paragraph (Advantages):

“What remote work primarily offers is unprecedented flexibility in managing one’s schedule and environment. Employees can eliminate lengthy commutes, saving both time and money while reducing stress. How this flexibility affects work-life balance is generally positive – parents can more easily manage childcare responsibilities, and individuals can structure their day around peak productivity hours. Furthermore, that companies can hire talent regardless of geographical location expands opportunities for both employers and job seekers. What research from Stanford University has shown is that remote workers often demonstrate higher productivity levels than their office-based counterparts, partly because they face fewer workplace distractions.”

→ Band 8+ advantages paragraph với evidence và clear topic sentence

Sample Paragraphs Band 7-9

Band 7 Sample (Good control, some variety):

Topic: Environmental Protection

“What many people fail to realize is that individual actions can make a significant difference in environmental protection. How we choose to travel, consume, and dispose of waste directly impacts the planet’s health. That governments and corporations bear major responsibility is true, but this should not excuse personal inaction. What each person can do includes simple changes like using reusable bags, reducing meat consumption, and conserving energy at home. Whether these small actions seem insignificant does not matter when millions of people participate collectively.”

Phân tích:

• Sử dụng 5 noun clauses as subjects đúng ngữ pháp
• Variety: What (3 lần), How (1 lần), That (1 lần), Whether (1 lần)
• Clear topic development
• Minor limitation: Có thể đa dạng hóa cấu trúc câu hơn nữa

Band 8-9 Sample (Excellent control, sophisticated usage):

Topic: Artificial Intelligence and Employment

“What distinguishes the current technological revolution from previous ones is the unprecedented pace at which artificial intelligence is transforming the employment landscape. Whether AI will ultimately create more jobs than it eliminates remains a subject of intense scholarly debate, yet what cannot be disputed is that the nature of work itself is fundamentally changing. How societies adapt to this transformation will largely determine whether the benefits of AI are distributed equitably or concentrated among a privileged few.

That certain professions face obsolescence is already evident in sectors such as manufacturing, where automation has displaced millions of workers. However, what pessimistic predictions often overlook is humanity’s remarkable capacity for innovation and adaptation. Whatever challenges AI presents may simultaneously generate unprecedented opportunities in fields we have yet to imagine. What history teaches us is that technological disruption, while painful in the short term, has consistently elevated overall living standards over longer time horizons. Therefore, how we invest in education and retraining programs today will prove critical in ensuring that what tomorrow’s workforce requires aligns with what our educational institutions actually provide.”

Phân tích:

• Complex usage: 10 noun clauses được integrate hoàn hảo
• Natural flow: Không gượng ép, mỗi clause có mục đích rõ ràng
• Sophisticated vocabulary: unprecedented, obsolescence, equitably, disruption
• Range: Multiple types (What, Whether, That, Whatever, How) used flexibly
• Cohesion: Excellent linking và logical development
• Shows advanced argumentation skills với balanced perspective

Mẫu đoạn văn IELTS Writing Task 2 có highlight các noun clauses as subjects với phân tích cấu trúc

Nâng Cao – Cách Dùng Để Đạt Band 8+

Kết Hợp Với Các Cấu Trúc Khác

Noun Clause as Subject + Relative Clause:

“What many experts who have studied climate change for decades recommend is immediate and drastic action to reduce carbon emissions.”

→ Band 8+ features: Noun clause “What many experts recommend” được mở rộng bằng relative clause “who have studied climate change for decades” tạo thành cấu trúc phức hợp rất sophisticated

“How societies that value education invest in their future generations determines their long-term prosperity and stability.”

→ Sophistication: Kết hợp noun clause “How societies invest” với relative clause “that value education”

Noun Clause as Subject + Modal Verbs:

“What students may need in the future workplace could be entirely different from current skill requirements.”

→ Advanced usage: Combining noun clause với modal “may” trong mệnh đề và “could” ở động từ chính thể hiện sự không chắc chắn ở nhiều level

“Whether governments should intervene in free markets must be determined by careful analysis of specific circumstances.”

→ Band 9: Modal “must” thêm tính urgency và necessity cho argument

“How technology might evolve in the next decade cannot be predicted with certainty.”

→ Sử dụng modal “might” và “cannot” tạo hedging academic

Noun Clause as Subject + Passive Voice:

“What has been discovered about human psychology in recent years has revolutionized our understanding of behavior.”

→ Sophistication: Passive voice “has been discovered” trong noun clause kết hợp với active voice ở main clause

“Whether traditional teaching methods should be completely replaced is being debated by educators worldwide.”

→ Band 8+: Present continuous passive “is being debated” thể hiện ongoing discussion

“How these problems can be solved has been studied extensively by researchers from various disciplines.”

→ Complex structure: Modal passive “can be solved” trong noun clause + present perfect passive “has been studied” ở main clause

Noun Clause + Participle Phrases:

“What students learn in school, shaped by curriculum designers and policy makers, ultimately reflects societal values.”

→ Band 9: Participle phrase “shaped by…” mở rộng noun clause

“How cities develop, influenced by economic, social, and political factors, determines their long-term sustainability.”

→ Sophistication: Participle phrase “influenced by…” adds depth to the analysis

Cụm Từ Nâng Cao

Academic collocations with Noun Clauses as Subjects:

Collocation	Ví dụ	Band Level
What remains unclear is…	What remains unclear is whether this approach will yield sustainable results in the long term.	8+
What merits consideration is…	What merits consideration is the potential impact on vulnerable populations who may lack access to such technology.	8+
What warrants attention is…	What warrants attention is the underlying cause rather than merely treating the symptoms.	8+
What cannot be overlooked is…	What cannot be overlooked is the economic burden this policy places on small businesses.	7+
How…remains to be seen	How effective these measures will prove in practice remains to be seen.	8+
What sets…apart is…	What sets successful entrepreneurs apart is their resilience in the face of failure.	8+
Whether…hinges on…	Whether this initiative succeeds hinges on government commitment and public cooperation.	8+
What lies at the heart of…	What lies at the heart of this debate is a fundamental disagreement about individual rights versus collective responsibility.	9
What distinguishes…from…	What distinguishes high-performing students from their peers is not innate ability but consistent effort and effective strategies.	8+
How…plays out in practice	How these theoretical concepts play out in practice often differs significantly from initial predictions.	8+
What bears emphasis is…	What bears emphasis is that correlation does not imply causation in these statistical findings.	9
Whether…proves tenable	Whether this economic model proves tenable under current global conditions is highly questionable.	9

Advanced transitions với Noun Clauses:

“What is equally important to consider is the environmental impact.”

“What further complicates the matter is the lack of reliable data.”

“What this ultimately demonstrates is the complexity of human behavior.”

“What emerges from this analysis is a clear pattern of inequality.”

Câu Phức & Ghép

Tích hợp vào câu phức với subordinate clauses:

“Although what researchers initially hypothesized seemed logical, subsequent experiments revealed that the relationship between variables was far more nuanced than previously understood.”

→ Phân tích:

• Noun clause “what researchers initially hypothesized” làm subject của subordinate clause bắt đầu với “Although”
• Main clause có cấu trúc phức với “that-clause” và comparative structure
• Band 9 level complexity

Compound-complex sentences:

“What concerns environmentalists most is the accelerating rate of deforestation, and how governments respond to this crisis will determine whether vulnerable ecosystems can be preserved for future generations.”

→ Phân tích:

• Hai independent clauses nối bằng “and”
• Mỗi clause có noun clause as subject
• Clause thứ hai có thêm “whether” noun clause làm object
• Multiple layers of complexity

Noun Clause as Subject trong conditional sentences:

“If what we currently understand about climate science is accurate, then the consequences of inaction will be catastrophic.”

→ Band 8+: Noun clause trong if-clause của conditional type 1

“What would happen if governments implemented universal basic income remains a matter of speculation and academic modeling.”

→ Sophisticated: Noun clause chứa conditional structure làm subject

Parallel structures với multiple Noun Clauses:

“What students learn in the classroom, how they apply this knowledge in real-world contexts, and whether they develop critical thinking skills all contribute to their long-term success.”

→ Band 9:

• Three parallel noun clauses as compound subject
• Verb agreement với compound subject (all contribute – plural)
• Sophisticated structure showing range

Embedded clauses:

“The research indicates that what influences consumer behavior most significantly is not price alone but a complex interplay of psychological, social, and economic factors.”

→ Advanced structure:

• Noun clause “what influences consumer behavior” làm subject của embedded “that-clause”
• Multiple levels of embedding
• Academic reporting language

“What makes this situation particularly concerning is that what was once considered an acceptable level of pollution is now recognized as a serious health hazard.”

→ Band 9 features:

• Noun clause as main subject
• Another noun clause trong complement clause
• Shows ability to handle multiple complex structures in one sentence

So Sánh Với Cấu Trúc Tương Tự

Noun Clause as Subject vs. It + be + adjective + that-clause

Hai cấu trúc này có thể diễn đạt ý nghĩa tương tự nhưng có sự khác biệt về nhấn mạnh và register.

Tiêu chí	Noun Clause as Subject	It + be + adjective + that-clause
Công thức	What/That/Whether… + Main Verb	It + be + adjective + that-clause
Ý nghĩa	Nhấn mạnh vào nội dung của mệnh đề	Nhấn mạnh vào tính chất/đánh giá
Register	More formal, academic	Also formal but slightly more common
Ví dụ	That education is important is undeniable.	It is undeniable that education is important.
Usage	Subject là information chính	Subject là “it” (dummy subject)
Frequency	Less common, more sophisticated	More common, easier to use
Band Impact	Shows advanced grammar range	Standard structure, well-accepted

Khi nào dùng cấu trúc nào:

Dùng Noun Clause as Subject khi:

• Muốn thể hiện range ngữ pháp cho Band 8+ (nhưng không lạm dụng)
• Nội dung của mệnh đề là trọng tâm chính của câu
• Trong academic writing cần variety

Ví dụ: “What students learn from experience often exceeds what textbooks can teach.”
→ Trọng tâm là “what students learn from experience”

Dùng It + be + adjective + that-clause khi:

• Muốn nhấn mạnh đánh giá/tính chất (important, clear, obvious, essential)
• Câu dễ đọc và tự nhiên hơn
• Đã sử dụng nhiều noun clauses as subject và cần variety

Ví dụ: “It is essential that governments take immediate action on climate change.”
→ Nhấn mạnh “essential”

Conversion examples:

Original: “That young people spend too much time on social media is concerning.”
Alternative: “It is concerning that young people spend too much time on social media.”
→ Cả hai đều đúng; alternative thường tự nhiên hơn

Original: “What the research demonstrates is significant.”
Alternative: “It is significant what the research demonstrates.” (awkward)
→ Trong trường hợp này, noun clause as subject tốt hơn

Noun Clause as Subject vs. Gerund as Subject

Tiêu chí	Noun Clause as Subject	Gerund as Subject
Công thức	What/How/Whether… + S + V + Main Verb	V-ing + (Object) + Main Verb
Complexity	More complex, full clause	Simpler, phrase-level
Ví dụ	What concerns me is the lack of progress.	Solving this problem requires effort.
Specificity	Can include specific subjects and details	More general, action-focused
Band Level	Band 7-9 (shows complexity)	Band 6-7 (good but simpler)

Comparison:

Gerund: “Learning a foreign language improves cognitive abilities.”
Noun Clause: “How students learn a foreign language affects their cognitive development.”
→ Noun clause cho phép express nhiều details và nuances hơn

Khi nào dùng cấu trúc nào:

Dùng Gerund khi:

• Nói về hành động nói chung, không cần specify subject
• Muốn câu ngắn gọn, súc tích
• Đã dùng nhiều complex structures và cần balance

Dùng Noun Clause khi:

• Cần specify WHO does the action hoặc thêm details
• Muốn express conditions, uncertainty (whether), hoặc specifics (what, how)
• Cần thể hiện grammatical range cho Band 8+

Bảng so sánh trực quan giữa noun clause as subject và các cấu trúc tương tự trong tiếng Anh

Lỗi Thường Gặp & Cách Sửa

Lỗi 1: Sai Verb Agreement – Động Từ Chính Không Chia Số Ít

Đây là lỗi phổ biến nhất của người học tiếng Việt vì trong tiếng Việt không có biến đổi động từ theo số.

❌ SAI:
“What students need are more practice.” (Sai)
“Whether governments invest in education affect economic growth.” (Sai)
“How people communicate have changed dramatically.” (Sai)

✅ ĐÚNG:
“What students need is more practice.”
“Whether governments invest in education affects economic growth.”
“How people communicate has changed dramatically.”

Giải thích:

Noun clauses as subjects được coi như một danh từ số ít (singular noun), cho dù bên trong mệnh đề có danh từ số nhiều. Động từ chính của câu phải chia ở dạng số ít (singular verb).

Quy tắc:

• What/How/Whether/That + clause + SINGULAR VERB
• Không bị confuse bởi danh từ số nhiều trong mệnh đề

Lưu ý:

Khi noun clause được nối bằng “and” tạo thành compound subject, động từ mới chia số nhiều:

✅ “What you say and how you say it both matter.”
→ Hai noun clauses nối nhau bằng “and” = plural subject

Practice:

• What they think ____ (is/are) important.
• Whether students study abroad ____ (affect/affects) their career.
• How we solve problems ____ (show/shows) our character.

Answers: is, affects, shows

Lỗi 2: Sử Dụng Trật Tự Câu Hỏi Trong Noun Clause

Người Việt thường mắc lỗi này vì bị ảnh hưởng bởi cấu trúc câu hỏi trực tiếp.

❌ SAI:
“What do students need is more guidance.” (Sai – đảo ngữ như câu hỏi)
“How did technology change our lives is remarkable.” (Sai – dùng did như câu hỏi)
“Where are they going determines the route.” (Sai – đảo are lên trước)
“Why does this happen needs investigation.” (Sai – dùng does)

✅ ĐÚNG:
“What students need is more guidance.”
“How technology changed our lives is remarkable.”
“Where they are going determines the route.”
“Why this happens needs investigation.”

Giải thích:

Noun clauses sử dụng trật tự câu trần thuật (statement word order), KHÔNG phải trật tự câu hỏi, ngay cả khi bắt đầu bằng từ để hỏi (Wh-words).

Công thức đúng:
Wh-word + Subject + Verb (statement order)

So sánh:

• Direct question: “What do students need?”
• Noun clause: “What students need is…” (không có do/does/did)

Lưu ý:

Với “who” làm subject trong mệnh đề, trật tự vẫn giữ nguyên vì “who” chính là subject:

✅ “Who wins the competition matters to everyone.”
→ “Who” là subject nên không đảo ngữ

Practice – Sửa lỗi:

1. How can we solve this is important. → ___
2. What do they want is unclear. → ___
3. Where should we go depends on the weather. → ___

Answers:

1. How we can solve this is important.
2. What they want is unclear.
3. Where we should go depends on the weather.

Lỗi 3: Thiếu “That” Hoặc Dùng Sai “What”/”That”

❌ SAI:
“What education is important is obvious.” (Sai – dùng What thay vì That)
“That you need is more practice.” (Sai – dùng That thay vì What)
“He succeeded surprised everyone.” (Sai – thiếu That)

✅ ĐÚNG:
“That education is important is obvious.”
“What you need is more practice.”
“That he succeeded surprised everyone.”

Giải thích:

• “What” được dùng khi mệnh đề thiếu object (điều gì, cái gì):

  • “What you need” = the thing that you need
  • What = the thing(s) that

• “That” được dùng khi mệnh đề đã đầy đủ (chủ ngữ + động từ + bổ ngữ):

  • “That education is important” = the fact that education is important
  • That = the fact that

Cách phân biệt:

Dùng What	Dùng That
Mệnh đề thiếu object	Mệnh đề hoàn chỉnh
What you say (thiếu object của “say”)	That you are right (hoàn chỉnh)
What students learn (thiếu object)	That students work hard (hoàn chỉnh)

Test: Thử bỏ What/That và xem câu có thiếu gì không:

• “What you need” → “you need ___” (thiếu object) → Dùng What ✅
• “That he is smart” → “he is smart” (câu hoàn chỉnh) → Dùng That ✅

Lưu ý:

“That” có thể bị lược bỏ trong văn nói informal, nhưng trong IELTS Writing nên giữ:

Informal: “He’s late is annoying.” (thiếu That)
Formal: “That he’s late is annoying.” ✅

Practice:

1. ___ matters most is your health. (What/That)
2. ___ she speaks three languages is impressive. (What/That)
3. ___ scientists discovered was groundbreaking. (What/That)

Answers: 1. What (you need object), 2. That (complete clause), 3. What (need object for “discovered”)

Lỗi 4: Lẫn Lộn “Whether” Và “If” Khi Làm Subject

❌ SAI:
“If he will come is uncertain.” (Sai – dùng If làm subject)
“Weather technology helps or harms us is debatable.” (Sai – viết sai chính tả)

✅ ĐÚNG:
“Whether he will come is uncertain.”
“Whether technology helps or harms us is debatable.”

Giải thích:

• “Whether” được dùng khi noun clause làm subject
• “If” KHÔNG được dùng làm subject (chỉ dùng làm object)
• Chú ý chính tả: “Whether” ≠ “Weather” (thời tiết)

Quy tắc:

✅ As SUBJECT: Whether he agrees is important.
✅ As OBJECT: I don’t know whether/if he agrees.
❌ As SUBJECT: If he agrees is important. (WRONG)

Cấu trúc Whether…or not:

✅ “Whether or not students attend class regularly affects their performance.”
✅ “Whether students attend class regularly or not affects their performance.”

→ Cả hai vị trí của “or not” đều đúng

Lưu ý:

“Whether” mang tính formal hơn “if” ngay cả khi làm object, nên trong IELTS Writing ưu tiên dùng “whether”:

Informal: I don’t know if it will rain.
Formal: I don’t know whether it will rain. (better for IELTS)

Practice:

1. _____ (If/Whether) she accepts the offer is her decision.
2. _____ (If/Whether) this method works depends on many factors.
3. I wonder _____ (if/whether) they will arrive on time. (both possible)

Answers: 1. Whether (subject), 2. Whether (subject), 3. whether/if (object – both OK, but “whether” more formal)

Lỗi 5: Đặt Sai Vị Trí Của Noun Clause Hoặc Dùng Quá Nhiều

❌ SAI:

Overuse (dùng quá nhiều):
“What I think is that what we need is what experts recommend, which is what studies show.”
→ Quá nhiều “what” làm câu rối và khó hiểu

Awkward placement:
“Is important what you say.”
→ Sai vị trí, không tự nhiên

Unnecessary complexity:
“What the thing that I want to say is is that education matters.”
→ Quá phức tạp, lủng củng

✅ ĐÚNG:

Balanced usage:
“What I believe is that we need expert recommendations based on scientific research.”
→ Một noun clause là đủ, phần còn lại dùng cấu trúc khác

Correct placement:
“What you say is important.”
→ Noun clause ở đầu câu làm subject

Clear and natural:
“What I want to emphasize is that education matters.” HOẶC
“I want to emphasize that education matters.” (đơn giản hơn)
→ Chọn cấu trúc phù hợp với context

Giải thích:

1. Về tần suất sử dụng:

   • Không nên dùng quá 2-3 noun clauses as subject trong một đoạn văn
   • Cần balance với các cấu trúc khác (gerunds, simple subjects, it-clauses)

2. Về vị trí:

   • Noun clause as subject thường ở đầu câu
   • Nếu quá dài, có thể dùng “It + be + adjective + that-clause” cho tự nhiên hơn

3. Về độ phức tạp:

   • Tránh embed quá nhiều clauses trong một noun clause
   • Keep it clear and readable

Lưu ý:

Khi noun clause quá dài:

Less natural: “What students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and lack proper guidance need most urgently is support.”

More natural: “What disadvantaged students need most urgently is proper guidance and support.”
HOẶC: “It is clear that students from disadvantaged backgrounds urgently need proper guidance and support.”

Trong một bài IELTS Writing Task 2 (250 words):

• Nên dùng: 3-5 noun clauses as subject trong toàn bài
• Phân bố: 1-2 trong introduction, 1-2 trong body paragraphs, 0-1 trong conclusion
• Kết hợp với: Simple subjects, gerunds, it-clauses

Practice – Xác định câu nào tốt hơn:

A. “What I think is what you should do is what experts say.”
B. “I believe you should follow expert advice.”

A. “What is most important is family.”
B. “Family is most important.”

Analysis:

• First pair: B tốt hơn (A quá nhiều “what”)
• Second pair: Both OK, nhưng A shows more grammatical range for IELTS; B đơn giản hơn, tự nhiên hơn. Chọn A nếu muốn thể hiện range, chọn B nếu đã dùng nhiều complex structures.

Top 5 Mistakes Vietnamese Learners Make – Tóm Tắt

1. Verb agreement error: Chia động từ chính số nhiều thay vì số ít

   • Remember: Noun clause = singular subject → singular verb

2. Question word order: Dùng trật tự câu hỏi trong noun clause

   • Remember: Wh-word + Subject + Verb (NO do/does/did)

3. What vs. That confusion: Không phân biệt khi nào dùng What, khi nào dùng That

   • Remember: What (thiếu object), That (câu hoàn chỉnh)

4. If instead of Whether: Dùng “If” làm subject

   • Remember: Whether (as subject) ✅, If (as subject) ❌

5. Overuse and complexity: Dùng quá nhiều hoặc làm câu quá phức tạp

   • Remember: Balance và clarity quan trọng hơn complexity

Bài Tập Thực Hành

Bài Tập 1: Điền Từ – Hoàn Thành Câu Với Dạng Đúng

Hoàn thành câu với What, That, Whether, How, hoặc Why:

1. __ concerns environmentalists most is the rapid loss of biodiversity.
2. __ technology will improve or worsen our lives depends on how we use it.
3. __ students succeed in their studies often depends on their motivation level.
4. __ young people spend excessive time on social media is affecting their mental health.
5. __ governments should invest more in renewable energy is no longer debatable.
6. __ makes a good teacher is not just knowledge but also patience and empathy.
7. __ many people struggle with work-life balance has become a major concern.
8. __ we educate our children today will shape the society of tomorrow.
9. __ countries cooperate on climate change will determine the planet’s future.
10. __ this policy will be effective remains to be seen.

Bài Tập 2: Tìm Và Sửa Lỗi

Mỗi câu sau có một lỗi. Tìm và sửa lỗi:

1. What do students need are better facilities and qualified teachers.
2. That education are important is recognized worldwide.
3. Whether governments should intervene in free markets depend on the situation.
4. How does technology affect children need more research.
5. What concern me most is the lack of environmental awareness.
6. If he will attend the meeting is still uncertain.
7. That you need is more practice and dedication.
8. Weather online learning is effective depends on various factors.
9. What make people happy vary from person to person.
10. How we can solving this problem is the main question.
11. Where do they live determine their access to opportunities.
12. What scientists has discovered change our understanding of the universe.
13. That she speak three languages are impressive.
14. Whether does this method work need to be tested.
15. What I wants to emphasize is the importance of teamwork.

Bài Tập 3: Viết Câu Hoàn Chỉnh

Viết câu hoàn chỉnh sử dụng noun clauses as subjects với các gợi ý:

1. (What / students / learn / school) / shape / future career
   → Your answer: ___

2. (How / technology / change / communication) / be / remarkable
   → Your answer: ___

3. (Whether / governments / invest / education) / affect / economic growth
   → Your answer: ___

4. (That / climate change / real) / be / undeniable
   → Your answer: ___

5. (Why / many people / stress) / need / investigation
   → Your answer: ___

6. (What / concern / experts) / be / rising pollution levels
   → Your answer: ___

7. (How / we / address / poverty) / determine / society’s progress
   → Your answer: ___

8. (Whether / technology / improve / lives) / be / debatable
   → Your answer: ___

9. (What / make / successful) / be / not / talent / but / hard work
   → Your answer: ___

10. (That / education / expensive) / prevent / many students / access
    → Your answer: ___

Bài Tập 4: Chuyển Đổi Câu

Viết lại câu sử dụng noun clause as subject:

1. The most important thing is your health.
   → What ____

2. We need to understand how climate change affects us.
   → How ____

3. It is unclear if the policy will succeed.
   → Whether _____

4. The fact that technology has changed education is obvious.
   → That ____

5. The way students learn has evolved significantly.
   → How ____

Bài Tập 5: IELTS Writing Application

Viết một đoạn văn (100-120 words) cho đề bài sau, sử dụng ít nhất 3 noun clauses as subjects:

Topic: Some people believe that social media has had a negative impact on society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Your paragraph should include:

• A topic sentence with a noun clause
• Supporting ideas with at least 2 more noun clauses
• Examples and explanations
• Proper linking devices

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Đáp Án Chi Tiết

Đáp Án Bài Tập 1:

1. What concerns environmentalists most is the rapid loss of biodiversity.

   • Giải thích: “What” vì thiếu object cho “concerns”

2. Whether technology will improve or worsen our lives depends on how we use it.

   • Giải thích: “Whether…or” diễn tả sự lựa chọn giữa hai khả năng

3. Whether students succeed in their studies often depends on their motivation level.

   • Giải thích: Có thể dùng “Whether” (liệu có…hay không) hoặc “How” (như thế nào), nhưng “Whether” phù hợp hơn với nghĩa succeed/not succeed

