That in reported speech: when to use or omit it

After a reporting verb, that can introduce the statement you are passing on. It signals that the words after it are the reported message, not a direct object or a new action.

Marta said that the package had arrived.

That introduces the message about the package.

Noah told the receptionist that he needed a taxi.

The listener comes after told; that begins the information Noah gave.

What kind of message can that introduce in reported speech?

It can introduce a reported statement.

In many reported statements, that is optional. Omitting it makes the sentence shorter. This is especially common after say, think, hear, and know when the reported clause is easy to recognize.

Marta said the package had arrived.

The reported statement still starts clearly after said.

We heard the workshop starts at nine.

This is natural in conversation, though some writers keep that for a more visible clause boundary.

Does leaving out that change the reported statement's basic meaning?

No. It usually changes the sentence's rhythm or level of clarity, not the basic meaning.

Keep that when a reported clause is long, contains a detailed noun phrase, or follows a verb that could lead the reader toward another structure. The word gives the reader an early sign that a complete clause follows.

The coordinator explained that the room beside the library was unavailable.

The long subject, the room beside the library, is easier to place after that.

The report confirmed that the documents from the regional office had been received.

That separates confirmed from the detailed reported information.

When can that help a reader?

It helps when the reported clause is long or the sentence could be hard to parse without a boundary.

That does not introduce a reported question. For a question with a yes-or-no answer, use if or whether. For an information question, keep the question word, such as where, when, or why, and use normal statement order after it.

She asked whether the museum was open on Monday.

Whether introduces the reported yes-or-no question.

They asked where the replacement keys were.

Where remains at the start, but the reported clause uses the keys were, not were the keys.

Which word can introduce a reported yes-or-no question?

Use if or whether, not that.

Reported instructions use a different pattern. Choose a verb such as told, asked, or advised, name the listener, and use to plus the main verb. Use not to plus the verb for a negative instruction.

The supervisor told the visitors to wait outside.

To wait reports the instruction. That is not used in this pattern.

The technician advised us not to restart the device.

Not to restart reports a negative instruction.

What comes after told the visitors in a reported instruction?

Use to plus the main verb, as in told the visitors to wait.

There is no rule that says every reported statement must contain that. Read the sentence aloud or silently as one unit. If the report is easy to follow, omission is often fine. If the structure feels crowded, keep that.

I learned that the application from the evening course had been accepted.

That helps separate learned from the detailed information that follows.

I learned the application was accepted.

This shorter statement can work when the context already makes the structure clear.

Should you include that in every reported statement?

No. Use it when it helps clarity, and omit it when the sentence remains easy to understand.