When Should You Avoid Using That?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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To decide whether you can omit “that” from a sentence, check how naturally and intelligibly the sentence reads without it. Usually, you can drop “that”

if it follows a verb that essentially means “to say

.” This omission mimics natural speech and shouldn’t change the meaning of the sentence.

When can you omit that?

When to use “that” After a verb of attribution (said, stated, announced, disclosed), the word “that” often can be omitted with no loss of meaning: He said (that) he

was tired

. No need for “that.” Better to omit.

Is it grammatically correct to use that that?

A: When a sentence has two words back to back, like “that that” or “this this,” we hear an echo. … But your sentences are good examples;

both are grammatically correct

and neither requires any special punctuation. Let’s look at them one at a time. (1) “I can see that that is going to be a problem.”

What is the rule for using that?

The clause that comes after the word “which” or “that” is the determining factor in deciding which one to use.

If the clause is absolutely pertinent to the meaning of the sentence

, you use “that.” If you could drop the clause and leave the meaning of the sentence intact, use “which.”

When should you use the word that?

  1. 1 —used to introduce a clause that modifies a noun or adjective I’m sure that it’s true.
  2. 2 —used to introduce a clause that modifies an adverb or adverbial expression He can go anywhere that he wants.
  3. 3 —used to introduce a noun clause serving especially as the subject or object of a verb He said that he was afraid.

When to use that or leave it out?

In general, put it in

when the sentence sounds better with it

, or when it makes the reader’s job easier, i.e. makes it so they don’t have to pause or reread the words to understand the meaning of the sentence.

Which used in grammar?

We use which in questions as a determiner and interrogative pronoun to ask for specific information: ‘Which car are we going in? ‘ he asked Alexander.

Can we use two that in a sentence?

2 Answers. Yes,

the words “that that” can appear in a grammatically correct sentence

. The first “that” is a relative pronoun (typically used to clarify something), and the second “that” is a demonstrative pronoun (specifying the subject matter at hand).

What is the difference between which and that?

The standard rule of grammar is that the usage of that vs. which depends upon whether the following

clause is restrictive

or non-restrictive. “That” is used to indicate a specific object, item, person, condition, etc., while “which” is used to add information to objects, items, people, situations, etc.

Is it OK to use that in a sentence?

When to Use ‘That’ in a Sentence

First, it’s important to know when

“that” is really needed in a sentence

. This word frequently attaches dependent clauses to independent clauses, and it is strictly necessary if a clause begins with certain subordinating conjunctions, such as before, while and in addition to.

When to use which vs what?

2 Answers. “Which” is more

formal when asking a question that requires a choice

between a number of items. You can use “What” if you want, though. Generally speaking, you can replace the usage of “which” with “what” and be OK grammatically.

Can which and that be used interchangeably?

Contrary to popular belief, “which” and “that” do not function in a similar capacity. Although “which” and “that” are both pronouns,

they are not interchangeable

. “Which” is used for non-restrictive phrases, and “that” is used for restrictive phrases.

When should you use which or that?

  1. In a defining clause, use that.
  2. In non-defining clauses, use which.
  3. Remember, which is as disposable as a sandwich bag. If you can remove the clause without destroying the meaning of the sentence, the clause is nonessential and you can use which.

Which is correct sentence?

Subject-Verb Agreement. In order for a sentence to be grammatically correct,

the subject and verb must both be singular or plural

. In other words, the subject and verb must agree with one another in their tense. If the subject is in plural form, the verb should also be in plur al form (and vice versa).

How can I use that in English grammar?

‘That’ is

used as a determiner at the beginning of sentences to indicate one object which is far from the speaker

. Note that the plural form of ‘that’ as a determiner is ‘those. ‘ ‘That’ and ‘those’ is generally used with ‘there’ to indicate that the object(s) is not close to the speaker.

Leah Jackson
Author
Leah Jackson
Leah is a relationship coach with over 10 years of experience working with couples and individuals to improve their relationships. She holds a degree in psychology and has trained with leading relationship experts such as John Gottman and Esther Perel. Leah is passionate about helping people build strong, healthy relationships and providing practical advice to overcome common relationship challenges.