Status of that
The word that in the uses described above has traditionally been regarded as a relative pronoun; however, according to some linguists it ought to be analyzed instead as a subordinating conjunction or relativizer. This would be consistent with the use of that as a conjunction in such sentences as I said that I was tired. According to Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum, that is not a relative pronoun but a subordinator, and its analysis requires a relativized symbol R: "The film that I needed is not obtainable," where R is the covert object of "needed" and has "the film" as an antecedent. This is the same type of analysis as would be required if that were omitted, which is possible in this case.
Differences between that and the other basic relative pronouns (which, who) include the restriction of that to restrictive relative clauses, and the impossibility of preceding it with a preposition. Similarities between relative that and the ordinary conjunction that include the almost invariable use of the weak pronunciation /ðət/, and the frequent possibility of omission.
Read more about this topic: English Relative Clauses
Famous quotes containing the word status:
“[In early adolescence] she becomes acutely aware of herself as a being perceived by others, judged by others, though she herself is the harshest judge, quick to list her physical flaws, quick to undervalue and under-rate herself not only in terms of physical appearance but across a wide range of talents, capacities and even social status, whereas boys of the same age will cite their abilities, their talents and their social status pretty accurately.”
—Terri Apter (20th century)