一、名词性从句在be等系动词后作表语时被称为表语从句, 例如:
1.The problem is how we can get the things we need.
问题是我们怎样能弄到我们需要的东西。(how 在表语从句中充当方式状语)
2.The scissors are not what I need.
这把剪刀不是我所需要的。(what 在表语从句中充当宾语)
3.What I told him was that I would find him a good play.
我告诉他的是我会给他找个好剧本。(what在主语从句中作直接宾语, that作为表语从句的引导词在该表语从句中不充当句子成分, 不能省略)
4.That is what I want to tell you.
那就是我想要对你讲的。(what在表语从句中充当直接宾语)
5.That is why she failed to pass the exam.
那就是她考试不及格的原因。(why 在表语从句中充当原因状语)

二、在表语从句中,“That is why...”是常用句型,意为“这就是……的原因/因此……”, 其中why引导的名词性从句在句中作表语,该句型通常用于针对前面已经说明过的原因进行总结,例如:
1. That is why you see this old woman before you know, Jeanne.
珍妮, 这就是现在这个老太婆出现在你面前的原因。(前文提到Jeanne对老妇人显得苍老憔悴深感诧异, 说话人对她讲述了其中的原因之后,用这一句来进行概括)。
2. That is why I came.
这就是我来的原因。

三、“That is why...”的形式相似结构有以下两种,
1. “That is why...”与“That is the reason why...”同义, 只不过从语法结构上讲, “That is the reason why...”中why引导的是—个定语从句, 将其中的the reason去掉则与“That is why...”结构一样, 例如:
That is (the reason) why I cannot agree. 这就是我不能同意的理由。
2. “That is because...”句型中从属连词because引导的名词性从句在此作表语, 这也是个常用句型, 意为“这就是为什么……/因为……”。“That is because...”与“That is why...”之间的不同在于“That is because...”指原因或理由, “That is why...”则指由于各种原因所造成的后果, 例如:
1)He did not see the film last night. That is because he had to help his little sister with her homework.
昨天晚上他没有去看电影, 那是因为他得帮助他的妹妹做作业。(第一句话说明结果, 第二句话说明原因)
2)He had seen the film before. That is why he did not see it last night.
他以前曾看过那部电影, 因此他昨天晚上没有去看。(第一句话说明原因, 第二句话说明结果)