that
that - English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- (stressed) enPR: thăt
- (UK, US, Canada, General Australian) IPA: /ˈðæt/
- (New Zealand) IPA: /ˈðɛt/
- (India) IPA: /ˈd̪æt/, /ˈd̪ɛt/, /ˈd̪æʈ/, /ˈd̪ʱæʈ/,
- The demonstrative pronoun and determiner that is usually stressed; the conjunction and relative pronoun that is usually unstressed.
Conjunction
that
- Introducing a clause which is the subject or object of a verb (such as one involving reported speech), or which is a complement to a previous statement.
- He told me that the book is a good read.
- I believe that it is true. — She is convinced that he is British.
- That she will come is almost certain.
- Introducing a subordinate clause expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.
- Be glad that you have enough to eat.
- (dated) Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose, or goal ("final"), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might, or should: so, so that.
- He fought that others might have peace.
- Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence, or effect.
- The noise was so loud that she woke up.
- The problem was sufficiently important that it had to be addressed.
- (archaic or poetic) Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
- Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
- Was John there? — Not that I saw.
- How often did she visit him? — Twice that I saw.
- (archaic or poetic) Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
- Oh that spring would come!
- Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.
Usage notes
- That can be used to introduce subordinate clauses, but can just as easily be omitted: one can say either “he told me that it’s a good read” (in which case the second clause is a “that clause”) or “he told me it’s a good read” (in which case the second clause is a “bare clause”).
- Historically, “that” was usually preceded by a comma (“he told me, that it’s a good read”)—such usage was, for example, recommended by the grammarian Joseph Robertson in his 1785 essay On Punctuation—but this is now considered nonstandard.
- Historically, that was sometimes used after a preposition to introduce a clause that was the object of the preposition, as in “after that things are set in order here, we’ll follow them” (Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI), which simply means “after things are set in order...” and would be worded thus in modern English.
- See the usage notes for which.
Derived terms
Translations
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Determiner
that (plural those)
- The (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "this", or if expressing distinction.
- That book is a good read. This one isn't.
- That battle was in 1450.
- That cat of yours is evil.
Usage notes
- This is known as a "demonstrative adjective" in traditional terms.
Derived terms
Translations
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Pronoun
that (plural those)
- (demonstrative) The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action, or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "this", or if expressing distinction.
- That's my car over there.
- He went home, and after that I never saw him again.
- The known (thing); used to refer to something just said.
- They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?
- (demonstrative) The aforementioned quality or proposition; used to emphatically affirm or deny a previous statement or question.
- The water is so cold! — That it is.
- Would you like another piece of cake? — That I would!
- We think that you stole the tarts. — That I did not!
- (relative) (plural that) Which, who; representing a subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition.
- The CPR course that she took really came in handy.
- The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated.
- (colloquial) Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.
- the place that [= where or to which] I went last year
- the last time that [= when] I went to Europe
- (Northern England, Manchester, Liverpudlian) Clipping of that is; used to reinforce the preceding assertion or statement.
- That's proper funny, that.
Usage notes
- Some authorities prescribe that that should only be used in restrictive contexts (where the relative clause is part of the identification of the noun phrase) and which or who/whom should be used in non-restrictive contexts; in other words, they prescribe "I like the last song on the album, which John wrote". In practice, both that and which are found in both contexts.
- In a restrictive relative clause, that is never used as the object of a preposition unless the preposition occurs at the end of the clause; which is used instead. Hence "this is the car I spoke of" can be rendered as "this is the car that I spoke of" or "this is the car of which I spoke", but not as *"this is the car of that I spoke."
- That refers primarily to people or things; which refers primarily to things, and who refers primarily to people. Some authorities insist who/whom be used when making reference to people, but others, such as the Merriam-Webster dictionary, write that such prescriptions are "without foundation" and use of that in such positions is common and "entirely standard". Hence, one sees both "he is the man who invented the telephone" and "he is the man that invented the telephone."
- When that (or another relative pronoun, like who or which) is used as the subject of a relative clause, the verb agrees with the antecedent of the pronoun. Thus "The thing that is...", "The things that are...", etc.
- In the past, bare that could be used, with the meaning "the thing, person, etc indicated", where modern English requires that which or what. Hence the King James translation of John 3:11 is "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen" while the New International Version has "we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen".
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
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Adverb
that (not comparable)
- (degree) To a given extent or degree.
- "The ribbon was that thin." "I disagree, I say it was not that thin, it was thicker... or maybe thinner..."
- (degree) To a great extent or degree; very, particularly (in negative constructions).
- I'm just not that sick.
- I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult.
- Synonym: so
- (informal, Britain, Australia) To such an extent; so. (in positive constructions).
- Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.
Translations
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Noun
that (plural thats)
- (philosophy) Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
Anagrams
that - Acehnese
Adverb
that
that - German
Verb
that
- first/third-person singular preterite of thun
that - Middle English
Pronunciation
- IPA: /θat/, /ðat/
Conjunction
that
- that (connecting a noun clause)
Alternative forms
Descendants
Pronoun
that
- that (relative & demonstrative pronoun)
Alternative forms
- (demonstrative): þat, thatte, thate; dat, ȝat (East Anglia); thet (Kent, early Southwest Midlands); yat (Northern, Northeast Midlands); þæt (early); tat (after d)
- (relative): þat, thate, thad, tha, yat; dat (East Anglia); þeþ, det, thet (Kent); yt (North Midlands); at, atte (Northern, Northwest Midlands); þhet (Southwest Midlands); þæt, thet (early); tat (after d or t)
Descendants
Determiner
that
- that (what is being indicated)
Alternative forms
Descendants
Adverb
that
- that (to a given extent or degree)
Descendants
that - Old Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA: /ðat/
Pronoun
that n
Determiner
that n
Inflection
Descendants
that - Old Saxon
Determiner
that
- nominative/accusative singular neuter of thē
Descendants
that - Yola
Conjunction
that
- Alternative form of at (“that”)