The Mystery of the Disappearing ＂That＂

The Mystery of the Disappearing ＂That＂

From VOA Learning¹ English, this is Everyday Grammar.

Today, we are going to explore a mysterious word in English that seems to appear and disappear at will!

If you are wondering what we mean, consider these examples. One is from a classic² American film Casablanca. The second is from the popular music group Plan B.

Both of these clips³ have something in common: they leave out the word "that."

Why did Humphrey Bogart, the main actor in Casablanca, not say, "I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship"?

Why did Plan B not sing, "I guess that I only have myself to blame"?

In today's Everyday Grammar, we will explore why and when English speakers leave out the word that from a sentence.

That in a noun⁴ clause⁵

The word that can have several meanings in the English language.

Sometimes, it can be used to indicate an object or a person, as in the sentence "That man is very nice!"

Other times, the word that is used to introduce a second clause to a sentence. You might hear someone say, "I think that English grammar is difficult!"*

It is this use of that that often confuses English language learners.

Today, we are studying the word that in a noun clause. A clause is a group of words that has a subject and a predicate. In other words, it could stand on its own as a sentence. When a group of words could be a complete sentence, we call it an independent clause.

"I love English grammar" or "I hate English grammar" are two examples of independent clauses⁷ that function as complete sentences.

However, sometimes a clause depends on other clauses in a sentence. It cannot stand on its own as a sentence. When this is the case, we say that the clause is dependent⁶.

One type of dependent clause is the that-clause. It acts as a noun in the sentence. It often follows common verbs⁹ like think, say, or guess, and all of the verbs that are synonyms¹⁰ of these verbs, like believe, admit, remind, and so on.

In the sentence, the main clause is "I think" and the that-clause gives more information about the main clause.

It is in these types of clauses – clauses that give more information about the main clause - that English speakers often leave out the word that.

One reason that they drop the word that from these sentences is because the word that adds little information.**

So, in a conversation, you are more likely to hear "I think learning English is fun" than "I think that learning English is fun."

What can you do?

There is not really a rule about when to leave out the word that from a that-clause. It is a stylistic choice.

Conrad and Biber are two English grammar experts. They say there are three general characteristics¹² that usually go along with leaving out the word that from a sentence.

Characteristic¹¹ #1 The verb⁸ in the main clause is "say" or "think"

The first characteristic is that the main clause has the verb say or think. So, when a speaker begins a sentence with ‘I think’ or ‘he thought’ or some other use of 'say,' you are less likely to hear the word that.

This explanation tells you why Humphrey Bogart, in the famous film Casablanca, said, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" instead of "I think that this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

Characteristic #2 Subject of that-clause is the same as the main clause

The second characteristic of sentences that leave out that is: the subject of the that-clause is the same as the main clause.

This explanation tells you why Plan B sang "I guess I only have myself to blame" instead of "I guess that I only have myself to blame." The subject of the main clause, I, is the same as the subject of the that--clause, I.

Characteristic #3 Subject of that-clause is a personal pronoun¹³

The third characteristic of sentences that leave out that is as follows: the subject of the that-clause is a personal pronoun.

You might hear a teacher say, "I knew he didn't do his homework,"

for example. The subject of the main clause is I, and the subject of the that-clause is the personal pronoun, he.

You Are More Likely to See "That" in Writing

All of these characteristics are less common in writing.

You are more likely to find a complete that-clause in fiction and newspapers, and most likely to find it in academic writing. You are least likely to hear it in conversation.

These characteristics of language can be difficult to learn. However, with time and practice, you will begin to recognize how native speakers leave out parts of the language.

Understanding that words – such as that – are sometimes left out of a sentence will also help you read and understand English better.

Words in This Story

clause – n. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb

predicate – n. grammar the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject

function – v. to have a specified¹⁴ function, role, or purpose

dependent clause – n. grammar a clause that does not form a simple sentence by itself and that is connected to the main clause of a sentence

drop – v. to not include (someone or something)

characteristic – n. a special quality or trait that makes a person, thing, or group different from others

1 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

2 classic   

n.经典作品；adj.经典的，一流的；古典的

参考例句：

• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。
• The football match was a classic.那场足球比赛堪称典范。

3 clips   

n.剪（ clip的名词复数 ）；剪短；剪报；（塑料或金属的） 夹子v.用别针别在某物上，用夹子夹在某物上（ clip的第三人称单数 ）；剪掉；缩短；给…剪毛（或发）

参考例句：

• toe clips on a bicycle 自行车上的踏脚夹套
• Use the crocodile clips to attach the cables to the battery. 用鳄鱼嘴夹把电缆接到蓄电池上。

4 noun   

n.名词

参考例句：

• What kind of noun is this?这是哪类名词？
• This word is a collective noun.这个词是个集体名词。

5 clause   

n.（正式文件或法律文件的）条款，从句，分句

参考例句：

• The sentence consists of a main clause and a subordinate clause.这句中有一个主句和一个从句。
• What clause do you require in the contract?你要求在合同中订上什么条款？

6 dependent   

adj.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者

参考例句：

• He has a mother completely dependent on him.他有一个完全靠他赡养的母亲。
• The country is dependent on foreign aid.这个国家靠外援生存。

7 clauses   

从句( clause的名词复数 )； （法律文件等的）条款

参考例句：

• Relative pronouns and adverbs introduce attributive clauses. 关系代词和关系副词引导定语从句。
• Please underline the noun clauses in the passage. 请用线画出短文中的名词性从句。

8 verb   

n.[语]动词

参考例句：

• The sentence is formed from a verb and two nouns.这句子由一个动词和两个名词构成。
• These are the finite forms of a verb.这些是一个动词的限定形式。

9 verbs   

动词

参考例句：

• I have to swot up on phrasal verbs for a test tomorrow. 我不得不为明天的测验努力温习短语动词。
• Verbs that do not take object are called intransitive verbs. 不带宾语的动词称为不及物动词。

10 synonyms   

同义词( synonym的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• If you want to grasp English, you must carefully discriminate synonyms. 如果你想掌握好英语，你必须仔细区分同义词。
• Study the idioms and synonyms l wrote down before your test. 学考试前我给你写的习惯用语和同义字。

11 characteristic   

adj.特有的，典型的；n.特性，特征，特色

参考例句：

• Bananas have their own characteristic smell.香蕉有其特有的香味。
• Some animals possess the characteristic of man.有些动物具有人类的特征。

12 characteristics   

n.特性，特征，特色，[数]（对数的）首数( characteristic的名词复数 )；独特性；性质

参考例句：

• the textural characteristics of the rocks 岩石的纹理特征
• Men have ascribed their own characteristics to their gods. 人们认为他们的特性属于诸神。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 pronoun   

n.代词

参考例句：

• The relative pronoun is often dropped if it is the subject.关系代名词做受词时常被省略。
• Here you should use plural pronoun.这里你应该用复数代词。

14 specified   

adj.特定的

参考例句：

• The architect specified oak for the wood trim. 那位建筑师指定用橡木做木饰条。
• It is generated by some specified means. 这是由某些未加说明的方法产生的。