sentence starting with "that" in GMAT

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goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:09 pm

Hi All,

Is it ok to start a setence with "that" in GMAT ?

For e.g:

"That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained is why many business executives fear this country will lose its economic preeminence."

Can someone please tell is the above sentence OK wrt to sentence starting with that is concerned....

As far as I know "that" is used to introduce a subordinate clause....but here it seems to be introducing a main clause.

Please help me understand this concept.

Thanks
Mohit

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Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:09 pm

mooreliberty: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 32; Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:11 pm; Location: AZ; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:680

Re: sentence starting with "that" in GMAT

by mooreliberty » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:04 pm

goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Is it ok to start a setence with "that" in GMAT ?

For e.g:

"That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained is why many business executives fear this country will lose its economic preeminence."

Can someone please tell is the above sentence OK wrt to sentence starting with that is concerned....

As far as I know "that" is used to introduce a subordinate clause....but here it seems to be introducing a main clause.

Please help me understand this concept.

Thanks
Mohit

what is the source?

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. - Barry Goldwater

(Inspired by Thomas Paine in The Rights of Man).

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tanviet: Legendary Member; Posts: 1404; Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 pmFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 18 times

by tanviet » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:26 pm

your topic is interesting. I thing that normally we should not use "that clause" to begin a sentence. instead, we should use "it is ...that.... when we have a choice.

the question 50 in OG 11 can show my understanding.

this is my thingking. pls, tell me your idea

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mooreliberty: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 32; Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:11 pm; Location: AZ; Thanked: 1 times; GMAT Score:680

Re: sentence starting with "that" in GMAT

by mooreliberty » Tue Jun 30, 2009 7:46 pm

mooreliberty wrote:
goelmohit2002 wrote:Hi All,

Is it ok to start a setence with "that" in GMAT ?

For e.g:

"That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained is why many business executives fear this country will lose its economic preeminence."

Can someone please tell is the above sentence OK wrt to sentence starting with that is concerned....

As far as I know "that" is used to introduce a subordinate clause....but here it seems to be introducing a main clause.

Please help me understand this concept.

Thanks
Mohit
what is the source?

nevermind - saw the other post...
here's my best guess:

As I understand, "That" can introduce a restrictive clause, work as a demonstrative pronoun (e.g. this/these, that/those), or act as a sub. conjunction; also, "that" is short for "the fact that."

I think the "that" in the questionable sentence above could be introducing the restrictive clause "That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained." The restrictive clause is defining/providing essential information for the main clause. Without the restrictive clause, the main clause would remain undefined.

This is my best guess at the moment -- but, this is a good question for sure!

Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice; moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue. - Barry Goldwater

(Inspired by Thomas Paine in The Rights of Man).

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

Re: sentence starting with "that" in GMAT

by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:32 pm

mooreliberty wrote: what is the source?

OG-10, Q177.

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goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

Re: sentence starting with "that" in GMAT

by goelmohit2002 » Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:41 pm

mooreliberty wrote: nevermind - saw the other post...
here's my best guess:

As I understand, "That" can introduce a restrictive clause, work as a demonstrative pronoun (e.g. this/these, that/those), or act as a sub. conjunction; also, "that" is short for "the fact that."

I think the "that" in the questionable sentence above could be introducing the restrictive clause "That many young recruits to the United States work force are so poorly educated and trained." The restrictive clause is defining/providing essential information for the main clause. Without the restrictive clause, the main clause would remain undefined.

This is my best guess at the moment -- but, this is a good question for sure!

Can you please explain it in a more detail....which is main clause in above sentence and which is subordinate/restrictive clause ?

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