2025.10.10

The Appositive “That”｜How to Explain the Content of a Noun

Izumi

In English, when I want to explain the specific content of a noun, I use the appositive “that.”

A clause beginning with “that” explains the content of the preceding noun, and the noun and the that-clause are in an “=” relationship.

In this lesson, I will explain the basic usage of the appositive “that” with example sentences.

Contents

1. What Is the Appositive “That”?
2. Common “Noun + That” Combinations
3. Difference from the Relative Pronoun “That”
- 3-1. Appositive “That”
- 3-2. Relative Pronoun “That”
4. Expanding the Use of the Appositive “That”
- 4-1. Making Abstract Nouns More Concrete
- 4-2. Common in Written English
5. Summary

1. What Is the Appositive “That”?

The appositive “that” is placed after a noun to clarify its content, essentially saying, “The content of this noun is …”. It links the entire clause to the noun, making the meaning clearer.

The fact that he passed the exam surprised everyone.

In this sentence, “the fact” and “he passed the exam” express the same content. In other words: the fact = that he passed the exam.

2. Common “Noun + That” Combinations

The appositive that is frequently used with certain nouns. The most common examples include:

the fact that 〜
the idea that 〜
the news that 〜
the possibility that 〜
the rumor that 〜
the hope that 〜

3. Difference from the Relative Pronoun “That”

The appositive “that” is often confused with the relative pronoun “that.” Although they look the same, their roles in a sentence are quite different.

3-1. Appositive “That”

The appositive “that” explains the content of the preceding noun. The noun and the that-clause stand in an “=” relationship.

The fact that he is sick is true.
→ Here, the fact = he is sick.

3-2. Relative Pronoun “That”

By contrast, the relative pronoun “that” modifies the preceding noun. The noun and the that-clause are not equal, but related.

The book that he is reading is interesting.

Here, “that he is reading” modifies the noun “the book”. The meaning is not “the book = what he is reading” but rather, “the book (among many books) that he is reading is interesting.”

4. Expanding the Use of the Appositive “That”

4-1. Making Abstract Nouns More Concrete

The appositive “that” is especially effective when making abstract nouns more specific.

The belief that hard work pays off motivates people.
The evidence that he was at the scene is clear.

4-2. Common in Written English

While not frequently used in everyday conversation, the appositive “that” appears often in essays, academic writing, and news articles.

The conclusion that the Earth is warming is undeniable.

5. Summary

The appositive “that” introduces a clause that explains the content of a noun.
Common nouns used with this structure: fact, idea, news, possibility, rumor, hope, belief, evidence, etc.
Unlike the relative pronoun “that,” which modifies a noun, the appositive “that” establishes an “=” relationship between the noun and the that-clause.

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