Cherisharoma  +  427664 Sat, 06 Oct 07 03:24 AM One of the great causes that, while other creatures still remain where they are, man alone has made remarkable progress, is that he learned how to use fire. Is the first“that”necessary in the above sentence? If “yes”, what's the function of the “that”? Many thanks! Cherisharoma Joined on Sat, Sep 15 2007 New Member 15

	CalifJim  +  427670 Sat, 06 Oct 07 03:38 AM I think it's saying One of the reasons that man alone has made progress (while other creatures have not) is that he learned how to use fire. I question the use of the word causes and the position of the parenthetical remark about other creatures. Omitting that is possible, but it would only make a murky sentence even less clear. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,426 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	Cherisharoma  +  427852 Sat, 06 Oct 07 01:19 PM Hi CJ, Thanks a lot for your answer. According to your new sentence, I know the second that is a pure conjunction and the whole that-clause is a subjective complement. But I do not know what is the function of the first that. Could clarify it for me? Thank you. Cherisharoma Clauses

	CalifJim  +  427963 Sat, 06 Oct 07 05:59 PM It's a substitute for for which or why.  It's a relative pronoun whose antecedent is reason. the reason that = the reason for which = the reason why CJ CalifJim Nouns, Pronouns, Relative Pronouns

	Cherisharoma  +  428115 Sun, 07 Oct 07 04:32 AM Hi CJ, Your serious replies were of much help to me. I greatly appreciate. Have a nice weekend! Cherisharoma