'That's all(that) there is to the story'

[Jorge81]

A student in my Korean English conversation posed this question to me last week in class. What are the functions of the different parts of this sentence:

That's all (that) there is to the story.

I believe that the word ''that" (not written in the original sentence) is a zero relative pronoun (omitted), as part of a reduced relative clause.

In that case, if it is true, what is the function of "there". Is this sentence, as it is normally spoken gramatically correct?

Thank you much for considering this one.. it's really got me stumped! Now I wish I could remember my university grammar classes!

[Jorge81]

I take it that this must be as difficult to others as it is to me (and many other teachers I have asked) ^^

[5jj]

In that case, if it is true, what is the function of "there". Is this sentence, as it is normally spoken gramatically correct?

I take it that you are familiar with 'there' as a preparatory subject - There is only a book on the table.

We can then move on to: A book is all [=everything] (that) there is on the table. (There is nothing else)

It's just one step to:

There is nothing of importance to/in the story
That [=nothing of importance]'s all (that) there is to the story.

I have used 'nothing of importance' in my example.'That' can refer to whatever explanation the speaker has just given for the lack of significance of the story.