that
That (det) means used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.". Example: “That house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.”
How to use that
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOne of the most common words in English — used to point things out, refer back to something, or link clauses together.
In relative clauses, "that" and "which" often overlap, but many style guides reserve "which" for non-essential extra detail set off by commas: "the car that broke down" (identifies which car) vs "my car, which is red, broke down" (extra detail).
Word forms
those plural, those plural, thats plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.
Etymology
From Old English þæt, the neuter form of the demonstrative that also gave us "the." It has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages.
Related words
Rhymes for that
See all rhymes for that →Frequently asked questions
What does “that” mean?
The word “that” means used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.". In plain terms, one of the most common words in English — used to point things out, refer back to something, or link clauses together.
How do you pronounce “that”?
“That” is pronounced thuht (/ðət/ in IPA).
How do you use “that” in a sentence?
Here is “that” used in a sentence: “That house on the hill used to belong to my grandmother.”
What is the opposite of “that”?
The opposite of “that” — its antonyms — are here, there, this, yon and yonder.
What part of speech is “that”?
Depending on how it is used, “that” can be a det, a pronoun, a conjunction and an adverb.
Where does the word “that” come from?
The word “that” comes from Old English. From Old English þæt, the neuter form of the demonstrative that also gave us "the." It has been part of English since its earliest recorded stages.
Is “that” a common word?
“That” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “that” have?
“That” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to point out a specific thing, person, or idea, especially one that is more distant (in space, time, or attention) than something called "this.".
What is the difference between "that" and "which"?
"That" introduces essential (restrictive) information identifying the noun: "the report that I wrote is finished." "Which" introduces extra, non-essential detail and follows a comma: "the report, which took weeks, is finished." American style guides apply this split strictly, while British usage often allows "which" in both roles.
What is the difference between "this" and "that"?
Both point things out, but "this" indicates something near the speaker in space, time, or attention, while "that" indicates something farther away: "this book here, that book over there." "That" also refers back to something just said: "That's a good idea."
When can you leave out "that" in a sentence?
"That" can usually be dropped when it introduces a clause after verbs like say, think, and know: "I think (that) you're right." It cannot be dropped when it acts as the subject of a relative clause: "the letter that arrived today" needs "that."
Should you use "that" or "who" for people?
"Who" is the safer choice for people in careful writing: "the woman who called." Using "that" for people ("the woman that called") is common and long-established in speech, but some editors and style guides prefer to reserve "that" for things.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing that in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
And I'm personally and we as an organization are going to focus on the players that are here.
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Vocabulary lists that include that: