Reported Speech: thought

[learning54]

Hi teachers,

To report thoughts the conjunction ‘that’ introduces and connects the noun clause with the main clause.
e.g.
He thought that that was the only house around for miles.
He thought that the old lady lived in another world.
My question is, the conjunction 'that' is necessary with the verb 'thought' for reported speech, or it is optional.

Thanks in advance

[emsr2d2]

Hi teachers,

To report thoughts the conjunction ‘that’ introduces and connects the noun clause with the main clause.
e.g.
He thought that that was the only house around for miles.
He thought that the old lady lived in another world.
My question is, the conjunction 'that' is necessary with the verb 'thought' for reported speech, or it is optional.

Thanks in advance

In your two examples, it's optional. There's nothing wrong with:

He thought that was the only house for miles. (Note: "around" doesn't really fit here)
He thought the old lady lived in another world.

[learning54]

In your two examples, it's optional. There's nothing wrong with:

He thought that was the only house for miles. (Note: "around" doesn't really fit here)
He thought the old lady lived in another world.

Hi,
Thank you for you reply.
Are there any cases in which the conjunction 'that' after the verb 'thought' is absolutely necessary in reported speech or it is always optional?

I'm saying it because in reported speech with the verbs 'answered' and 'replied' it looks like it is much better to use the conjunction 'that'.
e.g. He answered that they were his worh clothes.
He replied that they were his work clothes.

Thanks again.

[emsr2d2]

To me, "thought" isn't in the same category as reported speech. When you say "He thought the old woman lived...", you're not saying that a particular thought went through his mind for a moment. "He thought" here means "he believed it to be a fact".

[learning54]

To me, "thought" isn't in the same category as reported speech. When you say "He thought the old woman lived...", you're not saying that a particular thought went through his mind for a moment. "He thought" here means "he believed it to be a fact".

Thank you for your reply. You are absolutely right!
What about the verbs 'answered' and 'replied'? It looks like for them it is much better to use the conjunction 'that'.
e.g. He answered that they were his worh clothes.
He replied that they were his work clothes.

Thanks in advance

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for your reply. You are absolutely right!
What about the verbs 'answered' and 'replied'? It looks like for them it is much better to use the conjunction 'that'.
e.g. He answered that they were his worh clothes.
He replied that they were his work clothes.

Thanks in advance

In those cases, "that" is required, you're right.

[learning54]

In those cases, "that" is required, you're right.

Hi,
Thank you once again for your reply.

Therefore I can assume that with these verbs, 'answered' and 'replied', the conjunction 'that' should be used.

It is only with the verbs, 'said', 'told', 'asked', and 'thought' that it is optional then. Am I right?

Thanks in advance

[emsr2d2]

Hi,
Thank you once again for your reply.

Therefore I can assume that with these verbs, 'answered' and 'replied', the conjunction 'that' should be used.

It is only with the verbs, 'said', 'told', 'asked', and 'thought' that it is optional then. Am I right?

Thanks in advance

Well, let's see...

I answered that I would be there later.
I replied that I would be there later.
I said I would be there later.
I told him I would be there later.
I asked if I could get there later.
I thought I would be there later.

I've thought of another one:

I opined that his clothes looked a bit shabby.

With "to opine" we need "that". To be fair though, we don't use "to opine" very often.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=learning54;812162]


NOT A TEACHER


(1) The teacher has given you and me an excellent answer.

(2) Do you have access (in print or online) to Mr. L. G. Alexander's popular Longman English Grammar?

(3) In the back are the appendices. One of them gives detailed information about many reporting verbs.

(a) It tells you which ones are usually followed by "that."

(b) It tells you which ones can take a personal object: He warned (me) that I'd better go.

(c) It tells you which ones may be followed by question clauses: He asked when I would be ready.

(d) It tells you which ones can be followed by if or whether: He asked if/whether Jim had arrived.

(e) It tells you which ones let you use inversion in DIRECT speech: "I'm ready," John said/said John.

(4) Here are a few of the verbs with which that is usually not omitted:


accept that
affirm that
certify that
confirm that
emphasize that
indicate that
matter that

etc.

[learning54]

Well, let's see...

I answered that I would be there later.
I replied that I would be there later.
I said I would be there later.
I told him I would be there later.
I asked if I could get there later.
I thought I would be there later.

I've thought of another one:

I opined that his clothes looked a bit shabby.

With "to opine" we need "that". To be fair though, we don't use "to opine" very often.

Thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate it.