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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

the function of "that"

Hello.
This is an extract from a newspaper.
"I'm glad to bring her back home, but I have no words to express that it has to be this way," Sato said upon arrival.(from The Japan Times)

In the sentence above, what is the function of that?
Is it used as an appositive? Is it a relative adverb?
  

Top answer

It's a subordinating conjunction introducing the subordinate clause "that it has to be this way". The clause itself functions as complement to the verb "express". Subordinators are meaningless words whose role is to mark the clause they introduce as subordinate.

— BillJ

  • It's a subordinating conjunction introducing the subordinate clause "that it has to be this way".
  • The clause itself functions as complement to the verb "express".
  • Subordinators are meaningless words whose role is to mark the clause they introduce as subordinate.
  • BillJ
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3 Answers
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It's a subordinating conjunction introducing the subordinate clause "that it has to be this way". The clause itself functions as complement to the verb "express".

Subordinators are meaningless words whose role is to mark the clause they introduce as subordinate.

BillJ
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Thank you.

I have a doubt on your reply.
Does your reply mean that express takes a that clause?
My dictionaries do not list express taking a that clause.

What do you think?
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Yes, "express" just like "say" can take a "that clause" but isn't required to:

He expressed his interest.
He expressed (said) that he wanted to travel more.
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