[Grammar] It was you (that) told me to say so.

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wotcha

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1. It was you (that) told me to say so.

2. It was me (that) you told to say so.


Can 'that' in these sentences be omitted?
 

Raymott

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1. It was you (that) told me to say so.

2. It was me (that) you told to say so.


Can 'that' in these sentences be omitted?
You can omit it in 2, as you can in "It was you I told to say so."
You can't omit it in 1, or in "It was me (that) told you to say so."
 

MikeNewYork

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We can only omit "that" before a relative clause if it is not the subject of that clause. In #1, "that" is the subject of "that told me to say so"; it cannot be omitted. It is optional in #2.
 

emsr2d2

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I would use "who", not "that" anyway.

It was you who told me to say so.
It was I who told you to say so.
 

BobK

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I would use "who", not "that" anyway.

It was you who told me to say so.
It was I who told you to say so.
...and I wouldn't, but I'd promote the person told (I was tempted to say 'tellee' but resisted ;-)) to make it the first word, using a dummy 'the one/person... etc': 'You were the one I told...'/'I was the one who told you...'/'I'm the one you should...'

b
 
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