4. That young people spend excessive time on social media is affecting their mental health.

   • Giải thích: “That” vì câu trong mệnh đề đã hoàn chỉnh (S + V + O)

5. Whether governments should invest more in renewable energy is no longer debatable.

   • Giải thích: “Whether” với modal “should” diễn tả câu hỏi về policy

6. What makes a good teacher is not just knowledge but also patience and empathy.

   • Giải thích: “What” vì thiếu subject cho “makes”

7. Why many people struggle with work-life balance has become a major concern.

   • Giải thích: “Why” diễn tả lý do/nguyên nhân

8. How we educate our children today will shape the society of tomorrow.

   • Giải thích: “How” diễn tả cách thức/phương pháp

9. Whether countries cooperate on climate change will determine the planet’s future.

   • Giải thích: “Whether” diễn tả điều kiện cooperate or not

10. Whether this policy will be effective remains to be seen.

    • Giải thích: “Whether” với “will be” về khả năng trong tương lai

Đáp Án Bài Tập 2:

1. ❌ “What do students need are”
   ✅ “What students need is“

   • Lỗi: Trật tự câu hỏi + verb agreement
   • Sửa: Bỏ “do”, đổi “are” → “is”

2. ❌ “That education are important”
   ✅ “That education is important”

   • Lỗi: Verb agreement
   • Sửa: Noun clause = singular → “is”

3. ❌ “Whether governments should intervene depend”
   ✅ “Whether governments should intervene depends“

   • Lỗi: Verb agreement
   • Sửa: “depend” → “depends” (singular verb)

4. ❌ “How does technology affect”
   ✅ “How technology affects“

   • Lỗi: Trật tự câu hỏi trong noun clause
   • Sửa: Bỏ “does”, đổi “affect” → “affects”

5. ❌ “What concern me”
   ✅ “What concerns me”

   • Lỗi: Verb trong noun clause chưa chia
   • Sửa: “concern” → “concerns” (3rd person singular)

6. ❌ “If he will attend”
   ✅ “Whether he will attend”

   • Lỗi: Dùng “If” làm subject
   • Sửa: “If” → “Whether”

7. ❌ “That you need”
   ✅ “What you need”

   • Lỗi: Dùng sai That/What
   • Sửa: Mệnh đề thiếu object của “need” → dùng “What”

8. ❌ “Weather online learning”
   ✅ “Whether online learning”

   • Lỗi: Chính tả
   • Sửa: “Weather” (thời tiết) → “Whether” (liệu có)

9. ❌ “What make people happy vary”
   ✅ “What makes people happy varies“

   • Lỗi: Cả hai động từ đều chưa chia đúng
   • Sửa: “make” → “makes”, “vary” → “varies”

10. ❌ “How we can solving”
    ✅ “How we can solve“

    • Lỗi: Động từ sau modal phải ở dạng nguyên mẫu
    • Sửa: “solving” → “solve”

11. ❌ “Where do they live determine”
    ✅ “Where they live determines“

    • Lỗi: Trật tự câu hỏi + verb agreement
    • Sửa: Bỏ “do”, “determine” → “determines”

12. ❌ “What scientists has discovered change”
    ✅ “What scientists have discovered changes“

    • Lỗi: Verb agreement (cả hai động từ)
    • Sửa: “has” → “have” (plural subject trong clause), “change” → “changes” (singular main verb)

13. ❌ “That she speak three languages are”
    ✅ “That she speaks three languages is“

    • Lỗi: Cả hai động từ đều sai
    • Sửa: “speak” → “speaks”, “are” → “is”

14. ❌ “Whether does this method work need”
    ✅ “Whether this method works needs“

    • Lỗi: Trật tự câu hỏi + verb agreement
    • Sửa: Bỏ “does”, “work” → “works”, “need” → “needs”

15. ❌ “What I wants”
    ✅ “What I want“

    • Lỗi: Verb agreement
    • Sửa: Subject trong noun clause là “I” → “want” (không thêm s)

Đáp Án Bài Tập 3:

1. What students learn in school shapes their future careers.

   • Hoặc: What students learn in school significantly shapes their future career paths.

2. How technology has changed communication is remarkable.

   • Hoặc: How technology has fundamentally changed human communication is truly remarkable.

3. Whether governments invest in education affects economic growth.

   • Hoặc: Whether governments invest adequately in education directly affects long-term economic growth.

4. That climate change is real is undeniable.

   • Hoặc: That climate change is real and urgent is undeniable to any informed person.

5. Why many people experience stress needs investigation.

   • Hoặc: Why many people experience chronic stress in modern society needs thorough investigation.

6. What concerns experts most is rising pollution levels.

   • Hoặc: What concerns environmental experts most is the rapidly rising pollution levels in urban areas.

7. How we address poverty determines society’s progress.

   • Hoặc: How effectively we address poverty today will determine our society’s future progress.

8. Whether technology improves our lives is debatable.

   • Hoặc: Whether technology genuinely improves our overall quality of life remains highly debatable.

9. What makes people successful is not talent but hard work.

   • Hoặc: What truly makes people successful is not innate talent but consistent hard work and dedication.

10. That education is expensive prevents many students from accessing it.

    • Hoặc: That higher education has become prohibitively expensive prevents many talented students from accessing opportunities.

