That–Clause
A content clause as subject
We need more people in math and science! We are not prepared for the future. There are too few scientists to replace those who are retiring. —John Glenn, former astronaut and Senator
That– Subject Clause
| THAT |
|---|
A that-clause can serve as the subject of a sentence. This placement is for emphasis. More commonly, we place "heavier" content at the end of the clause. See It–Subj Clauses. |
That we need more people in math and science is clear to everyone. (be + adjective) |
That we are not prepared for the future concerns us. (verb) |
That there are too few new scientists is well-known. (passive)
|
| NOUN PHRASE or GERUND CLAUSE |
|---|
In most cases, a that-clause can be restated in simpler terms using nouns, gerunds and/or modifiers. |
The country's need for more people in math and science is clear to everyone. (NP) |
Preparing for the future concerns us. (gerund clause) |
The insufficient number of new scientists is well-known. (NP) |
retire (v.) – stop working usually after age 65
More commonly, heavy or longer content is placed at the end of a clause. See it-clause.
A gerund clause is a nonfinite clause (formerly called a gerund phrase)
That – Clause
Verbs and Complements
That – Clause verbs and complements
Verbs
| BE VERB | |
is |
was |
has been |
had been |
will be |
should be |
| OTHER VERBS | |
amazes |
amuses |
angers |
disgusts |
disturbs |
enriches |
influences |
infuriates |
makes us [verb] |
reveals |
shows |
stuns |
appeals [to] |
indicates X [to] |
means X [to] |
astonish |
bothers |
deters |
helps |
illustrates |
impresses |
matters |
offends |
reflects |
surprises |
upsets |
occurs |
suggests X [to] |
Verb Complements
| ADJECTIVES | |
apparent |
clear |
critical |
due [to] |
evident |
essential |
obvious |
remarkable |
significant |
undeniable |
vital |
worrying |
disconcerting |
disgusting |
distressing |
important |
indisputable |
inevitable |
striking |
suggestive |
true |
|
| NOUNS | |
an accident |
a reason |
a consequence |
a problem |
no reason [for] |
the fault [of] |
a factor / a fact |
a miracle |
a result [of] |
a source [of] |
a measure [of] |
a pity |
| PARTICIPLES | |
acknowledged |
appreciated |
believed |
found true |
recognized |
remembered |
challenged |
doubted |
disputed |
understood |
verified |
well-known |
That Clause
Agreement
| SINGULAR |
|---|
A that-clause is singular in agreement. |
That our youth needs education is / was his message. |
That politicians tell you what you want to hear is not news. |
| PLURAL |
|---|
However if there are two that-clauses joined by and, the agreement is plural. |
That our youth needs education and that teachers need training are/ were his messages. |
That the politicians tell lies and that people are beginning to believe them are news. |
Common Mistakes
Focus and Solution
| FOCUS | SOLUTION |
|---|---|
That he is losing his hair is too bad. (not used) |
That he is losing his hair is frustrating / upsetting. Use an adjective, such as, unfortunate rather than an expression. (See list above.) |
That he building a spacecraft is remarkable. (incomplete verb in the clause)
|
That he is building a spacecraft is remarkable. Building a spacecraft is remarkable. |
Grammar Notes
Traditional and Linguistic Descriptions
| TRADITIONAL & ESL DESCRIPTION | LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
In traditional grammar, "a that-class is used as a subject." |
In linguistic description, a content clause may function as the Subject of a clause, or also said, "some verbs may license a content clause as subject." |
That-clause used as a Subject It is possible for that-clauses to be used as the subject of a sentence, as in (e). The word that is not omitted when the that-clause is used as the subject. More often, a that-clause in the subject position begins with the fact that, as in (f), or is introduced by it is a fact that, as in (g). (e) That Ann likes her new job is clear.
|
The prototypical subject is an NP ; all verbs (and VPs) allow an NP as subject, but some [verbs] license a content clause as well:
Properties: Unlike an NP subject, a content clause subject, does not undergo subject-verb inversion. Subject-verb agreement holds between the verb and the initial element, a single clause, or a coordination of clauses (plural).
|
A that-clause can be the subject of a sentence. — That she should forget me so quickly was rather a shock. A that-clause can be a complement after be. — The main thing is that your are happy. — Swan 583 |
Clause types: relative, comparative, and content clauses
— CaGEL 11 §2 |
CATEGORIES: NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner; PP – prepositional phrase; P – preposition; AdvP – adverb phrase; Adv – adverb; AdjP– adjective phrase; Adj – adjective
FUNCTIONS (capitalized): Subject: Subject, Predicate: Predicator (V) Complements: (elements required by verb to complete the clause) Object, Indirect Object, Predicative Complement Adjuncts: (supplemental) Adj, Adv
Resources
Practice 1
Losing Hair
Change the wording to a that-clause as the subject of the sentence.
- Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.
Practice 2
Hair Extensions
Rewrite the sentence to begin with "that".
- Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.
- Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.