I am puzzled about how to decide when a THAT can be dropped

Question

I am puzzled about how to decide when a THAT can be dropped in the following types of sentences:

1. The findings suggest one reason the pesticides may be harmful.
2. The findings suggest one reason THAT the pesticides may be harmful.
3. Scientists found X, findings consistent with the growth of the industry there.
4. Scientists found X, findings THAT are consistent with the growth of the industry there.

Here, per Verbal Review, #1 is wrong. #2,3,4 are all correct. All of these "sound" right to me, but I can't figure out an exact reason why #1 needs a THAT while the others don't.

Any idea?

BKimball · Answer

Vinay3-

1 is wrong / 2 is right because you generally need either a "to" "for" or "that" after the word reason:

Do you have a reason TO suspect he is innocent? --> Correct Idiom: Reason + To + Verb
Do you have a reason FOR the complaint? --> Correct Idiom: Reason + For + Noun
Is there a reason THAT you are so happy? --> Correct Idiom: Reason + That + Independent Clause

You generally cannot have the word "reason" without one of these words after it, an that is why #1 is wrong.

Brett

vinay3 · Answer

Thanks Brett.

Idiomatic usage seems like a great explanation - that would be just the way result is used.

Also, looks like whenever it is not bound by idiomatic rules, the sentence can drop words only if those words are "that/which are/were/is"?

E.g. Scientists found foo, X   invaluable to historians.

shasidharancsp · Answer

Hi brett, Do you think since "Suggest" is a subjunctive mood command- the introduction of "That" comes into play?

vinay3 · Answer

shasidharancsp has an interesting point.

I have another theory - perhaps this is similar to the need for a THAT whenever a reporting verb is followed by a complete sentence/thought. e.g. I will eat it provided THAT my doctor approves. The doctor declared THAT the patient was dead. Whereas, the doctor declared the patient dead.

In my original post, 1 has "the pesticides may be harmful", a complete sentence, hence it needs a THAT after "suggests (one reason)". However, 3 doesn't have a complete sentence, and hence doesnt need the THAT.

I have seen that this rule has been fairly consistently been applicable throughout my GMAT prep => if complete sentences, THAT is mandatory.

Thoughts? Although results may idiomatically require a THAT, I am worried about other words that may be used instead of results.

I am puzzled about how to decide when a THAT can be dropped

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