the reason that

【问】 (1) He heard the news that his team had won.

(2) The fact that the prisoner was guilty was plain to everybody.

(3) Is this the reason that they came?

上面三个句子里的that从句都是同位语从句吗?

【答】 在句(1)、(2)中that从句为同位语从句，其中that为连词，在从句中不充当任何句子成分。而句(3)则不同。其中的that从句是限制性定语从句，that是关系副词，在从句中充当状语。我国有的英语教科书把the reason that(why)与the fact that和the news that完全等同起来，是不妥当的。请分析下面句子里that (why)从句的含义：

1. That’s the reason why she spoke. (CGEL)

这就是她讲话的原因。

2. The reason why I’m writing is to tell you about a party on Saturday. (Nelson)

我给你写信(的原因)是想告诉你关于周六聚会的事。

3. The reason why we are late is that our car did not come. (Hill)

我们来晚的原因是我们的汽车没有来。

(参见appositive clause)