Meaning of that in English

That is a very common word in both writing and speaking. We use it as a determiner, a demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce that-clauses. …

We use that most commonly to point to a thing or person. We use it with singular nouns. The thing or person is often distant from the speaker and sometimes closer to the listener, or not visible to either the speaker or listener: …

We use that to introduce defining relative clauses. We can use that instead of who, whom or which to refer to people, animals and things. That is more informal than who or which: …

We also use that to introduce that-clauses after some verbs, adjectives and nouns: …

This, that, these and those are demonstratives. We use this, that, these and those to point to people and things. This and that are singular. These and those are plural. We use them as determiners and pronouns. …

This, that, these, those

This, that, these, those as determiners

This, that, these, those as pronouns

This and these, that and those: uses

Substitution with that, those

In formal contexts, we can use that and those as substitutes meaning ‘the one(s)’: …

Idioms

... at that
that is (to say)
that will do
that's it
that's life!
that's that

that

conjunction

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strong /ðæt/ weak /ðət/ us

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strong /ðæt/ weak /ðət/

used to introduce a clause that reports something or gives further information, although it can often be left out:

She said (that) she'd pick it up for me after work.

Is it true (that) she's gone back to teaching?

We'll be there at about 7.30, provided/providing (that) there's not too much traffic.

It was so dark (that) I couldn't see anything.

More examples

The water in the lake is so clear that you can see the bottom.
It was predicted that a comet would collide with one of the planets.
She confessed to her husband that she had sold her wedding ring.
I'm sorry that I wasn't able to phone you yesterday.
The light was so bright that I had to cover my eyes.

Thesaurus: synonyms and related words

Linguistics: connecting words joining words or phrases with similar or related meanings

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Grammar

That is a very common word in both writing and speaking. We use it as a determiner, a demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce that-clauses. …

We use that to introduce defining relative clauses. We can use that instead of who, whom or which to refer to people, animals and things. That is more informal than who or which: …

We also use that to introduce that-clauses after some verbs, adjectives and nouns: …

We use that as a conjunction to link a verb, adjective or noun with the following clause. …

Verb + that-clause

Verbs commonly followed by that include reporting verbs (say, tell, admit, etc.) and mental process verbs (believe, think, know, hope, etc.): …

Adjective + that-clause

We use be + adjective + that-clause to express opinions and feelings. Some adjectives commonly used in this way are sure, certain, right, important, afraid, pleased, sorry, surprised, worried. We can omit that with no change in meaning: …

Noun + that-clause

We use a noun + that-clause to express opinions and feelings, often about certainty and possibility. We also use that with reporting nouns. Some nouns commonly used in this way are belief, fact, hope, idea, possibility, suggestion, statement, claim, comment, argument: …

Verb patterns: verb + that-clause

Reporting verbs + that-clause

Some verbs connected with reporting can be followed by a that-clause acting as the direct object (underlined in the examples): …

Verbs followed by an indirect object and a that-clause

Some verbs (generally those connected with reporting) can be followed by an indirect object (underlined) plus a that-clause acting as the direct object: …

Verbs followed by a prepositional phrase and a that-clause

Some verbs can be followed by a prepositional phrase (underlined) and a that-clause acting as the direct object: …

that

pronoun

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strong /ðæt/ weak /ðət/ us

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strong /ðæt/ weak /ðət/

plural those

that pronoun (USED TO REFER)

used as the subject or object of a verb to show which person or thing you are referring to, or to add information about a person or thing just mentioned. It is used for both people and things. It can often be left out:

I can't find the books (that) I got from the library.

Is this the train that goes to Braintree?

Have you been to the restaurant that's just opened in town?

More examples

The letters that people wrote after his death gave me a lot of comfort.
He was sent to prison for a crime that he didn't commit.
Where's the cord that ties back the curtains?
The work that the students do during the year will count towards their final degrees.
The yogurt that you bought was really nice - where did you get it?

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Linguistics: relative forms

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that pronoun (CONNECTING WITH EARLIER STATEMENT)

used to make a connection with an earlier statement:

My car broke down. That's why I'm so late.

Lucy worked out how to fix it. That's Lucy for you (= She can fix anything).

used to express a reaction to something:

I didn't know she'd been so ill. That's terrible.

Turn the engine on, then put the car in gear. That's right (= you are doing it correctly).

Smile for the camera. That's more like it (= that smile is better than before).

More examples

Charles had told her off. That's why she was so upset.
"Jim didn't even turn up." "That's Jim for you."

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Linguistics: connecting words which introduce a cause or reason

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Reacting and responding

Grammar

It, this and that in paragraphs

We use it, this and that to introduce further information about a topic already mentioned. However, the words have different uses. …

Relative pronouns

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. The most common relative pronouns are who, whom, whose, which, that. The relative pronoun we use depends on what we are referring to and the type of relative clause. …

Relative pronouns: that

We use that instead of who, whom or which in relative clauses to refer to people, animals and things. We use it to introduce defining clauses only. That is more informal than who, whom or which: …

No relative pronoun

In informal styles, we often leave out the relative pronoun. We only do this in defining relative clauses, and when the relative pronoun is the object of the verb. We don’t leave out the relative pronoun when it is the subject of the verb nor in non-defining relative clauses: …

That is a very common word in both writing and speaking. We use it as a determiner, a demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce that-clauses. …

We use that to introduce defining relative clauses. We can use that instead of who, whom or which to refer to people, animals and things. That is more informal than who or which: …

We also use that to introduce that-clauses after some verbs, adjectives and nouns: …

This, that, these, those as determiners

This, that, these, those

This, that, these, those as pronouns

This and these, that and those: uses

Substitution with that, those

In formal contexts, we can use that and those as substitutes meaning ‘the one(s)’: …

that

adverb

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/ðæt/ us

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/ðæt/

as much as suggested:

She's too young to walk that far.

It wasn't (all) that (= very) good.

More examples

I'm not feeling that well at the moment.
I can't really eat that much.
I don't think the medicine will help that much.
We haven't got that much time.

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General words for size and amount

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Grammar

That is a very common word in both writing and speaking. We use it as a determiner, a demonstrative pronoun and a relative pronoun. We also use it as a conjunction to introduce that-clauses. …

We use that to introduce defining relative clauses. We can use that instead of who, whom or which to refer to people, animals and things. That is more informal than who or which: …

We also use that to introduce that-clauses after some verbs, adjectives and nouns: …