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How many "that's" or none at all ?
Just a query to ask others views.
The sentence I am currently writing (on a word doc !) is
"They both knew that that was not true"
HA! Of course too many thats ? So how about "They both knew that was not true" (doesn't sound right to me, somehow)
or... "They both knew that this was not true" ??
Any thoughts ?
Comments
'They both knew that wasn't true.'
or 'They both knew that it wasn't true.' Depending on the context.
But I'd go for the 'this' or 'they both knew that/this wasn't the case'.
I go by what sounds right when read- which may not neccesarily be grammatically correct.
There is no case, Carol, it was the truth we were talking of. Bill brought that one in - he must be dreaming of holidays :)
Think I will go with the "this" one (or after sleeping on it, maybe the one "that" one! )
Why is the "that" needed?
I'd go with 'They both knew that wasn't true.'
Dont know why I did that. The word 'case' not mention. I meant 'truth' of course and not suitcase! :-)
* two of mine offspring are moving from their present [separate] accommodation and looking for somewhere else and living here off and on. One of them arrived here at 6 15 am with suitcases and bags - just dumped them - and off he went at 6 45 to Glastonbury. Bit like a hotel here, and haven't room for all this stuff! Perhaps I have suitcases on the brain! :-)
If one character said, 'I'm forty, actually', and her friends didn't believe her I think it sounds fine to say, 'They both knew that that wasn't true', because the second 'that' is the thing that they know not to be true. (Now did I have to put a 'that' before 'they know not to be true' in that sentence?!!!) Is is the difference between 'to know something' and 'to know that something is or isnt the case'? Blimey, there's Bill's case back again!!! I think I'll give up and hope that a grammarian comes along :)
The sentence in context !
"She soon lost count of how many times he came to visit after that. Always he made some excuse of army business with her father but they both knew that this wasnt really true. "
Bill : pick up one of those cases (or preferably a rucksack) and get off to Glastonbury yourself ! Pick me up on the way if you have time :)
Sorry, off topic. I am a troll! To get back to the issue in hand:
In what context can you have five 'ands' in a row?
Answer: A signwriter was commissioned to produce a new pub sign for 'The Coach and Horses' public house. The landlord complained about the layout, pointing out that, "There should be more space between 'Coach' and 'and' and 'and' and 'Horses'."
Feel free to fill in the required punctuation :)
The meaning could thus be rendered "It was the case that while John used 'had,' James used 'had had.' The teacher preferred 'had had.'"
if the sentence that had had had had had had it would have been correct
After reading that, some of them threatened to abandon their studies altogether!
"...but they both knew that it wasnt really true. "
Although, then again, the 'that' does emphasise what they knew wasn't true.
I never know when that it needed and when to leave it out. If anyone else knows, perhaps they can tell me that.
The meaning could thus be rendered "It was the case that while John used 'had,' James used 'had had.' The teacher preferred 'had had.'"[/quote]
Ching! The penny drops!