Prepositions before that-clauses
Prepositions cannot normally be followed by conjunctions. Of course, this is possible in a few
cases, but prepositions are normally dropped before that-clauses. This usually happens after
words referring to saying, writing, thinking etc.
Compare:
I knew about his illness. (Here the preposition about is followed by a noun.)
I knew that he was ill. (NOT I knew about that he was ill.)
I heard about his problems.
I heard that he was facing some problems.
I had no idea of his state of mind.
I had no idea that he was depressed.
I was not aware of his presence in the room. (Here the preposition of is followed by the noun
his presence.)
I was not aware that he was present in the room. (NOT I was not aware of that he …)
In cases where the preposition cannot be dropped before that, we add the phrase ‘the fact’.
I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of the fact that the train was late.
(NOT I managed to arrive in time for the meeting in spite of that …) (NOT I managed to arrive
in time in spite that …)
She paid no attention to the fact that I had the necessary qualifications. (NOT She paid no
attention that I had the necessary qualifications.)
They went out despite the fact that it was raining. (NOT They went out despite that it was
raining.)