The fact that…

  • B2 · Upper-intermediate
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • that-clauses

That-clauses after nouns, adjectives and it: The fact that children can't tell an ad from a video worries many parents. It's clear that young children are easy targets. I'm sure that parents can decide. The student reads both sides of a debate on advertising to children, learns when that can go, and argues one side.

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The fact thatIt's strange thatThe good news is

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: should ads for children be banned?Reading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the that-clausesGrammar exercise
  6. 6the fact that…, It's clear that…Grammar rule
  7. 7Which is right?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Can that go?Grammar exercise
  9. 9A parent's postGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12The debateSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: which sentence is correct?Grammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: build the sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a letter to the editorDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. How many ads do you think you see on a normal day?
  2. Is there an ad you love, or one that really annoys you?
  3. Do you think that ads change what you buy? How?

Grammar rule

the fact that…, It's clear that…

that-clauses after nouns, adjectives and it

PatternUseExample
the fact that + clauseas the subject; after a preposition (about, of, despite…)The fact that the trail was closed didn't stop the hikers. We talked about the fact that our rent is going up.
It + is / was + adjective + thatyour view: clear, obvious, true, likely, strange, surprising, a shame (a noun)It's strange that nobody answered the door.
be + adjective + thatfeelings, and how sure you are: sure, certain, aware, convinced, glad, sorry, worried, surprisedShe was sorry that she had missed the party.
the problem / the truth / the good news + is thatto give the main pointThe good news is that nobody was hurt.

Leaving out that

In speech, that is often left out after verbs (I knew you'd come), after adjectives (We're glad it's over) and after It's + adjective (It's obvious they're in love). Keep that after the fact, and when the that-clause starts the sentence.

Formal and less formal

A that-clause can start a sentence, but it sounds very formal: That the plan failed is clear. Usually we say It's clear that the plan failed, or The fact that the plan failed…

Watch out

  • that, not what: the fact what…, It's clear what… → the fact that…, It's clear that…
  • It, not This or There, and never no subject: This is clear that…, There is true that…, Is clear that… → It is…
  • A that-clause can't come straight after a preposition: We talked about that our rent is going up → about the fact that our rent…

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