A sentence starting with "that"

[pinkie9]

I was wondering if it is okay to start a sentence with “that”.
For example,

The letter must at least include the following.

1. The reason why you would like to apply for this program.
2. That you have obtained consent from your parents about your participating this program.
3. …
4. …

For No. 2, I guess “The fact that you have…” is better, but I think I've seen similar sentences without "The fact".
So please tell me whether it is okay to omit “the fact” and just start the sentence with “that”.
Thank you.

 

[bhaisahab]

I was wondering if it is okay to start a sentence with “that”.
For example,

The letter must at least include the following.

1. The reason why you would like to apply for this program.
2. That you have obtained consent from your parents about your participating this program.
3. …
4. …

For No. 2, I guess “The fact that you have…” is better, but I think I've seen similar sentences without "The fact".
So please tell me whether it is okay to omit “the fact” and just start the sentence with “that”.
Thank you.

You can't start that sentence with "that'". I wouldn't start it with "The fact that" either. "Evidence that" is better.

 

[pinkie9]

Thank you.

How about this? Is the following (a) incorrect too? Please tell me yes or no with a reason.

4.8.10 Both the informed consent discussion and the written informed consent form and any other written information to be provided to subjects should include explanations of the following:
(a) That the trial involves research.
(b) The purpose of the trial.
(c) The trial treatment(s) and the probability for random assignment to
each treatment.

The above is from the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration)'s website.
(Please see Page 23/63)
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/regulatoryinformation/guidances/ucm129515.pdf

 

[Barb_D]

Maybe this usage is uniquely American, but we start with "That" frequently, and I will not agree that "The fact that" is an improvement.

"That you asked me first instead of just doing it your own way as you used to shows me that you are trying to learn."
"That you would presume to come here and ask this of me shows you just how arrogant you are."
"That you were able to reach the summit at all is a great testament to your willpower. Never mind that the others in your group got there so far ahead of you."

 

[5jj]

Maybe this usage is uniquely American, but we start with "That" frequently, and I will not agree that "The fact that" is an improvement.

That you can start a sentence with 'that' in BrE is something I have often said.

 

[BobSmith]

I was wondering if it is okay to start a sentence with “that”.
For example,

The letter must at least include the following.

1. The reason why you would like to apply for this program.
2. That you have obtained consent from your parents about your participating this program.

[Not a teacher]

If you can use 1. above, you can use 2. because they are both not sentences. That is to say, I don't think your question of using "that" at the start is the correct question (it might be "can I use a list of phrases instead of complete sentences here?"). That being said, you most certainly can start a sentence with "that". That I've given you some examples may or may not help you make a decision.

 

[BobK]

:up:

I was wondering if it is okay to start a sentence with “that”.
For example,

The letter must at least include the following.

1. The reason why you would like to apply for this program.
2. That you have obtained consent from your parents about your participating this program.
3. …
4. …

For No. 2, I guess “The fact that you have…” is better, but I think I've seen similar sentences without "The fact".
So please tell me whether it is okay to omit “the fact” and just start the sentence with “that”.
Thank you.

The trouble with the list is a lack of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallelism_(grammar): the first list element is a noun phrase; the second is a subordinate clause. A sentence can start with 'That', but that (the second LE) isn't a sentence anyway. ;-)

b

 

[bhaisahab]

That you can start a sentence with 'that' in BrE is something I have often said.

That you can start a sentence with 'that' in BrE is something I agree with.
Just not the "sentence" in the OP.

 

[pinkie9]

Thank you, everyone.

So,
- The example I posted is a phrase, not a sentence.
- You can start a sentence or a phrase with "that".
Is that correct?

That you can start a sentence with 'that' in BrE is something I agree with.
Just not the "sentence" in the OP.

What do you mean by "OP"?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you, everyone.

So,
- The example I posted is a phrase, not a sentence.
- You can start a sentence or a phrase with "that".
Is that correct? Yes.


What do you mean by "OP"?
This stands for "Original Poster" - the person who started the thread - in this case, you.

See above.

 

[pinkie9]

I see. Thank you.

So... (I hope this is going to be my last question about this topic.)
Regarding the example in my first post (2. That you have obtained consent from ...),if I ask is it okay to start this "phrase" (not "sentence") with "that", is the answer Yes (when not taking into account the issue of parallelism)?

If not (and the example in my second post, (a) That the trial involves research is okay,could anyone please tell me the reason or the difference between the two examples?

 

[BobK]

...


What do you mean by "OP"?

It's a shame that in the last upgrade (tjat is, the one before the most recent one) ', when 'Threadstarter' first appeared, it didn't reflect the accepted usage 'OP'. If instead of the new word 'Threadstarter', a post's header designated the OP as 'Original Poster' it would be clearer (and save questions like this)

b

 

[pinkie9]

(and save questions like this)

I agree. I guess OP means not only "original poster" but also " original post" though.
I now think bhaisabhab meant the orinigal "post" (not the original "poster").

And I'm still waiting for a reply to my last two questions in #11. Please.

 

[Barb_D]

A noun phrase, either acting as the subject in a full sentence or as one noun phrase among many in a list, can start with "That."

Does that answer both questions?

 

[5jj]

A noun phrase, either acting as the subject in a full sentence or as one noun phrase among many in a list, can start with "That."

That that 'that' that you ended your sentence with can start a noun phrase seems clear. ;-)

 

[BobK]

That that 'that' that you ended your sentence with can start a noun phrase seems clear. ;-)

And Tom, where Dick had had 'had' had had 'had had'. 'Had had' had had the examiner's approval.

But yours was probably original. ;-)

b

 

[pinkie9]

A noun phrase, either acting as the subject in a full sentence or as one noun phrase among many in a list, can start with "That."

Does that mean Yes? :?:

 

[emsr2d2]

Does that mean Yes? :?:

What do you think it means?

 

[Red5]

It's a shame that in the last upgrade (tjat is, the one before the most recent one) ', when 'Threadstarter' first appeared, it didn't reflect the accepted usage 'OP'. If instead of the new word 'Threadstarter', a post's header designated the OP as 'Original Poster' it would be clearer (and save questions like this)

b

It is a plugin and has nothing to do with any of the forum upgrades. If you want it to use the phrase 'Original Poster' instead of 'Threadstarter' then you only need suggest the change and I'll see if it's possible.

 

[Red5]

It now states "Threadstarter / Original Poster". ;-)