下面所列的動詞都可以接 that 子句當受詞 (當然,下列只是這類動詞中的一小部份而已,但它們都是我們常用的動詞):
accept, admit, announce, answer, ask, assume. authorize, believe, claim, command, complain, consent, consider, contest, declare, decide, decree, demand, demonstrate, determine, deny, desire, dictate, direct, discover, discuss, doubt, examine, expect, feel, find (out), forget, grant, guarantee, hope, ignore, imply, indicate, insist, know, move, notice, observe, order, overlook, permit, propose, prove, recommend, regret, remark, report, request, require, say, see, show, specify, suggest, suppose, think, understand, urge, wonder 等等。例如:
We have to admit that he’s a highly competent man. (我們必須承認他是個非常能幹的人)
They decided that John must stay there. (他們決定約翰必須留在那裡)
I regret that you see it like that. (我很遺憾你這樣看待這件事)
然而,有些動詞卻不可以接 that 子句當受詞,如 contribute, describe, make, prevent, speak, summarize 等等。所以下句是錯誤的:
He spoke to his girlfriend that he had missed her very much. (他對他的女友說,他非常想念她)