THAT CLAUSES

Exercise 1.

Decide whether the following statements are true and false and justify your answer with an example:

e.g. That clauses are finite clauses, starting with a subordinating conjunction.

True e.g. I said that I had met your friends. That subordinating conjunction, had met – finite verb
form

1. That clauses include relative clauses.

2. We often use that clauses after mental state verbs.
3. That clauses complement some adjectives, sometimes after introductory it.
4. That clauses are common in indirect declaratives and imperatives.
5. They are sometimes used in indirect interrogatives.
6. They are commonly found after reporting and thinking verbs.
7. We often omit that from the beginning of its clause.
8. That clauses can be one kind of nominal clause.
9. A that clause in front position may start with no that.

Exercise 2.

Identify the various types of that clause in the following sentences. Decide what their function is and
note when that has been deleted:

e.g.: ‘Oh, I know I’m ignorant”Laura Trevelyan laughed. I know that (deleted) I am ingorant – that I
am ignorant Direct Object

1. But make sure Rose that you do not wait too long. - that you do not wait too long Direct
Object

2. That strange foreign men should come on a Sunday was quite exasperating. That strange
foreign men(that) should come

3. It was private, like her recent decision that she could not remain a convinced believer.
Prepositionl Object position
4. She noticed thoughtfully that his heels had frayed the ends of his trousers. OD
5. Then it was learnt that he would become a great botanist instead.OD
6. It was obvious that pity did not exceed concern at her niece’s indiscretion. OD
7. I am sure that I can lead the expedition. OD
8. It did appear momentarily that permancence can be achived.OD
 Exercise 3.

Join the following pairs of sentences using that clauses. Indicate when that can be dropped and
identify the syntactic function of the subordinate that clause:

e.g. He might already be dead. The fear overwhelmed her.

The fear (that) he might already be dead overwhelmed her. appositive

1. She was going to succeeed. It has always been clear. It has always been clear that she
was going to succeeded.
2. He had been mislead from the first. The sudden horror struck him. The sudden horror
struck him that he had been mislead from the first.
3. One day he would recover. The doctor assured him. The doctor assured him that one day
he would recover
4. I had never wanted his death. I shrieked it. I shrieked it that I had never wanted his death
5. These birds have wings but never fly. Isn’t it strange? Isn’t it strange that these birds
have wings but never fly?
6. He should spend five years in prison. The judge decreed it. The judge decreed that he
should spend five years in prison
7. They might never meet again. That was all she could think of. All she could think of was
that they might never meet again.
8. You will be in good company. You will soon find out. You will soon find out that you will
be in good company.

Exercise 4.

Combine each of the pairs of sentences below so as to form one sentence containing a
nominal that clause; decide in each case whether the subordinator is optional or obligatory
and decide what function the that clause fulfills:

e.g. We have only enough water for two more days. I told you so.

I told you (that) we have only enough water for two more days. Direct object

1. We have only enough for two days. I am very sorry. = I am very sorry that we have only
enough for two days. OD
2. We have only enough for two days. That is our conclusion. = Our conclusios is that we
have only enough for two days.
3. In view of the draught, there is only enough water for two days. That is our conclusion. =
In view of the draught, our conclusion is that there is only enough water for two days
4. We have only enough for two days. I estimate that having taken very careful
measurements. = Having taken very careful measurements I estimate that we have only
enough for two days.
 5. We have only enough for two days.That is very alarming. = It is very alarming that we
have only enough for two days.
6. We conclude that there is only enough for two days,.Our conclusion has been reached
after very careful checking. = Our conclusion has been reached after very careful
checking that there is only enough for two days
7. We cannot stay here. We must face the fact. We must face to face that we can not stay
here.
8. I am convinced we cannot stay here. The results will be disastrous if we do. = I am
convinced that we cannot stay here, the results will be disastrous if we do.
9. We have almost exhausted our suppplies. How can I convince you of that? = How can I
convince you that we have almost exhausted our supplies?

Exercise 5

Turn the following sentences in reported speech using as the reporting verb he/she told. Pay
attention to the change of tense.

e.g. I am quite hungry and I don’t have time to eat.

She said she was quite hungry and did not have time to eat.

1. My friends are getting married soon. She said she was getting married soon.
2. He has been playing out all day long. He said he had been playing out all day long.
3. I’ll be leaving tomorrow.She said she was leaving tomorrow.
4. Tom was ill for more than a month. He said he would be ill for more than a month.
5. He can speak English quite welll now. He said he could speak English quite well now.
6. You may finish it tomorrow. She said she could finish it the next day.
7. My friend has studied engineering. He said he had studied engineering.
8. I don’t know what John is doing there. She said that she don’t know what John was
doing there.
9. People hardly go to the movies these days. She said she hardly goes to the movies
that days.

Exercise 6.

Turn the following questions into reporte speech. Introduce your reported question with She wanted
to know:

e.g. Do you have a car?

She wanted to know whether I had a car.

1. Where do your friends live? She wanted to know where my friends live.
 2. Why hasn’t Tom gone to school today? She wanted to know why Tom didn't go to school
that day.
3. Did you have a good time at the seaside? She wanted to know if you had good time at the
seaside.
4. Why do you have to borrow money? She wanted to know why you needed to borrow
money.
5. Must you do it now? She wanted to know if you had to do it then.
6. What does this word mean? She wanted to know what that word meant.
7. Can you tell me his address? She wanted to know if you could tell her his address.
8. Why don’t you answer the phone? She wanted to know why you didn't answer at the phone.
9. Shall we have dinner together? She wanted to know if we should have dinner together.

Exercise 7.

Fill in each of the numbered blanks in the passages with one word. The first one is done as an
example:

A. Thank you for your e-mail. I agree that it is essential you be fully (1) ACQUAINTED…. with the facts
of the case. They are as follows. It was agreed six months ago that, come what (2)… the above
residence (3) …. decorated inside and out before the end of June. This has not happened and my
solicitor has recommended I (4)…. with legal action forthwith.

May I suggest that you (5)… me as a matter of some urgency.

B. Dear Brian,

I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news.I know we agreed it was advisable that Stavros (6) spend the
summer holidays with you. Unfortunately my parents have changed their minds and are now
insisting that he (7) going to Athens to stay with Aunt Sotiria. (8) Hope it to say they are not alllowing
any discussion! Athens it is although he really wishes he (9) spend at least share the period between
you and his aunt. Dimos is going to England for the summer. If only life (10) would be so simple for all
of us.

Bibliography:

Broughton, G. 1990. Penguin English Grammar A-Z Exercises for Advanced Students. London: Penguin

Cloze, R.A. 1989. A University Grammar of English Workbook. Harlow: Longman

Popa, E. 2005. English Language Syntax. Bucuresti: Ministerul Educatiei si cercetarii

Side, R. and G. Wellman 2007. Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambrdige Advanced and Proficiency.
Harlow: Longman