To be + continuous
I'm pretty much confused about the following sentence:
1. She thinks this is an interesting time to be adding Apple to her portfolio.
2. I want to be reading the book
How can I break up the above sentences by using "that" ?
Solution 1:
- She thinks THAT this is an interesting time...
Number 2 -- I can't see how to use THAT.
Solution 2:
A "that" clause is a finite clause (containing a finite verb), introduced by the word that, that stands as a component in a larger sentence, often as the object of a verb of thinking or sensing, but sometimes in other contexts. The word "that" can often be omitted.
A "to"-infinitive clause is a non-finite clause where the verb in base form is preceded by "to". It also stands as a component in a larger sentence, and is often the object of a verb. It does not take the complementiser "that".
Think is one of the many verbs that can take a "that" clause as its object: so your first example contains a "that" clause without its "that", and you may restore it after thinks. You can tell this because the verb is in the finite form is.
Want does not usually take a "that" clause, but a "to"-infinitive clause. This is the case here, so there is no "that" to restore in your second sentence. You can tell this because the verb is in the base form be.
Note that neither meaning nor a rule will tell you which kind of clause a given verb can take: wish (whose meaning is very close to want) can take either of the two kinds of clause I have described. This is a property of individual verbs that just has to be learnt.