Can "that" be omitted?

[yslamac]

I can merely remember from my grammar book that "that" can be omitted in some situations, but I forget.

For example, " I want to make sure (that) the article has been proofread."

Can that be omitted in the above sentence? Thank you.

 

[Rover_KE]

Yes, it can.

 

[yslamac]

Is it correct that "that" can be omitted when it is joining two clauses? Thank you.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

1. This is how one of my favorite books would explain your sentence:

a. "I want to make sure of this fact (that the article has been proofread)."

i. "That" introduces the appositive "the article has been proofread." The appositive explains what "this fact" refers to. As you can see, the words "of this fact that" are not necessary.

2. Now look at these two sentences that I have made up:

a. "I know that Yslamac is a good student."

i. Another of my favorite books explains such a sentence this way:

(a) "I know that: Yslamac is a good student." The object of "know" is "that." And "Yslamac is a good student" explains what "that" means. But the English people started to feel that "Yslamac is a good student" was the object of the verb "know." Thus, "that" was used ONLY to introduce the noun clause. So in ordinary speech and writing, it can be deleted.

(i) "Everyone says (that) Yslamac is doing very well in English."



James


Authorities: House and Harman, Descriptive English Grammar (1950).
George Curme, A Grammar of the English Language (1931).

 

[engee30]

The publication dates for the grammars says it all to me - back then, you could have questions and answers in one book, in such detail that you couldn't go wrong with them.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Very often, "that" can be omitted when it is not the subject of the second clause.