Conjunction | Omitting That
The word THAT is used as a Conjunction to connect a subordinate clause to a preceding verb.
Omitting That
Isabel knew [that] she was about to be fired.
She definitely felt [that] her fellow employees hadn't supported her.
I hope [that] she doesn't blame me.
Sometimes omitting the THAT creates a break in the flow of a sentence, a break that can be adequately bridged with the use of a comma:
(i) The problem is that production in her department has dropped.
Sometimes omitting the THAT creates a break in the flow of a sentence, a break that can be adequately bridged with the use of a comma:
(i) The problem is that production in her department has dropped.
(ii) Remember, that we didn't have these problems before she started working here.
As a general rule, if the sentence feels just as good without the THAT, if no ambiguity results from its omission, if the sentence is more efficient or elegant without it, then we can safely omit that.
Theodore Bernstein lists three conditions in which we should maintain the conjunction THAT:
Theodore Bernstein lists three conditions in which we should maintain the conjunction THAT:
(A) When a time element intervenes between the verb and the clause: "The boss said yesterday that production in this department was down fifty percent." (Notice the position of 'yesterday'.)
(B) When the verb of the clause is long delayed: "Our annual report revealed that some losses sustained by this department in the third quarter of last year were worse than previously thought." (Notice the distance between the subject losses and its verb, 'were'.)
(C) When a second that can clear up who said or did what: "The CEO said that Isabel's department was slacking off and that production dropped precipitously in the fourth quarter." (Did the CEO say that production dropped or was the drop a result of what he said about Isabel's department? The second that makes the sentence clear.) ... 'Do's, Don'ts and Maybes of English Usage' by Theodore Bernstein.
(D) 'Doubt' एवं 'doubtful' के साथ सकारात्मक (affirmative) वाक्यों में whether का प्रयोग किया जाता है, लेकिन Negative एवं Interrogative वाक्यों में doubt या doubtful के साथ 'that' का प्रयोग किया जा सकता है।
Look at the following sentences:
I doubt whether she will attend the function or not.
It is doubtful whether she will agree or not.
(B) When the verb of the clause is long delayed: "Our annual report revealed that some losses sustained by this department in the third quarter of last year were worse than previously thought." (Notice the distance between the subject losses and its verb, 'were'.)
(C) When a second that can clear up who said or did what: "The CEO said that Isabel's department was slacking off and that production dropped precipitously in the fourth quarter." (Did the CEO say that production dropped or was the drop a result of what he said about Isabel's department? The second that makes the sentence clear.) ... 'Do's, Don'ts and Maybes of English Usage' by Theodore Bernstein.
(D) 'Doubt' एवं 'doubtful' के साथ सकारात्मक (affirmative) वाक्यों में whether का प्रयोग किया जाता है, लेकिन Negative एवं Interrogative वाक्यों में doubt या doubtful के साथ 'that' का प्रयोग किया जा सकता है।
Look at the following sentences:
I doubt whether she will attend the function or not.
It is doubtful whether she will agree or not.
Is it doubtful that she will agree?
I don't know that she will agree.
I don't know that she will agree.
Is there any doubt that she will agree?
कई बार whether के साथ 'as to' का प्रयोग करके वाक्य बनाए जाते हैं जो कि गलत हैं।
I doubt as to whether she will agree or not. (Incorrect)
कई बार whether के साथ 'as to' का प्रयोग करके वाक्य बनाए जाते हैं जो कि गलत हैं।
I doubt as to whether she will agree or not. (Incorrect)
I doubt whether she will agree or not. (Correct)
I can't guess as to whether she has gone or not. (Incorrect)
I can't guess as to whether she has gone or not. (Incorrect)
I can't guess whether she has gone or not. (Correct)
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