that作为关系代词，可以引导定语从句，充当句子成分，在从句中作宾语时可以省略；that引导同位语从句时，起连词的作用，没有实际意义，不充当句子成分，一般不能省略。

试比较下面两个例句：

I had no idea that you were here．（that引导同位语从句，不能省略）

Have you got the idea（that）this book gives you of life in ancient Greece？（that引导定语从句，作宾语，可以省略）

5）名词性that-从句

1）由从属连词that引导的从句叫做名词性that-从句。That只起连接主句和从句的作用，在从句中不担任任何成分，本身也没有词义。名词性that-从句在句中能充当主 语、宾语、表语、同位语和形容词宾语，例如： 

主语：That she is still alive is her luck.　她还活着全靠运气。

宾语：John said that he was leaving for London on Wednesday.　约翰说他星期三要到伦敦去。

表语：The fact is that he has not been seen recently.　事实是最近谁也没有见过他。

同位语：The fact that he has not been seen recently disturbs everyone in his office. 

最近谁也没有见过他，这一事实令办公室所有的人不安。

形容词宾语：I am glad that you are satisfied with your job. 

你对工作满意我感到很高兴。

2)That-从句做主语通常用it作先行词，而将that-从句置于句末，例如：

It is quite clear that the whole project is doomed to failure.　很清楚，整个计划注定要失败。

It's a pity that you should have to leave.　你非走不可真是件憾事。

用it作形式主语的that-从句有以下四种不同的搭配关系：

a. It + be +形容词+ that-从句

It is necessary that…　有必要…… 

It is important that…　重要的是…… 

It is obvious that…　很明显…… 

b. It + be + -ed 分词+ that-从句

It is believed that…　人们相信…… 

It is known to all that…　众所周知…… 

It has been decided that…　已决定…… 

c. It + be +名词+ that-从句

It is common knowledge that…　……是常识

It is a surprise that…　令人惊奇的是…… 

It is a fact that…　事实是…… 

d. It +不及物动词+ that-从句

It appears that…　似乎…… 

It happens that…　碰巧…… 

It occurred to me that…　我突然想起…… 

6）名词性wh-从句

1）由wh-词引导的名词从句叫做名词性wh-从句。Wh-词包括who, whom, whose, whoever, what, whatever, which, whichever等连接代词和where, when, how, why等连接副词。Wh-从句的语法功能除了和that-从句一样外，还可充当介词宾语、宾语补语和间接宾语等，例如： 

主语：How the book will sell depends on its author.　书销售如何取决于作者本人。

直接宾语：In one's own home one can do what one likes.　在自己家里可以随心所欲。

间接宾语：The club will give whoever wins a prize.