Đáp Án Bài Tập 4:

1. What matters most is your health.

   • Hoặc: What should matter most to everyone is their health.

2. How climate change affects us needs to be understood.

   • Hoặc: How climate change affects every aspect of our lives needs to be better understood.

3. Whether the policy will succeed is unclear.

   • Hoặc: Whether the policy will succeed in achieving its goals remains unclear.

4. That technology has changed education is obvious.

   • Hoặc: That technology has fundamentally changed modern education is obvious to everyone.

5. How students learn has evolved significantly.

   • Hoặc: How students learn and process information has evolved significantly over recent decades.

Đáp Án Bài Tập 5 – Sample Paragraph:

Sample Answer (Band 8-9):

“What cannot be denied is that social media has profoundly transformed how people interact and communicate. While these platforms offer undeniable benefits such as global connectivity and information access, whether they have improved society overall remains questionable. What concerns mental health professionals most is the correlation between excessive social media use and rising rates of anxiety and depression, particularly among teenagers. Studies have shown that constant comparison with others’ curated online personas can damage self-esteem and create unrealistic expectations. Furthermore, how misinformation spreads through social networks has become a serious threat to democracy and public health. Although social media has revolutionary potential, what matters most is developing digital literacy and promoting responsible usage to mitigate its negative impacts on society.”

Analysis:

• Word count: 120 words
• Noun clauses as subjects: 5 (“What cannot be denied,” “whether they have improved,” “What concerns,” “how misinformation spreads,” “what matters most”)
• Variety: Uses What (3), Whether (1), How (1)
• Sophisticated vocabulary: profoundly, correlation, curated personas, mitigate
• Clear structure: Topic sentence → supporting ideas → examples → conclusion
• Linking devices: While, Furthermore, Although
• Band features: Complex sentences, natural integration of grammar, clear argumentation

Band 7 Alternative (simpler but effective):

“What people often debate is whether social media benefits or harms society. From my perspective, that social media has negative impacts is clear. What I have observed is that many young people become addicted to these platforms, spending hours scrolling through content instead of engaging in real-world activities. This excessive use leads to problems like poor concentration and reduced face-to-face communication skills. Additionally, how fake news spreads on social media creates serious problems for society. What we need is better education about responsible social media use and stronger regulations to protect vulnerable users, especially children and teenagers.”

Analysis:

• Word count: 110 words
• Noun clauses: 5 used effectively
• Simpler vocabulary but clear and accurate
• Personal examples and opinions
• Good for Band 7 level

Đề Luyện Tập Thêm

Speaking Topics:

Topic 1: Technology and Society
Practice answering these Part 3 questions using noun clauses as subjects:

1. “How has technology changed the way people work?”

   • Try to use: “How technology has transformed…” / “What has changed most…”

2. “Do you think people rely too much on technology?”

   • Try to use: “Whether people rely too much…” / “What concerns me…”

3. “Will technology replace human workers in the future?”

   • Try to use: “Whether technology will replace…” / “What seems likely…”

Topic 2: Education System

1. “What makes a good education system?”

   • Try to use: “What makes a good education system is…” / “How we educate…”

2. “Should universities focus on practical skills or theoretical knowledge?”

   • Try to use: “Whether universities should focus…” / “What students need…”

3. “How has education changed in your country?”

   • Try to use: “How education has evolved…” / “What has changed significantly…”

Topic 3: Environmental Issues

1. “What can individuals do to protect the environment?”

   • Try to use: “What individuals can do…” / “How people contribute…”

2. “Is climate change the most serious problem facing the world?”

   • Try to use: “Whether climate change is…” / “What makes it serious…”

3. “Should governments force companies to be more environmentally friendly?”

   • Try to use: “Whether governments should force…” / “How we regulate…”

Yêu cầu: Mỗi câu trả lời nên 3-5 câu, sử dụng ít nhất 2 noun clauses as subjects một cách tự nhiên.

Writing Topics:

Topic 1: Social Media and Mental Health
Some people believe that social media has a negative effect on mental health, especially among young people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Hướng dẫn:

• Introduction: Use 1 noun clause to present the topic
• Body 1: Use 2 noun clauses to discuss negative effects
• Body 2: Use 1-2 noun clauses for counterarguments or solutions
• Conclusion: Use 1 noun clause to summarize

Topic 2: Work-Life Balance
Many employees find it difficult to balance their work and personal lives. What are the causes of this problem? What solutions can you suggest?

Hướng dẫn:

• Introduction: Use “What has become increasingly common…” or “How modern work culture affects…”
• Body 1 (Causes): Use “What contributes to…”, “Why people struggle…”, “How technology has blurred…”
• Body 2 (Solutions): Use “What companies should implement…”, “How individuals can improve…”
• Conclusion: Summarize với một noun clause

Topic 3: Traditional vs Modern Education
Some people think traditional classroom teaching is better than online learning, while others believe online education is more effective. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Hướng dẫn:

• Introduction: Use “Whether traditional or online education is superior…”
• Body 1: Use “What makes traditional classroom effective…”
• Body 2: Use “What online learning offers…”
• Conclusion: Use “How we combine both approaches…” or “What matters most…”

Topic 4: Government Investment Priorities
Some people believe governments should spend money on faster public transportation, while others think there are more important priorities such as healthcare and education. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Hướng dẫn:

• Sử dụng noun clauses để present cả hai viewpoints
• Use “What proponents of X argue…” and “What supporters of Y believe…”
• Conclusion với “How governments balance these priorities…”

Topic 5: Globalization Effects
Globalization has both positive and negative effects on developing countries. Discuss both effects and give your opinion.

