Pronunciations (7)
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/ðət/
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/ðæt/
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[ˈðat]
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[ˈd̪aʔ]
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/ðɛt/
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[ˈdäʔ]
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[ˈdä]
Conjunction
Introducing a clause that is the object of a verb, especially a reporting verb or verb expressing belief, knowledge, perception, etc.
- Examples
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He told me that the book is a good read.
I believe that it is true.
More examples (2)
I can see that the ladder won't reach.
Pidgin is a combination of expressions and phrases that are recognizable to those who speak it. To non-Pidgin speakers, it may sound like slang. For example, “dat” means that and “fadda” means father or dad.
Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the ‘be’ verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc. As delayed subject.
- Examples
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It is almost certain that she will come.
It amazes me that people still believe this nonsense.
Introducing a clause that is the subject of a verb, especially the ‘be’ verb or a verb expressing judgement, opinion, etc. As direct subject.
Usage- Literary
- Examples
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That she will come is almost certain.
That people still believe this nonsense amazes me.
Introducing the complement of a mandative verb.
- Examples
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I insist that you come.
The boss ordered that the worker enter the room.
Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle.
- Examples
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I'm sure that you are right.
She is convinced that he is British.
Introducing a clause that complements an adjective or passive participle. Expressing a reason or cause: because, in that.
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Be glad that you have enough to eat.
I was saddened that you felt so little for me.
Introducing a subordinate clause modifying an adverb.
- Examples
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Was John there? — Not that I saw.
How often did she visit him? — Twice that I saw.
More examples (1)
"[…
Introducing a clause that describes the information content of a preceding reporting noun.
- Examples
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I heard a rumour that they got married.
Reports that he left the country are circulating.
Introducing — especially, but not exclusively, with an antecedent like so or such — a subordinate clause expressing a result, consequence, or effect.
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The noise was so loud that she woke up.
The problem was sufficiently important that it had to be addressed.
More examples (1)
My dad apparently always said that no child of his would ever be harassed for its poor eating habits, and then I arrived, and I was so disgusting that he revised his opinion.
Introducing a subordinate clause that expresses an aim, purpose, or goal (“final”), and usually contains the auxiliaries may, might, or should: so, so that, in order that.
Usage- Dated
- Examples
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He fought that others might have peace.
Baſſ[anio]. Be aſſured you may. / Shy[lock]. I will be aſſured I may: and that I may be aſſured, I will bethinke me, may I ſpeake with Anthonio?
More examples (7)
When hungry Judges ſoon the Sentence ſign, / And Wretches hang that Jury-men may Dine; […]
Ellen's mamma was going out to pay a visit, but she left the children a large piece of rich plumcake to divide between them, that they might play at making feasts.
That he might ascertain whether any of the cloths of ancient Egypt were made of hemp, M. Dutrochet has examined with the microscope the weavable filaments of this last vegetable.
[…]Since one might well forget to weep who bore / Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby. / But love me for love's sake, that evermore / Thou may'st love on through love's eternity.
In the olden days people had a stronger belief in all kinds of witchery; now they pretend not to believe in it, that they may be looked upon as sensible and educated people, as you say.
Now one day of the days,[…]the Sultan cast his eyes upon her as she stood before him, and said to his Grand Wazir, "This be the very woman whereof I spake to thee yesterday, so do thou straightway bring her before me, that I may see what be her suit and fulfil her need."
Jesus died that we might live "through" Him.
Introducing a premise or supposition for consideration: seeing as; inasmuch as; given that; as would appear from the fact that.
Usage- Archaic
- Poetic
- Examples
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What are you mad, that you doe reaſon ſo?
More examples (2)
[I]n short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
“She must be wonderfully fascinating,” said Mrs Morel, with scathing satire. “She must be very wonderful, that you should trail eight miles, backward and forward, after eight o’clock at night.”
Introducing an exclamation expressing a desire or wish.
Usage- Archaic
- Poetic
- Examples
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Oh that spring would come!
O that they were wiſe, and vnderſtoode, […]
More examples (1)
'Would that my rage and wrath would somehow stir me, / Here as I am, to cut off thy raw flesh / And eat it, […]
Introducing an exclamation expressing a strong emotion such as sadness or surprise.
Usage- Archaic
- Poetic
- Examples
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That men should behave in such a way!
Oh that I'd never set eyes on him!
More examples (2)
That you could think such a thing!
I pray thee marke me, that a brother ſhould / Be ſo perfidious: […]
Determiner
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.
