- that
- that1 W1S1 [ðæt] determiner, pron[: Old English; Origin: thAt]1.) plural those [ðəuz US ðouz]used to refer to a person, thing, idea etc that has already been mentioned or is already known about▪ 'You never cared about me.' 'That's not true.'▪ I wish you wouldn't say things like that.▪ What did you do with those sandwiches?▪ Victoria Street? That's where my sister lives.▪ Do you remember that nice Mr Hoskins who came to dinner?▪ I've got that pain in my back again.▪ He killed a man once and that's why he had to leave Ireland.▪ 'We've been cheated,' she said. Those were her exact words.▪ 'I have to go,' she said, and with that (=after saying that) she hung up the phone.2.) [ðət]used after a noun as a ↑relative pronoun like 'who', 'whom', or 'which' to introduce a ↑clause▪ There are lots of things that I need to buy before the trip.▪ the people that live next door▪ They've got a machine that prints names on badges.▪ the greatest boxer that ever lived▪ Who was it that said 'The Law's an Ass'?▪ The day that my father died, I was on holiday on Greece.3.) plural those [ðəuz US ðouz]formal used to refer to a particular person or thing of the general type that has just been mentioned▪ In my opinion, the finest wines are those from France.that of▪ His own experience was different from that of his friends.4.) those whopeople who▪ There are those who disapprove of all forms of gambling.▪ Those who saw the performance thought it memorable.5.) at thatused after adding a piece of information which emphasizes and increases what you have just said▪ You should be able to answer the question in a single sentence, and a short one at that.6.) that is (to say)used to give more exact information about something or to correct a statement▪ One solution would be to change the shape of the screen, that is, to make it wider.▪ Languages are taught by the direct method, that is to say, without using the student's own language.▪ I loved him - that is, I thought I did.7.) spoken plural thoseused to refer to a person or thing that is not near you▪ Is that my pen you've got there?▪ That's Eileen's house across the road.▪ Look at those men in that car. What on earth are they doing?▪ Our tomatoes never get as big as that.8.) spoken that's life/men/politics etc (for you)used to say that something is typical of a particular group of people, situation etc▪ I don't think I was fairly treated, but then that's life, isn't it?▪ We go out for a romantic meal and all he wants to do is talk about football. That's men for you.9.) spoken that's ita) used to say that something is completely finished or that a situation cannot be changed▪ That's it, then. There's nothing more we can do.b) used to tell someone that they are doing something correctly▪ Slowly ... slowly. Yeah, that's it.c) also that does itused when you are angry about a situation and you do not want it to continue▪ That's it. I'm leaving.10.) spoken that's thatused to emphasize that a situation or a decision cannot be changed▪ I refuse to go and that's that!▪ There's no money left, so that's that.11.) spoken used when you are not sure who is answering the telephone▪ Hello, is that Joan Murphy?12.) spoken and (all) thatBrE and similar things▪ I knew he was interested in computers and all that.13.) spoken that's a good girl/that's a clever dog etcused to praise a child or animalthat 2that2 W1S1 [ðət] conj1.) used after verbs, nouns, and adjectives to introduce a ↑clause which shows what someone says or thinks, or states a fact or reason▪ If she said that she'd come, she'll come.▪ I can't believe that he's only 17.▪ Are you sure that they live in Park Lane?▪ allegations that he is guilty of war crimes▪ The fact that he is your brother-in-law should not affect your decision.▪ He might have left the money for the simple reason that he didn't know it was there.2.) used after a phrase with 'so' or 'such' to introduce a ↑clause that shows the result of something▪ I was so tired that I fell asleep.▪ The school was so badly damaged that it had to be pulled down.▪ We had been away for such a long time that I had forgotten her name.3.) used to introduce a ↑clause that refers to a fact, when describing it▪ It's odd that I haven't heard of you.▪ That anyone should want to kill her was unthinkable.▪ The problem is that no-one knows what will happen.4.) formal in order that something may happen or someone may do something▪ Give us strength that we may stand against them.5.) literary used to express a wish for something to happen or be true, especially when this is not possible▪ Oh, that she were alive to see this!that 3that3 W2S1 [ðæt] adv [+ adjective/adverb]1.) spoken used to say how big, how much etc, especially when you are showing the size, amount etc with your hands▪ It was quite a large fish - about that long.▪ He missed hitting the car in front by that much.2.) [usually in negatives] spokenas much as in the present situation or as much as has been stated▪ I'm sorry, I hadn't realized the situation was that bad.▪ No one expected it to cost that much.▪ The advanced exam is more difficult, but not many students progress that far.3.) not (all) that long/many etcspoken used to mean fairly short, only a few etc▪ Will's not that tall, considering he's 16.▪ The film wasn't all that good.4.) BrE spoken informal used to emphasize how big, bad, much etc something is▪ I was that embarrassed I didn't know what to say.
Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.