Hướng dẫn:

• Introduction: “Whether globalization benefits or harms…”
• Advantages: “What globalization has brought to developing nations…”
• Disadvantages: “How globalization has affected local cultures…”
• Opinion: “What matters most is how countries manage…”

Yêu cầu cho Writing:

• 250-280 words
• Sử dụng 4-6 noun clauses as subjects trong toàn bài
• Phân bố đều qua các đoạn
• Kết hợp với các cấu trúc khác để tạo variety
• Chú ý coherence và cohesion

Self-Assessment Checklist:

Sau khi hoàn thành bài tập, kiểm tra:

✅ Grammar Accuracy:

• [ ] Động từ chính chia số ít đúng không?
• [ ] Trật tự câu trần thuật trong noun clause đúng chưa?
• [ ] Đã dùng đúng What/That/Whether chưa?

✅ Natural Usage:

• [ ] Noun clauses có tự nhiên không hay bị gượng ép?
• [ ] Có lạm dụng quá nhiều không?
• [ ] Có kết hợp với các cấu trúc khác không?

✅ IELTS Relevance:

• [ ] Phù hợp với topic không?
• [ ] Giúp express ý tưởng rõ ràng hơn không?
• [ ] Thể hiện grammatical range cho Band 7+ không?

✅ Meaning:

• [ ] Ý nghĩa rõ ràng, không gây nhầm lẫn?
• [ ] Câu văn có logic và cohesive không?
• [ ] Supporting ideas có liên quan đến noun clause không?

Worksheet bài tập thực hành noun clauses as subjects với nhiều dạng bài tập khác nhau

Kết Luận

Noun Clauses as Subjects là một cấu trúc ngữ pháp nâng cao vô cùng quan trọng cho thí sinh muốn đạt Band 7+ trong kỳ thi IELTS. Cấu trúc này không chỉ giúp bạn thể hiện khả năng sử dụng ngữ pháp phức tạp mà còn cho phép diễn đạt ý tưởng một cách tinh tế và học thuật hơn.

Những điểm quan trọng cần nhớ:

Về ngữ pháp:

• Noun clause as subject luôn đi với động từ chính số ít
• Sử dụng trật tự câu trần thuật (statement order), không đảo ngữ như câu hỏi
• Phân biệt rõ What (thiếu object) vs That (câu hoàn chỉnh)
• Dùng Whether (không phải If) khi noun clause làm subject

Về ứng dụng IELTS:

• Speaking Part 3: Rất hữu ích cho các câu hỏi trừu tượng và discussion
• Writing Task 2: Essential cho Opinion, Discussion, Problem-Solution essays
• Frequency: Nên sử dụng 4-6 lần trong một bài Writing Task 2
• Balance: Kết hợp với các cấu trúc khác, tránh lạm dụng

Về học tập:

• Practice regularly với các topic IELTS thực tế
• Đọc các bài mẫu Band 8-9 để thấy cách native speakers và examiners sử dụng
• Record Speaking practice và tự kiểm tra grammar accuracy
• Viết và rewrite để improve naturalness

Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Verb agreement errors (nhớ: noun clause = singular)
• Question word order trong noun clause
• Overusing cấu trúc này (balance là key)
• Using awkward hoặc overly complex structures

Bước tiếp theo trong hành trình IELTS của bạn:

1. Ôn tập kỹ các công thức trong phần 3 của bài viết
2. Làm hết các bài tập và check đáp án cẩn thận
3. Áp dụng vào writing practice với các đề IELTS thực tế
4. Practice speaking với các topic đã gợi ý
5. Analyze Band 9 samples để học cách integrate tự nhiên
6. Get feedback từ giáo viên hoặc người có trình độ cao hơn

Final Tips for IELTS Success:

Việc thành thạo Noun Clauses as Subjects chỉ là một phần của hành trình đạt Band cao. Hãy nhớ rằng:

• Accuracy quan trọng hơn complexity – Tốt hơn là dùng đơn giản nhưng đúng thay vì phức tạp mà sai
• Natural usage beats forced structures – Chỉ dùng khi thực sự phù hợp với context
• Variety is essential – Kết hợp nhiều loại cấu trúc khác nhau
• Practice makes perfect – Luyện tập đều đặn và có mục tiêu

Tài nguyên để học thêm:

• Cambridge IELTS Books 10-19: Phân tích các bài mẫu Band 8-9
• IELTS Writing samples: Tìm và highlight các noun clauses
• Academic journals: Đọc để thấy cấu trúc này trong academic writing
• Practice with feedback: Tìm study partner hoặc tutor để correct errors

Chúc bạn học tốt và đạt được band điểm mơ ước trong kỳ thi IELTS! Hãy nhớ rằng, sự tiến bộ đến từ practice đều đặn và có chiến lược. What you practice consistently today will determine your success tomorrow!