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JohnBoz Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

What part of speech is "that"?

I know demonstratives and relative pronouns (not even sure if it is a pronoun), but how do I explain "that"after reporting verbs and after some adjectives?
Example:
I think that ...
Make sure that ...

Is it a subordinating conjunction? Is it an adverbial conjunction?

I am in the process of making a worksheet for my students. http://grammarvocabulary.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/that.html

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are a variety of approaches, depending on the authority that you follow. The use of the word "complement" has been gaining popularity. Presentation #8 here is a good powerpoint on clauses as complements and nouns.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are a variety of approaches, depending on the authority that you follow.
  • The use of the word "complement" has been gaining popularity.
  • Presentation #8 here is a good powerpoint on clauses as complements and nouns.
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21 Answers
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Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are a variety of approaches, depending on the authority that you follow.

The use of the word "complement" has been gaining popularity.

Presentation #8 here is a good powerpoint on clauses as complements and nouns.

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Thanks so much.

In the time I was waiting for a reply, I did about 20 different search patterns to find my own answer. I was hoping for a nicer word than "noun clause marker".

The subordinators in noun clauses are called noun clause markers. Here is a list of the noun clause markers:
that
if, whether
Wh-words: how, what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why
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Oh I love the word complementizer much better.

Oh no. Before I looked at your first link, I had a feeling of understanding. I am only getting more confused.

I was thinking:

The Fact that.... + adjective clause using THAT OR WHICH

I noticed the example in the link you gave me and it now shocks me to realise I can't use "which" to replace "that". If
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JohnBozI love the word complementizer
Yes! That's a good one! A word that turns the following clause into a complement.

CJ
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Ah, I think I overlooked remembering to use that with restrictive clauses and which with nonrestrictive clauses.
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JohnBozit now shocks me to realise I can't use "which" to replace "that"
Not when it involves a content clause — a clause that details the contents of the preceding concept in this case. Huddleston gives an interesting ambiguous example:

1 The proposal that he was advancing was preposterous.

that he was advancing can be taken a
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JohnBozthat with restrictive clauses and which with nonrestrictive clauses.
which may be used with either type of clause.

You're right, though, that that is restricted to the restrictive clauses.

CJ
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So I should be able to use "which" in my example. It does not seem possible.
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JohnBozSo I should be able to use "which" in my example.
Too many people have given too many examples already in this thread. I have no idea which example you're talking about. Please write it out again so I can be sure we are both talking about the same example.

CJ
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Sorry I got lost in the examples you gave.

Not when it involves a content clause — a clause that details the contents of the preceding concept in this case.
The fact that I didn't understand what you had written explains why I am still writing.
Only THAT is possible here.

Thanks for the new rule.
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