Return to Answer

"That" can almost always be dropped. In your example, "that" is being used as a conjunction i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When "that" is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "That was a nice question", it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "Yours was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "Several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "Several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with "who", it should be kept. E.g. "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.

That can almost always be dropped. In your example, that is being used as a conjunction, i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When that is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "that was a nice question," it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "yours was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with who, it should be kept. For example, "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.

"That" can almost always be dropped. In your example, "that" is being used as a conjunction i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When "that" is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "That was a nice question", it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "Your's was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "Several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "Several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with "who", it should be kept. E.g. "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.

"That" can almost always be dropped. In your example, "that" is being used as a conjunction i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When "that" is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "That was a nice question", it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "Yours was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "Several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "Several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with "who", it should be kept. E.g. "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.

"That" can almost always be dropped. In your example, "that" is being used as a conjunction i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the subject or object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When "that" is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "That was a nice question", it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "Your's was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "Several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "Several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with "who", it should be kept. E.g. "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.

"That" can almost always be dropped. In your example, "that" is being used as a conjunction i.e. it is introducing a subordinate clause as the object of the main sentence. In most situations where this is the case, it can be dropped. I cannot think of any where it can't be dropped.

When "that" is used as a demonstrative pronoun, e.g. "That was a nice question", it must be kept or replaced with another pronoun, e.g. "Your's was a nice question."

When used as a relative pronoun, it can usually be dropped. For instance, "Several people read the question that you wrote" can also be "Several people read the question you wrote". But if used in a question with "who", it should be kept. E.g. "Who was the person that wrote this question?" cannot be *"Who was the person wrote this question?".

I'm sure I missed something, but the comments should keep me honest.