that
/ðæt/ (bre, ipa) · /ðæt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈt͟hat t͟hət/ (ame, mw)
that — determiner
1. used before a noun to show which person, thing, or event you mean, especially wh
used before a noun to show which person, thing, or event you mean, especially when it is not near you in space or time.
Can you pass me that book on the top shelf?
demonstrative determiner — pointing at distant noun
That house at the end of the street has been empty for years.
Liam still remembers that summer in Portugal when he learned to surf.
I do not want to talk about that argument we had last week.
- this
used for something near the speaker rather than far away
文法句型
that + noun (singular)
that + noun phrase
用法筆記
The plural form is 'those'. Use 'this' for things that are near the speaker in space or time.
常見錯誤
2. put before a noun when you and the person you are talking to both know which thi
put before a noun when you and the person you are talking to both know which thing is meant because it was mentioned earlier.
Feng finally got that job she applied for last month.
anaphoric determiner — referring back to known information
We need to discuss that issue the manager raised in the meeting.
Brooke suggested a new approach, but that plan needs more thought.
That noise you heard was just the wind blowing through the chimney.
文法句型
that + noun (previously referenced)
用法筆記
Unlike Sense 1, this sense does not point to something physically distant. The thing may be right here — the point is that speaker and listener both know which one is meant from earlier conversation.
that — conjunction
1. placed between a verb, adjective, or noun and a following sentence that says wha
placed between a verb, adjective, or noun and a following sentence that says what someone thinks, says, or feels. Often left out in everyday speech.
Marco said that he would arrive around six o'clock.
that-clause after a reporting verb (said)
I truly believe everyone deserves a fair chance in life.
that omitted — common in spoken English
It is important that you finish the report by Monday.
The teacher explained that the exam would be on the last Friday of the month.
文法句型
verb + that-clause
adjective + that-clause
noun + that-clause
用法筆記
In formal writing, 'that' is usually kept. In casual conversation, it is often dropped after common verbs like 'think', 'say', 'know', 'believe'. Keep 'that' when the sentence might be confusing without it.
常見錯誤
that — pronoun
1. placed after a noun to add a clause telling the listener exactly which individua
placed after a noun to add a clause telling the listener exactly which individual is meant. It can apply to humans and to things, and is frequently dropped when it acts as the object of the clause.
The film that won the award was directed by a Taiwanese filmmaker.
relative pronoun as subject — cannot be omitted
Is this the train that goes to Taichung?
The keys that were on the kitchen table have disappeared.
The house that Marco grew up in was torn down last year.
Rachid bought the jacket that had the blue stitching on the collar.
文法句型
noun + that + clause
something/anything/everything + that + clause
用法筆記
Unlike 'which' (used for non-essential information), 'that' introduces essential clauses — the information is needed to know which thing is meant. For people, 'who' is often preferred in formal English, but 'that' is common in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
2. used as a pronoun to refer back to something already said or experienced, often
used as a pronoun to refer back to something already said or experienced, often introducing an explanation or comment about it.
That is exactly what I was trying to tell you.
demonstrative pronoun — pointing back to an earlier statement
Hoa asked, "Do you mean that was not your real name?"
That reminds me of the time we went camping in the rain without a tent.
And that is why Christopher decided to study medicine instead of law.
- this
refers to something more immediate or about to be mentioned, rather than something already stated
文法句型
That is/was + noun phrase
That + verb + what/why/how...
3. used as a pronoun to react to something — for example, to show surprise, delight
used as a pronoun to react to something — for example, to show surprise, delight, annoyance, or sympathy about what someone has just shown or told you.
"I got the scholarship!" "That is amazing news, João!"
exclamatory pronoun — reacting with enthusiasm
Oh, that hurt! Please be careful where you step.
That is so kind of you to offer to help us move house.
Defne looked at the sunset and whispered, "That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."
