In English, the structure ‘It is ~ that’ is commonly used to emphasize a particular part of a sentence. However, many learners are confused about whether or not a subject (S) is required after ‘that.’ In this article, we will explore this structure and explain why it is perfectly correct not to have a subject in certain cases, like in the sentence ‘some residents say it’s not the people visiting that are the problem, but the government.’
1. What is the ‘It is ~ that’ Structure?
The ‘It is ~ that’ structure is used to emphasize a part of the sentence. It focuses on one element of the sentence, such as the subject, object, or even the time. For example:
- ‘It is the government that is causing the problem.’
- ‘It is the residents who are complaining.’
2. Why Doesn’t ‘That’ Have a Subject in This Sentence?
In the sentence ‘some residents say it’s not the people visiting that are the problem, but the government,’ we don’t see an explicit subject after ‘that.’ This is because ‘that’ is not acting as a subject in this case. Instead, ‘that’ is a relative pronoun introducing a relative clause. In English, when ‘that’ is used in this way, it’s common not to repeat the subject in the clause if it’s understood from the main clause.
3. Understanding the Structure in More Detail
In sentences like this one, the structure still follows the rules of the ‘It is ~ that’ construction, but with an embedded relative clause. The clause after ‘that’ has its own subject (‘the people visiting’) and verb (‘are’), and the main clause and relative clause are connected in a way that eliminates the need for a subject repetition after ‘that.’
4. Conclusion: Why is ‘S’ Not Necessary?
In summary, in sentences using the ‘It is ~ that’ structure, it’s not always necessary to include a subject after ‘that.’ This is because the relative clause introduced by ‘that’ already has its own subject, making it clear without the need for repetition. Understanding this will help you use the structure more naturally in your English communication.
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