Page 48 - SC (Guide 8)

[JbhB682]

Hi Experts -

Was reviewing a sentence on Page 48 on the Sentence Correction guide

Error : The latest statistics released by the Labor Department indicate that producer prices rose rapidly last month, despite a generally weakening economy, some analyst contend that the economic slowdown in the euro zone and in Asia will stem the rise in commodity prices, reducing inflationary pressures in the United States

Correction + Stripping down to its core :

The latest statistics released by the Labor Department indicate that producer prices rose rapidly last month
First Independent clause

, BUT [ Comma + Boy]

some analyst contend that the economic slowdown in the euro zone and in Asia will stem the rise in commodity prices
Second Independent Clause

[JbhB682]

Just curious -- what is the role of the "THAT" in the first independent clause

[The latest statistics released by the Labor Department indicate that producer prices rose rapidly last month]

Is the "THAT" playing the role of an object- noun perhaps ?

Was just wondering out of curiosity

[esledge]

Just curious -- what is the role of the "THAT" in the first independent clause

[The latest statistics released by the Labor Department indicate that producer prices rose rapidly last month]

Is the "THAT" playing the role of an object- noun perhaps ?

Was just wondering out of curiosity

"That" is one of the neatest words in English, because it can be used in several ways:
(1) As a regular pronoun, taking the place of a noun: The price per bushel of soybeans exceeds that of corn. (that = the price (per bushel))
(2) As an indicative pronoun: I want that doughnut.
(3) As a relative pronoun, starting a noun modifier: The wind chimes that he gave me for my birthday tangled in the storm last night.
Usage #3 usually puts "that" directly after the noun it is modifying.
(4) To start a new clause, the whole of which is the object of the main clause, as in the example you gave. Usage #4 places "that" after a verb (usually the main verb), but before a whole new clause with a new subject-verb pair.

Without THAT in the example you gave, there are two verbs ("indicate" and "rose") that would essentially fight over the noun "producer prices."

The latest statistics released by the Labor Department indicate producer prices rose rapidly last month.
Is "producer prices" the object of "indicate"? The latest statistics indicate prices.
Or is "producer prices" the subject of "rose"? Prices rose rapidly last month.

The latter makes more sense, of course, so the THAT basically serves to tell the reader to expect a whole clause, not just a noun (prices), as the answer to "What did the statistics indicate?"

[JbhB682]

thank you !

[esledge]

You're welcome!