'That'

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'That'
Message de nonof posté le 30-03-2005 à 11:34:12 (S | E | F | I)
Hello everybody,

I have difficulties with the word "That". I don't understand when I have to use it.

For instance, we can say "I think that you are the best" and/or "I think you are the best". Both are they correct?

Another example : can we say "I prefer you eat chicken"? Or is it "I prefer that you eat chicken"?

Thank you in advance.

Réponse: 'That' de ruofei, postée le 30-03-2005 à 15:09:32 (S | E)
hello nonof!

"I think you are the best"
"I think that you are the best"
Are they both correct? Yes, they are. (the 1rst one is just more appropriate for written language)
Besides, the structure subject + verb of perception + subject, is very usual: I know you...., she thinks he...., you are sure I..., we hope they...

Let me clue you in.
1: When 'that' introduces a clause (i.e. subject + verb), it functions as a conjunction and you can drop it.
Ex: You are reading the book (that) I gave you.
You are reading the book - I gave you the book....
('book' isn't the subject of the second verb [gave])

2: But if 'that' introduces extra information [often characteristics] that gives sense to the meaning of the sentence, then you cannot leave it out:
Ex: Books that are 500 pages long, are boring.
Books are 500 pages long - books are boring....
(as you can see, 'books', here, is the subject of both verbs. There's no subject in the underlined item, as opposed to the one in the first example)

Have I dispelled your doubts?
Try with these following sentences yourself. Put 'that' into brackets whenever possible:
1) I didn't know he was American.
2) A house that has no roof is uninhabitable.
3) Have you seen the keys that were on the table?
4) Have you seen the keys that Dan gave me?
5) This is the pair of trousers that she wants to buy.
6) What ever happened to those CDs that were on the shelf?
7) What ever happened to those CDs that your father put in the shelf?

N.B: I prefer something in general.
I would prefer somebody to do something.
I'd rather somebody did something.

I prefer chicken (to meat, for example)
I prefer to eat chicken than to eat meat.
I would prefer you to eat chicken.
I'd rather you ate chicken.

Come back if this is still unclear to you!

Réponse: 'That' de weena, postée le 30-03-2005 à 15:22:32 (S | E)
hello!!!
The sentences "I think that you are the best" and "I think you are the best" are both correct, but the structure of these one "I prefer you eat chicken" and "I prefer that you eat chicken" are not.
We say: To prefer somebody to do something.
So one would say : "I prefer you to eat chicken"
As far as 'that' is concerned, notice that there are 4 that:
-Demonstrative:
ex: I like that man.
-intensive adverb (adverbe intensif):
ex: He can't be that tired
-Conjonction:
ex: I know that he was tired.
-Relative pronoun:
ex The books that he had read were no consolation.
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Edité par bridg le 30-03-2005 15:29
Il est dommage de ne pas profiter des ressources du site également:
tests sur les pronoms relatifs:
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et cours:
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Réponse: 'That' de weena, postée le 31-03-2005 à 15:25:08 (S | E)
En effet Bridg! vous avez raison!!

Réponse: 'That' de werriy58, postée le 22-04-2005 à 19:10:40 (S | E)
Hello everybody,
Allow me nonof to tell you that "THAT" is not a word. It is a conjonction, demonstratif pronoun, relatif pronoun, adjective and adverbe and we can't use it like in french, see your phrases : I think that you are the best; I prefer that you eat chicken; don't translate in french.
Also profit with the Internet link gave by bridg it is excellent. Courage nonof. werriy58

Réponse: 'That' de werriy58, postée le 22-04-2005 à 19:13:54 (S | E)
Hi bridg,
Thank you to remind everybody to profit to the great ressources of our site, our site AnglaisFacile is excellent.
werriy58

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Edité par bridg le 22-04-2005 19:23

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