that he was

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that he was" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as an example of a subordinate clause that describes or modifies the noun or pronoun in the main clause. For example: "The teacher noticed that he was the brightest student in the class."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After that, he was bankrupt.

The New Yorker

(On that, he was speechless).

The New York Times

About that, he was right.

The New York Times - Magazine

What's that, he was asked?

The New York Times - Arts

In that, he was surely not alone.

The Economist

For that, he was prosecuted again.

The New York Times

In that, he was seen as successful.

The Economist

How is that, he was asked.

The New York Times

Before that, he was a cop.

The New Yorker

On that, he was wrong.

BBC

Before that, he was 0 for 20.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that he was" to introduce a dependent clause providing additional information or context about a subject. This helps create more detailed and informative sentences.

Common error

Avoid mixing past and present tenses incorrectly when using "that he was". Ensure the main clause and the dependent clause maintain a consistent tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that he was" functions primarily as a subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause. It typically follows a main clause and provides additional information or context about the subject. Ludwig AI indicates its correct and frequent usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that he was" is a grammatically sound and commonly used subordinating conjunction that introduces dependent clauses, providing additional context or information about a person's past state or actions. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage is widespread in credible sources like the "The New York Times", "The New Yorker", and "The Economist". While alternatives like "he used to be" or "the fact that he was" exist, "that he was" maintains a neutral and formal tone suitable for various communication contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the fact that he was

Emphasizes the reality or truth of a past state.

the reality was he was

Highlights what things looked like.

he once was

Highlights a former identity or condition.

he had been

Emphasizes a state existing before another point in the past.

what he actually was

Clarifies what someone's true nature or role was.

he used to be

Focuses on a past state or profession.

he happened to be

Suggests an element of chance or coincidence.

it turned out he was

Reveals a discovered or unexpected fact.

as it was with him

Implies a comparison or similarity with someone else.

his former self

Refers to a previous version of someone.

FAQs

How can I use "that he was" in a sentence?

Use "that he was" to introduce a subordinate clause that provides further information about a person. For example, "The report confirmed "that he was" the prime suspect".

What are some alternatives to using "that he was"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "he used to be", "he had been", or "the fact "that he was"" to convey similar meanings.

Is it always necessary to include "that" before "he was"?

While including "that" is grammatically correct, it can sometimes be omitted in informal writing or speech without changing the meaning. However, it's often clearer and more formal to include it.

What's the difference between "that he was" and "what he was"?

"That he was" introduces a fact or confirmed information, while "what he was" introduces a description of his state or identity. For example, "The evidence showed "that he was" present", versus "I didn't know "what he was" doing".