Usage- demonstrative
- Examples
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That book is a good read. This one isn't.
That battle was in 1450.
More examples (5)
That cat of yours is evil.
The humor of my proposition appealed more strongly to Miss Trevor than I had looked for, and from that time forward she became her old self again; for, even after she had conquered her love for the Celebrity, the mortification of having been jilted by him remained.
She was like a Beardsley Salome, he had said. And indeed she had the narrow eyes and the high cheekbone of that creation, and as nearly the sinuosity as is compatible with human symmetry.
‘No. I only opened the door a foot and put my head in. The street lamps shine into that room. I could see him. He was all right. Sleeping like a great grampus. Poor, poor chap.’
The gym is across from the lounge. It’s next to the mailroom. Go that way. — Thanks, Pete! — No, Anna! Not that way! Go that way!
Pronoun
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.
Usage- demonstrative
- Examples
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That's my car over there.
He went home, and after that I never saw him again.
More examples (7)
‘Who's that?’ ‘It’s me.’.
To be, or not to be, that is the queſtion, / Whether tis nobler in the minde to ſuffer / The ſlings and arrowes of outragious fortune, / Or to take Armes againſt a ſea of troubles, / And by oppoſing, end them, […]
[A] second man—[…]—was qualified and fitted, both intellectually and morally,—and that to an exceptional extent—to be the Head […]
"I was dragged up at the workhouse school till I was twelve. Then I ran away and sold papers in the streets, and anything else that I could pick up a few coppers by—except steal. I never did that. I always made up my mind I'd be a big man some day, and—I'm glad I didn't steal."
However[…], the British were unable to do much about it short of going to war with St Petersburg, and that the government was unwilling to do.
I've never seen someone beaten unconscious before. That’s lesbians for you.
"She is very honourable," said Mrs. Thompson, solemnly. "Yes, one sees she is that, and so simple-minded."
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. Used to refer to a noun phrase or statement just made.
Usage- demonstrative
- Examples
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They're getting divorced. What do you think about that?
They gave me the book about whales. That I've not yet read.
More examples (2)
She asked me to lend him my tools. That I couldn't do.
I got fed up, and that to a great degree.
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. Used to emphatically affirm or deny a previous statement or question.
Usage- demonstrative
- Examples
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The water is so cold! — That it is.
Would you like another piece of cake? — That I would!
More examples (1)
We think that you stole the tarts. — That I did not!
In a relative clause, referring to a previously mentioned noun, as subject, direct object, indirect object, or object of a preposition; which, who.
Usage- relative
- Examples
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I didn't see the car that hit me.
The CPR course that she took really came in handy.
More examples (6)
The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated.
This is the person that swore at me. (sometimes proscribed)
The poor cat, that had been trapped for three days, was freed this morning. (non-restrictive use; sometimes proscribed; see usage notes)
By heauen ile make a ghoſt of him that lets me, […]
His [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s] ability to run at defences is instantly striking, but it is his clever use of possession that has persuaded some shrewd judges that he is an even better prospect than Theo Walcott.
Plastics are energy-rich substances, which is why many of them burn so readily. Any organism that could unlock and use that energy would do well in the Anthropocene. Terrestrial bacteria and fungi which can manage this trick are already familiar to experts in the field.
Used in place of relative adverbs such as where or when; often omitted.
Usage- Colloquial
- relative
- Examples
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the place that [= where or to which] I went last year
the last time that [= when] I went to Europe
Adverb
To a given extent or degree. Denoting an equal degree.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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Here's the measurement – the ribbon must be that long, no longer and no shorter.
To a given extent or degree. Denoting ‘as much’, ‘no less’.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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She said we waited for three hours, but I'm sure it wasn't that long.
It didn't seem like ten miles, but actually it was that far.
To a great extent or degree; very, particularly.
Usage- not-comparable
- often
- in negative constructions
- Synonyms
- Examples
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I was seen quite quickly — I didn't have to wait that long.
I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult.
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How was the play? ~ Not all that good.
You're fun to spend time with, but I'm not that into you.
To such an extent; so.
Usage- Australia
- UK usage
- Informal
- not-comparable
- in positive constructions
- Examples
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Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her.
This was carried with that little noise that for a good space the vigilant Bishop was not awak'd with it.
Noun
Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
- Related words
- Examples
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More examples (1)
As such, they do not have the ontological weight of "Being" and "Not-being," but serve simply as an explanatory vocabulary necessary to describe our world of thises and thats.