the fact that的语法功能
一、用于引导主语从句
在许多情况下，当语义上需要用一个较复杂的that从句用主语时，若直接将其置于句首位置，则会显得“头轻脚重”。这时，我们通常采用的办法便是使用形式主语it来改变句子结构。如：
That he had no girl friends worried his parents a lot.= It worried his parents a lot that he had no girl friends. 他没有女朋友，这件事使他父母非常不安。
That he has fully recovered makes me feel good.=It makes me feel good that he has fully recovered. 他已痊愈，真令我高兴。
That he had not said anything surprised everybody.=It surprised everybody that he had not said anything. 他一言不发，这使大家很吃惊。
在比较正式的文体中，有时也可借助the fact这一辅助手段，按以下方式改写句子：
The fact that he had no girl friends worried his parents a lot.
The fact that he has fully recovered makes me feel good.
The fact that he had not said anything surprised everybody.
二、用于介词后引导宾语从句
按英语习惯，介词后面通常不能直接跟一个that从句作宾语，遇此情况，人们通常在that从句前使用the fact。这样一来，就变成了the fact用作介词的宾语，而其后的that从句则成了the fact的同位语从句。如：
They were worried over the fact that you were sick. 他们为你生病发愁。
I didn’t go out because of the fact that it was raining. 因为在下雨，所以我没出去。
Were it not for the fact that you helped me, I would be homeless. 若非你的帮助，我仍会无家可归。
He must face up to the fact that he is no longer young. 他必须勇于正视自己不再年轻这一事实。
It’s time you woke up to the fact that you’re not very popular. 你早就该明白你不怎么受欢迎了。
The judge paid a lot of attention to the fact that the child was unhappy at home. 法官非常注意这一情况，即孩子在家里并不快乐。
He said the parents were responsible for the fact that the child had run away. 他说孩子父母应对孩子逃跑一事负责。
注：英语中只有极个别介词(如except等)可直接跟that从句。如：
The two books are the same except that this one has an answer key at the back. 除了这本书后面有问题答案以外, 这两本书完全一样。
三、用于动词后引导宾语从句
英语中有的动词虽为及物动词，可接名词或代词作宾语，但通常不接that从句作宾语。若语义上需要接一个that从句，则可借助the fact结构。如：
I dislike the fact that he smokes. 我厌恶他吸烟。
No one can deny the fact that fire burns. 无人能否认火能燃烧的事实。
You can’t escape the fact that she has got married three times. 她结过三次婚，这个事实你是不能逃避的。
We must face the fact that we might lose our deposit. 我们必须正视我们可能失去存款这一事实。
I admired the fact that he would talk to students outside the classroom or talk with them on the telephone. 我羡慕他经常在课外与学生聊天或通过电话与学生聊天。