From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishthatthat1 /ðæt/ ●●● S1 W1 determiner, pronoun 1 (plural those /ðəʊz $ ðoʊz/)XX 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 in Greece.Grammar• In everyday English, that is often omitted when it is the object of the relative clause: I like the clothes that she wears.I like the clothes she wears.• You do not omit that when it is the subject of the clause: The family that lives downstairs is Polish. ✗Don’t say: The family lives downstairs is Polish.3 (plural those /ðəʊz $ ðoʊz/) formalXX 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 who5 → at that6 → that is (to say)SPOKEN PHRASES7 (plural those)FARPAST used 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 → that’s life/men/politics etc (for you)9 → that’s it10 → that’s that11 used when you are not sure who is answering the telephone Hello, is that Joan Murphy?12 → and (all) that13 → that’s a good girl/that’s a clever dog etc14 → that is not an optionUSAGE: That, who, which• You use that as a relative pronoun when saying which person or thing you are talking about: This is the friend that I told you about.They didn't have the book that I wanted.• That can be omitted: This is the friend I told you about.They didn't have the book I wanted.• You use who or which when adding extra information about the person or thing: She looked after her husband, who was ill.I did it myself, which was difficult.• In clauses like this, who or which can not be omitted. ✗Don’t say: She looked after her husband, that was ill. • You use who when talking about a person: There's the man who I saw yesterday. Don't use which about people. ✗Don’t say: She looked after her husband, which was ill.• You can also use that when talking about a person. That is used about both people and things: There's the man that I saw yesterday.• In clauses like this, both that and who can be omitted: There's the man I saw yesterday.
Examples from the Corpus
that• Look at those men in that car. What on earth are they doing?• That last test was a lot easier than this one.• When are you going to give me that money you owe me?• No, I wanted that one over there.• He met Bobby Jones on Monday of that week.• I saw that woman again today.with that• It has very little - nothing - to do with that.• Be careful with that audio recording.• All with that Donahue sense of nice-guys-can-do-this attitude.• Stick with that idea of hearing the lovely sounds of good golf.• There's nothing wrong with that, Miss Honey.• Though an opponent of the more rigid scholastics, Weigel sought a reconciliation of modern philosophy with that of Aristotle.• Most of us live with that possibility because it is part of the human condition to know that disaster can strike.• There is an aesthetic, if we can dignify it with that word, which distinguishes blood sports from each other.that of• His own experience is different from that of his friends.thatthat2 /ðət/ ●●● S1 W1 conjunction 1 INTRODUCEused 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.Grammar• In everyday English, that is often omitted. Instead of saying I’m not surprised that you were upset, you say I’m not surprised you were upset. • In formal English, that is used more often in this situation.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 formalTO/IN ORDER TO in order that something may happen or someone may do something Give us strength that we may stand against them.5 literaryWANT 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! → so (that) at so2(2)Examples from the Corpus
that• Oh, that Glenda were alive to see this.• We pray that he may recover soon.• That he talked about it to reporters surprises me.• Joe said that his girlfriend is coming to visit.• I think Vic feels threatened by the fact that I'm smarter than he is.• I can't believe that she told you.thatthat3 /ðæt/ ●●● S1 W2 adverb [+adj/adverb] 1 spokenAMOUNT 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] spoken as 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 etc4 British English spoken informalLOT/VERY MUCH used to emphasize how big, bad, much etc something is I was that embarrassed I didn’t know what to say.Examples from the Corpus
that• In actual fact the two fish are not that alike.• They won't be in that early.• But most existing transparent magnets - which are usually made of iron borate - are not actually all that magnetic.Origin that1 Old English thæt 