Noun clauses that begin with that

Noun clauses that begin with that

I believe that people are the same the word over.

We have cultural differences and language differences. But we all smile when we're happy . A smile is universally human. And we need food and sleep. We love, laugh, cry, work, grow old... the world over:

I hope that people over the word live in peace.
I know that there have always been wars, but
I predict that someday humans will find better ways to solve their differences.

Do you see how useful That-Clauses is in expressing beliefs, hopes, thoughts? That's the That-Clause job!

Here is a good list of verbs that That-Clauses follow.

Notice how most of them express "mental activity"; that means things that go on inside your mind: thoughts, guesses, predictions, dreams. Look the list over. It has a lot of useful words.

You can omit That. It doesn't really mean anything:

I believe we're all one family.

See? No That after believe. People omit That from a That-clause a lot, especially in speaking.

Common verbs followed by That-clauses:

assume that agree that believe that conclude that decide that demostrate that discover that doubt that dream that fear that

feel that figure out that find out that forget that guess that hear that hope that Know that imagine that indicate that

learn that notice that observe that predict that presume that presend that prove that read that realize that recall that

recognize that regret that remember that reveal that say that show that suppose that suspect that teach that think that understand that

That-clause is also usefull in expressing feelings!

I'm happy that we have this time together.
I'm pleased that you came to visit me.

but remember, you can omit that:

I'm sorry you have to leave soon.
I'm sure we'll see each other again sometime.

One last thing. You can also use That-Clauses after it is true or it is a fact... very useful:

It's true that the population of the earth is exploding.
It's a fact that there are more than 6 billion people on earth.

Common expressions followed by That-Clauses:

be afraid that be amazed that be angry that be ashamed that be astounded that be aware that be certain that be convinced that

be delighted that be disappointed that be fortunate that be furious that be glad that be happy that be horrified that be impressed tha

be lucky that be positive that be pleased that be proud that be sad that be sorry that be shocked that be sure that

be surprised that be terrified that be thrilled that be worried that It is true that It is a fact that

Do hourses sleep standin up?
I don't really know, but I think so.

So have a lot of jobs in English, and one of them is to substitute for That-Clause. "Substitute" means So takes his place. When we said "I think so," this meant:

I think that horses sleep standing up.

As you see, you can use So, instead of a whole, long That-Clause.

So is really useful in conversation.