That Meaning
That Definition & Usage
Used to refer to a specific thing or person that has been mentioned or is known to both the speaker and the listener.
Examples
- "That is the book I was talking about."
- "I didn't like that movie at all."
- "Can you see that car over there?"
- "Do you remember that day we went to the beach?"
- "I love that idea!"
Used to introduce a clause that gives more information or expresses the result or reason of a situation.
Examples
- "I think that she will be late."
- "He was so tired that he fell asleep immediately."
- "She explained that she had lost her keys."
- "It’s clear that you’re upset."
- "We were so excited that we couldn’t sleep."
Used to indicate a specific thing or person that is known, identified, or distinguished from others.
Examples
- "I like that shirt you’re wearing."
- "That problem is much harder than I expected."
- "Could you pass me that pen?"
- "I didn’t understand that comment."
- "That chair looks very comfortable."
Used to describe something that is far or distant in both space and time.
Examples
- "That mountain looks beautiful from here."
- "I will never forget that summer."
- "Look at that amazing sunset."
- "Did you see that incredible performance last night?"
- "That movie was a masterpiece."
Cultural Context
The word 'that' comes from Old English 'þæt' and has undergone various shifts in usage over the centuries. It remains one of the most commonly used words in both spoken and written English.
The Mystery of That Old House
Story
The Mystery of That Old House
On a quiet afternoon, Sophie and Ben stood at the edge of a small, overgrown path leading to an old house. The house had been abandoned for years, its windows covered in dust, its paint peeling away. Sophie pointed toward the house, a shiver running down her spine. ‘That house gives me the creeps,’ she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Ben laughed, but there was uncertainty in his eyes. ‘It’s just an old building. Nothing to be afraid of.’ But as they got closer, Sophie couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She glanced back at Ben. ‘Do you really think it’s safe to go in there?’ Ben hesitated for a moment, then nodded. ‘I think that if we want to find out what’s inside, we’ll need to go in. No turning back now.’ Inside the house, dust filled the air, and strange, creaky noises echoed through the rooms. As they made their way through the house, they found old furniture covered in sheets and photographs of people they didn’t recognize. Sophie noticed something strange on the wall—a faded map with strange markings. ‘Look at that,’ she said, pointing to it. ‘It looks like some kind of treasure map.’ Ben leaned in for a closer look. ‘That’s impossible, right?’ he muttered. But Sophie wasn’t so sure. As the sun set outside, casting eerie shadows through the broken windows, they realized that the house wasn’t just abandoned. It was hiding something far deeper. Sophie smiled. ‘That’s exactly why we need to stay. We’re on the verge of a discovery!’ By the time they left the house, Sophie was convinced of one thing: That place had a history that went far beyond anything they could have imagined. And this was just the beginning. With the mystery of the house unfolding before them, Sophie knew they had only scratched the surface. ‘We have to go back tomorrow,’ she said, determination in her eyes. ‘That’s when we’ll find the truth.’ And so, their adventure continued, with 'that' house now holding a place in their lives that would change everything. In this story, 'that' was used to emphasize distance (both physical and emotional), to refer to specific objects, and to set up a connection to larger themes of mystery and discovery.
