Noun Clauses with "That"
Essential Question
How do “that- noun clauses” help us elaborate on and clarify what we mean?
Grammar in the World
What Do I Know?
Use the interactive below to find out how much you already know about noun clauses with "that." Read each sentence in the exercise below, then choose whether its use of "that" to introduce a noun clause is correct or incorrect:
Building Blocks
Grammar is a complex system and structure of language. Mizzou Academy Grammar Lab spotlights one skill (or block) at a time, but it’s often helpful to see how a skill works together with other, related blocks to build the language structure as a whole. You may find the following resource topics helpful as context for this lesson:
Learn About Noun Clauses with "That"
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The word “that” is like the Swiss Army Knife of words in the English language. It has so many possible functions!
- It can be the subject of a sentence: That is my dog’s favorite toy!
- It can be the object of a verb: I need that in my life.
- It can be an adjective: That candy is the most delicious.
- It can be a subject in a dependent clause: The students that study hard get A’s.
- It can be a conjunction for an adjective clause: The evidence that the prosecutor presented to the jury left little doubt about the defendant’s guilt.
… You get the idea.
As a demonstrative pronoun, the word that does exactly what its name implies. It demonstrates! It points you straight to the information you need. (Which candy? That candy. Which students? The ones that study hard.)
Of course, “which?” is a question that an adjective answers. When you’re working with a noun clause, the word “that” becomes a relative pronoun, and the question becomes “what?”
Allow me to demonstrate:
Anytime you use the pronoun that in a sentence without a clear antecedent (the noun that the pronoun stands for), the meaning of the sentence is left open to interpretation (and perhaps misunderstanding).
I have always said that. (Said what?)
That is the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten. (What was it?!)
Now look what happens when that is followed by a noun clause that provides the answers to the what? questions:
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- I have always said that grammar skills save grades.
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- That the most delicious meal I’ve ever eaten is pancakes says a lot about who I am as a person.
The meaning gets a whole lot clearer, right? Using that + a noun clause in a sentence can help you communicate more clearly and precisely by elaborating on the person, place, thing, or idea in question with specific information or clarifying details.
How to Create and Use a “That- Noun Clause”
The basic formula is simple and always the same:
that + subject + verb
that she persists
that we rise
From that base form, noun clauses can include any number of other modifiers to give more information.
that she persists despite being interrupted constantly
that we rise above despair to achieve our dreams
But no matter how many words it contains, the that- clause maintains that same basic framework, and it all still functions together as one noun clause.
So let’s take a moment to review what a noun clause is and does:
A noun clause is a dependent clause (meaning that it has its own subject and verb, but it cannot stand alone as a complete sentence) that functions as a single noun or pronoun. Therefore, a complete noun clause can do anything in a sentence that a single-word noun can do.
When you add the word that to introduce a noun clause, however, the possible uses are narrowed to just two:
1. It can function as a subject (performs the action of a verb):
- That I love my work keeps me motivated.
- That she graduated with honors pleased her parents.
2. It can function as an object (receives the action of a verb):
- I believe that military service is honorable work.
- The teacher suspected that students were feeling the effects of senioritis.
Like all grammar rules, of course, there are some exceptions and some tricky spots to watch for:
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Some dependent clauses beginning with the word "that" describe a noun or pronoun in the sentence. These are adjective clauses, which serve a different purpose in the sentence than a noun clause. |
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The easiest way to spot the difference is to find the word that in the sentence and then look at the word that comes right before it:
It is love that makes the world go round.
I believe that kindness still exists in an exhausted world.
**If you’re ever unsure, use the “what?” test: Replace the entire clause with the question word “what?” If the sentence still makes grammatical sense, it’s a noun clause.
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The word that sometimes can be understood, rather than included in the sentence outright. |
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This works a lot like sentences with the understood subject (you). Go over there! = (You) go over there! Noun clauses likewise can have an understood that:
**If you’re ever unsure, first find the sentence’s main subject and verb.
If there is a secondary full clause (subject + verb) without a conjunction or punctuation, try inserting the word “that” before the subject of the secondary clause. If the sentence still makes sense, it’s an “understood that,” and probably a noun clause. |
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When a that- noun clause acts as a subject, it can sometimes be too long or sound like the sentence is out of order. When that happens, we introduce the longer clause with the pronoun “it.” |
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In these cases, the word “it” occupies the position in the sentence that the noun clause would ordinarily fill (subject or object), but using the pronoun in its place sounds more natural to the ear. It surprised me that you slept in so late. vs. That you slept in so late surprised me. They made it clear that they had no intention of going. vs. That they had no intention of going they made clear. |
Do I Get It?
Use the exercise below to test your knowledge of noun clauses with "that":