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Apologies if this is an existing question. I am not familiar with the terminology required to tag this appropriately or come up with keywords for the search. Something along the lines of accusative case or what have you.

Perhaps this is a simple case of style.

Take these two sentences;

We've determined that you have previously visited Elbonia.

and

We've determined you have previously visited Elbonia.

Which is the correct structure, and why?

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    @user405662 Thanks. I now know what its called. This would probably be a suitable answer.
    – speciesUnknown
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 13:02
  • "That" is optional but preferable in your example. The version without it tends to be more informal.
    – BillJ
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 13:24
  • Please check the edited answer @speciesUnknown. And apologies for my previous answer, which was clearly wrong.
    – user405662
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 14:37
  • This is a lot more complicated than I initially thought. But yes, the new answer makes sense.
    – speciesUnknown
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 14:42
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    @speciesUnknown It's really not complicated. In that clauses the word "that" is generally optional. The main place where "that" is obligatory is where the content clause is subject of the matrix clause, as in "[That I need help] is clear". And it's inadmissible in a clause that is complement to a preposition like "before". We can't say *"I left before [that he arrived]". Elsewhere, it is generally optional.
    – BillJ
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 15:03

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You're right that this is more an issue of style than of grammar. Both your sentences are correct, with the first being more formal than the second.

Grammar-wise, the clause that you've previously visited Elbonia is a noun clause and it functions as the object of the transitive verb have determined.

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    How can it be a 'reduced relative clause' when it's not even a relative clause. Relative clauses (including the so-called 'reduced' kind) are modifiers in NP structure, but both the OP's examples are declarative content clauses functioning as complement of the verb "determined".
    – BillJ
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 13:19
  • Yes, I agree that my answer is totally flawed. Editing it. Thanks a lot, @BillJ.
    – user405662
    Commented Mar 26, 2021 at 13:20

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