- it
more neutral; 'that' adds a stronger sense of pointing to the specific thing
文法句型
That is + adjective
That + verb + object
That is + noun phrase
用法筆記
In this sense, 'that' always refers to something immediately present in the conversation — something just seen, heard, or learned. The reaction (adjective or noun phrase after 'is') carries the emotional weight.
that — adverb
1. as much as what has been said or implied; to the degree someone suggests. Usuall
as much as what has been said or implied; to the degree someone suggests. Usually used with negatives or in questions to compare with an expected level.
The movie was not that good, to be honest.
not that + adjective — common negative pattern
I did not know she could run that fast.
The problem is not that difficult once you understand the basic idea.
Eitan asked, "Is the hike really that long?"
文法句型
not that + adjective/adverb
that + adjective/adverb
用法筆記
This sense is very common in negative sentences ('not that + adjective') and in questions. In positive statements ('it was that good'), it is less common and often sounds like a response to doubt.
常見錯誤
that — adjective
- thatpositive
- thattercomparative
- thattestsuperlative
1. placed before a noun to single out one particular person or thing by its visible
placed before a noun to single out one particular person or thing by its visible or distinctive attributes — for example, 'that cloud that looks like a rabbit' picks out a specific cloud by its shape.
Look at that cloud that looks like a rabbit.
demonstrative adjective — pointing at something visible
That man in the blue suit is my uncle.
I want that jacket, not the grey one.
Why does that dog keep barking at us every morning?
- this
points to something near rather than far
文法句型
that + noun
that one + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
Distinguish from determiner/1: the adjective sense singles out a noun by its visible or known features ('that cloud that looks like a rabbit'), while determiner/1 signals that the noun is distant in space or time ('that book on the far shelf'). The adjective sense can also stand before 'one' ('that one') as a full noun phrase.
2. placed before a noun when that noun refers back to something already mentioned i
placed before a noun when that noun refers back to something already mentioned in the conversation — for example, saying 'that city' after having just named 'Paris' repeats the reference to the same specific place.
They met in Paris and returned to that city every anniversary.
adjective — referring back to a place already named
That one cold night changed everything for the family.
Brooke wore that ring her grandmother gave her every single day.
Andrei left his hometown at eighteen and never returned to that place again.
- the same
more emphatic — 'that same car' stresses it is identical, not just previously mentioned
文法句型
that + noun (already mentioned)
that same + noun
用法筆記
Unlike Adj/1 (which picks out a specific item by pointing), this sense picks out an item by referring back to a prior mention. If someone says 'a hotel in Kyoto' and then 'that hotel', this is Adj/2. If someone points and says 'that hotel over there', this is Adj/1.
3. used before 'much', 'many', 'little', or 'few' to emphasise a very large or very
used before 'much', 'many', 'little', or 'few' to emphasise a very large or very small amount of something.
I cannot believe she has that much patience with noisy children.
that much + uncountable noun — emphasising a large amount
The storm caused so much damage that the town was cut off for days.
so much + noun + that-clause — emphasising extreme amount with a consequence
How can one person have that many talents?
I did not know he had that little time left to finish the project.
- so
used with the same quantity words ('so much', 'so many') but more common in positive statements
文法句型
that + much/many/little/few + noun
用法筆記
This sense only combines with quantity words (much, many, little, few). Do not use it directly before ordinary nouns ('that car' uses a different sense). It overlaps with the adverb sense but modifies a noun phrase ('that much money') rather than an adjective.
4. the one that is farther away when two similar things are being compared, especia
the one that is farther away when two similar things are being compared, especially when choosing between them.
This chair is broken; take that one instead.
that one — contrastive: farther of two
Between the two paintings, I prefer that one in the far corner.
Do you want this seat by the window or that one next to the door?
Lakshmi chose that path leading up the hill instead of the flat road below.
- this
the nearer of the two when comparing
文法句型
this/that contrast
that one (as opposed to this one)
用法筆記
This sense always implies a contrast with 'this' or with an alternative. It is often used with 'one' to avoid repeating the noun.