Please help! Is "that" can be removed in this sentence?

Question

Because a repairperson does not go to a job with only the tools "that" he or she knows will be needed.

I think it is combined with two sentences below

a. Because a repairperson does not go to a job with only the tools.

b. He or she knows the tools will be needed.

and the tools in b is not the object, so I guess it can't be removed

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

First, you need a complete sentence, like this one:

A repairman does not go to a job with only the tools (that) they know will be needed.

The conjunction "that" can be omitted.

CalifJim · Answer

anonymousthe tools in b is not the object, so I guess it can't be removed
[More to the point, 'the tools' in b is the subject (of its clause).]

If 'he or she knows' were not there, that would be correct. 'that' cannot be removed in that case:

with the tools that will be needed OK
with the tools will be needed NO

But if you add an introductory parenthetical 'he knows', 'she thinks', or similar phrase, the rule changes, and you can drop 'that'.

with the tools that he knows will be needed OK
with the tools he knows will be needed OK

Likewise,

for the principles which we firmly believe are necessary OK
for the principles we firmly believe are necessary OK

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

anonymous Please help! ~~Is "that" can be~~ removed in this sentence?

By the way,

Can "that" be removed ...?

CJ

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