How to Replace That-Clauses with 'So'

 

As a general rule, the English language aims to avoid repetition¹.

That’s why, on Everyday Grammar, we talk about ways to shorten² sentences – in spoken English and in some forms of writing. Shortened³ speech helps us avoid restating what we, or others, have just said.

For example, my sister and I just exchanged text messages that demonstrate⁴ how to say something in only a few words. I’ll share our messages with you.

She would like to use something of mine, so she wrote: Hey, do you have an extra air bed? Some friends are visiting this weekend.

I responded: I think so!! I’ll check tonight.

In my text, the word “so” shortened a longer sentence. “I think so” means “I think that I have an extra air bed.” When we use “so” this way, we are replacing a group of words known as a that-clause⁵.

On a past Everyday Grammar program, we introduced this idea. Today, we will look at the grammar in steps.

Step 1: What is a clause?

The first step is to understand what a clause is. A clause is a part of a sentence with its own subject and verb.

Many sentences in English contain two or more clauses⁶. Imagine I wrote a longer text to reply to my sister:

I think that I have an extra air bed.

This sentence has two clauses – a main clause and supporting clause. The main clause is “I think.” Its subject is “I” and verb is “think.”

The main clause is joined to a second clause that gives us more information – in this case, a that-clause.

“That I have an extra air bed” is the that-clause. It begins with the word “that” and has its own subject and verb. Its subject is “I” and verb is “have.”?

Step 2: Replacing that-clauses

Now let’s move to step two – how to replace that-clauses with “so.”

There are a few kinds of that-clauses in English, and not all can be replaced with “so.” We mostly do it when sentences follow the structure subject + verb + that-clause.

This kind of that-clause is a noun⁷ clause. But remembering that term is not important for today’s lesson.

We replace that-clauses with “so” only after a limited number of verbs, including:

think, believe, hope, guess, suppose, assume⁸, imagine, know, say and tell

Most of these verbs (except “say” and “tell”) can express uncertainty⁹ or an opinion. “Say” and “tell” are reporting verbs, which we can use to talk about what someone else said.

Step 3: Hearing examples

All of this will become clearer in step three – hearing examples.

Let’s now listen to a few.

I recently asked a friend if she’d won an award for small businesses in New York. Her response was something like this:

I haven’t gotten an answer yet. But I really hope so!!

Later, she found out that she was a winner!

Our next example has a reporting verb. Notice that there’s just one speaker:

I'm not sure if Alfredo's coming to the watch party. He said so. But it’s after 5pm and I haven’t seen him.

We can shorten that-clauses in our own speech, not just in responses.

And this last one answers a suggestion:

Should we wait until tomorrow to go hiking?

I suppose so. It’s close to sunset so the bugs¹⁰ will be out now.

Step 4: The missing¹¹ “that”

OK, onto step four.

I imagine this step will be a huge help as you continue studying English.

When native speakers say or write things, we often leave out the word “that” in that-clauses. In fact, I did it a few sentences ago. Did you catch it? Here’s a clue: I said “I imagine…”

Recognizing missing “thats” will help you understand and write English better.

Step 5: Negative forms

Now for step five: negative forms. When we replace that-clauses with “so” in negative sentences, we do it differently for different verbs.

After the verbs “think,” “believe,” “say,” and some others, we make the negative this way:

I don’t suppose so.

The witness didn’t say so.

Rachel doesn’t think so.

But, after the verbs “guess” and “hope,” we form the negative without the verb “do” and put “not” at the end, like this:

I guess not.

We hope not.

We do not say, “I don’t guess so” or “We don’t hope so.”

What you can do

Wow, we covered a lot today! Don’t try to remember it all. Instead, look and listen for signals of that-clauses anywhere that English is used.

You can start by paying attention when people use the verbs “think,” “believe,” “guess” and “hope” in positive or negative form. Then, ask yourself if the speaker or writer used a full that-clause, left out the word “that” or replaced the clause completely with “so.”

For instance¹², at a restaurant or market, a worker might ask a customer, “Would you like anything else today?” The customer might respond, “I don’t think so, thanks.”

And, I think we are done for today, too!

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

conversation - n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people :the act of talking in an informal way

text - n. a message sent on a mobile¹³ phone

introduce - v. to mention or refer to something for the first time

clue - n. something that helps a person find something

negative - adj. expressing denial¹⁴ or refusal¹⁵

positive - adj. describing a factual sentence

1 repetition   

n.重复；反复

参考例句：

• The perfomance improved with each repetition.演出每演一场都有改进。
• This degree of repetition is not found in any known language.这种重复程度在任何已知语言中都不曾出现。

2 shorten   

vt.弄短，缩小，减少

参考例句：

• Minor accidents can shorten the life of a car.小事故会缩短汽车寿命。
• My dress is too long I must shorten it.我的连衣裙太长了，我得把它截短些。

3 shortened   

v.弄短，缩短( shorten的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She shortened the skirt by an inch. 她把裙子缩短了一英寸。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Vacations have lengthened and the work week has shortened. 假期延长，工作周就缩短了。 来自辞典例句

4 demonstrate   

vt.论证，证明；示范；显示；vi.示威游行

参考例句：

• Let me demonstrate to you how this machine works.我给你演示一下这台机器的运转情况。
• How can I demonstrate to you that my story is true?我怎样才能向你证明我的话是真实的呢？

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 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。

7 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。

8 assume   

vt.假装；假定，设想；承担；呈现，采取

参考例句：

• I assume that he won't cheat you.想来他是不会骗你的。
• We can't assume anything in this case.在这种情况下我们不可能做出假设。

9 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

10 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

12 instance   

n.例，例证，实例

参考例句：

• Can you quote me a recent instance?你能给我举一个最近的例子吗？
• He's a greedy boy,yesterday,for instance,he ate all our biscuits!他是个贪吃的孩子――比如，他昨天把我们的饼干都吃了！

13 mobile   

adj.可移动的，易变的，机动的；n.运动物体

参考例句：

• The old lady sits on a mobile chair every morning.那位老妇人每天上午坐在一把可携带使用的椅子上。
• She's much more mobile now that she's bought a car.自从她买了汽车后，活动量就大多了。

14 denial   

n.否认；拒绝，拒绝给予

参考例句：

• The newspaper printed a denial of the untrue story.报社刊登了否认不实消息的声明。
• Her denial of my advice hurts me.她拒绝我的忠告伤害了我。

15 refusal   

n.拒绝

参考例句：

• He persisted in his refusal to pay the money.他坚持拒绝付钱。
• Our offer was met with a firm refusal.我们的报价被坚决拒绝。