'That'-clauses

◊ GRAMMAR

A `that'-clause is a clause beginning with `that' which is used to refer to a fact or idea.

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◊ reporting

`That'-clauses are commonly used to report something that is said.

She said that she'd been married for about two months.

Sir Peter recently announced that he is to retire at the end of the year.

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See entry at ↑ Reporting.

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◊ after adjectives

You can use a `that'-clause after adjectives which indicate someone's feelings or beliefs to say what fact those feelings or beliefs relate to.

She was sure that he meant it.

He was frightened that something terrible might be said.

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The following adjectives often have a `that'-clause after them:

afraid, amazed, angry, anxious, astonished, aware, certain, concerned, confident, conscious, convinced, disappointed, frightened, glad, happy, pleased, positive, proud, relieved, sad, sorry, sure, surprised, unaware, upset, worried

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You can use a `that'-clause after `it is' and an adjective to comment on a situation or fact.

It is extraordinary that we should ever have met.

See entry at ↑ it.

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◊ after nouns

Nouns such as `assumption', `feeling', and `rumour', which refer to what someone says or thinks, can be followed by a `that'-clause.

Our strategy has been based on the assumption that our adversary is just one man.

I had a feeling that no-one thought I was good enough.

There is no truth in the rumour that the delay was due to a judge falling asleep.

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The following nouns are often followed by a `that'-clause:

admission, advice, agreement, announcement, argument, assertion, assumption, belief, claim, decision, expectation, feeling, hope, idea, impression, information, news, promise, report, rule, rumour, saying, sense, statement, thought, threat, view, warning, wish

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◊ after 'be'

A `that'-clause can be used as a complement after `be'.

Our hope is that this time all parties will co-operate.

The important thing is that we love each other.

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◊ omitting 'that'

`That' is sometimes omitted in all of the above cases, especially in spoken English.

He knew the attempt was hopeless.

She is sure Harold doesn't mind.

I'd just walk in and have the feeling I'd seen some of it before.

All I hope is I can hang back when we have to attack.

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◊ 'the fact that'

In very formal English, a `that'-clause is sometimes used as the subject of a sentence.

That man can aspire to and achieve goodness is evident through all of history.

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However, if the main verb is a reporting verb or `be', it is much more usual to have `it' as the subject, with the `that'-clause coming later.

It cannot be denied that this view is abundantly justified by history.

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In other cases, it is more usual to use a structure consisting of `the fact' and a `that'-clause as the subject.

The fact that your boss is actually offering to do your job for you should certainly prompt you to question his motives.

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Structures beginning with `the fact that' are also used as the object of prepositions and of verbs which cannot be followed by a simple `that'-clause.

...acknowledgement of the fact that we have no intrinsic right to receive answers to all our questions.

We overlooked the fact that the children's emotional development had been retarded.

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