Exploring the Diverse Functions of That-Clauses in English
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That-Clauses in English
Different Kinds and Functions of That-Clauses
Different kinds of that-clauses serve different functions in the English language.
Post-Predicate That-Clauses
That-clauses in the post-predicate position are the most common type. These clauses typically report human speech and thoughts.
Example: I think Stuart’s gone a bit mad.
Post-predicate that-clauses controlled by adjectives are less common than those controlled by verbs.
Subject Predicative That-Clauses
When a that-clause serves as a subject predicative to a copular verb, it usually has one of three functions:
- Describing a problem: Example: The only problem may be that the compound is difficult to remove after use.
- Presenting reasons, results, or conclusions: Example: Our