I'm having trouble with the word "that" and when and how to use it. For example, this sentence: "I had a dream that you were a midget." Do you need "that", or can you skip right to "you"? Or would you use another word altogehter?

Thanks for any help!

If you don't use "that", you'll have to use a comma or separate the two phrases with a period, which would then make no sense. Oh well...

or, "i had a dream in which you were a midget."

or to be concise, try "i dreamt you were a midget."

And of course "dreamed" is totally and completely off limits, correct?

F the public school system for failing me like this! or maybe I've failed them. But no worries, Obner to the rescue, thanks guys!

"Dreamed" is acceptable.

I'm all over "the that-which clause".

Colloquially, your sentence without the "that" works, but it is officially incorrect.

i don't use "dreamed" nearly as much as "dreamt." i've always kinda thought of the former as the plural, but i don't know why. is that even correct?

In your example, the "that" is there regardless, express or implied. If you think about it, though, the "I had a dream that" phrase, though quite common, is a bit odd. For example, you wouldn't say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that aliens landed on earth." Similar situations, but with dreams the "dream that" usage is acceptable. Curiouser and curiouser.

But you would say "Steven Spielberg made a movie that was really manipulative and shallow."

Bingo. Active voice trumps passive every time.

For passive, "dream in which" or "where" is arguably better style than "that".

What're you doing dreaming about midgets, anyway?

Except "dreamt" is a silly, antiquated word that lookes lyke Shakespearean Eanglishe.

That's what makes it so indie.

I dreamt that I met Haq and Katie in a supermarket and then we had dinner at my caravan.

And the weird thing is I DON'T EVEN LIVE IN A CARAVAN!!

more concise