In English, the word “that” plays a versatile role and can function as different parts of speech depending on how it is used in a sentence. Whether you’re writing an academic paper, a personal statement, or a casual email, understanding how to use “that” correctly can improve your clarity and style. This blog will break down the various ways “that” operates in English grammar, including examples and tips for its proper use.
What Part of Speech is “That”?
The word “that” can serve multiple grammatical functions, primarily as a pronoun, determiner, conjunction, or adverb. Each function depends on how it fits into the structure of the sentence and what role it plays in conveying the meaning. Let’s explore each of these roles in detail.
1. “That” as a Pronoun
In many instances, “that” functions as a demonstrative pronoun. Demonstrative pronouns point to specific things, often distinguishing between items near or far in distance or time.
Example of “That” as a Demonstrative Pronoun:
- “That is the book I was telling you about.”
Here, “that” refers to a specific book, distinguishing it from other books.
In this capacity, “that” is similar to other demonstrative pronouns such as “this,” “these,” and “those.” The main difference between “this” and “that” is one of proximity: “this” refers to something close, whereas “that” refers to something further away in space or time.
Example of Proximity:
- “This is delicious.” (something close by, perhaps food you are currently eating)
- “That was a fantastic performance.” (something that happened earlier or far away, like a concert you attended last week)
Thus, the answer to “what type of pronoun is that?” is that it is a demonstrative pronoun when used to point to specific things.
2. “That” as a Determiner
When “that” is used before a noun, it functions as a demonstrative determiner (also called a demonstrative adjective). In this case, it modifies the noun by specifying which one is being referred to.
Example of “That” as a Determiner:
- “I can’t believe you bought that car.”
Here, “that” modifies the noun “car,” indicating which specific car is being talked about.
Determiners are words that introduce nouns, and in the case of “that,” it helps to provide more information about the noun it precedes. Like demonstrative pronouns, demonstrative determiners include “this,” “these,” and “those,” but when these words modify a noun, they fall into the determiner category.
Example with Other Determiners:
- “This sandwich is fresh.”
- “Those shoes are mine.”
In the sentence “that car,” “that” is not standing alone as a pronoun but rather modifying the noun directly, which makes it a determiner.
3. “That” as a Conjunction
One of the most common ways “that” is used in English is as a subordinating conjunction. In this role, “that” introduces a subordinate clause (a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence) and links it to the main clause.
Example of “That” as a Conjunction:
- “She said that she would arrive by noon.”
Here, “that” introduces the subordinate clause “she would arrive by noon,” connecting it to the main clause “She said.”
Subordinating conjunctions like “that” are essential in providing extra information or context to a sentence. In fact, “that” is so frequently used as a conjunction that in casual speech, it is often omitted altogether.
Example Without “That”:
- “She said she would arrive by noon.”
Both sentences convey the same meaning, but in formal writing, keeping “that” adds clarity and structure to the sentence.
4. “That” as an Adverb
In some cases, “that” can function as an adverb, modifying an adjective, adverb, or verb to indicate the degree or extent of something.
Example of “That” as an Adverb:
- “I didn’t realise it was that important.”
In this sentence, “that” modifies the adjective “important,” indicating a level of importance.
When “that” is used in this way, it provides emphasis or comparison, much like the word “so.” However, “that” tends to be used in negative sentences or questions, whereas “so” is often used in positive contexts.
Example with Comparison:
- “Is it really that expensive?” (degree of expense)
- “It’s not that hard to do.” (degree of difficulty)
As an adverb, “that” typically answers the question “to what extent?” and often appears in informal speech or writing.
What Part of Speech is This vs That?
As mentioned above, both “this” and “that” can function as pronouns or determiners. The main difference between the two lies in their usage with regard to proximity, as mentioned earlier.
- Pronoun: “This is my coat.” / “That is your hat.”
- Determiner: “I’ll take this pen.” / “Can you pass me that pen?”
In both cases, “this” refers to something close in distance or time, while “that” refers to something further away.
How to Use “That is” in a Sentence
The phrase “that is” is frequently used to provide additional clarification, emphasis, or explanation. It is often followed by further information that defines or elaborates on the preceding statement.
Example of “That is” in a Sentence:
- “I love Paris in the spring. That is, if the weather is nice.”
In this case, “that is” introduces a clarifying condition to the original statement. It’s used in a conversational tone to add nuance or detail.
Another common usage of “that is” is in formal writing or explanations, where it introduces a more detailed definition or explanation of something previously mentioned.
Example in Formal Writing:
- “The results were inconclusive. That is, no clear trend was identified.”
This usage helps to break down complex information into more digestible parts, ensuring clarity for the reader.
Editing Tip: Avoiding Overuse of “That”
When editing and proofreading your writing, it’s worth noting that “that” is often overused, particularly as a conjunction. In many cases, “that” can be removed without affecting the meaning of the sentence. However, in formal writing, keeping “that” may help with clarity, so it’s essential to consider your audience and purpose when deciding whether to omit or include it.
Example of Removing “That”:
- Original: “I believe that she is correct.”
- Edited: “I believe she is correct.”
Removing “that” in the second sentence makes the sentence more concise without changing its meaning.
Summary of “That” in Different Parts of Speech
Here’s a quick recap of how “that” can function across different parts of speech:
- Pronoun: “That is the one I like.”
- Demonstrates or points to a specific item or idea.
- Determiner: “That book is amazing.”
- Modifies a noun to specify which one is being referred to.
- Conjunction: “He said that he would help.”
- Connects clauses and introduces a subordinate clause.
- Adverb: “It wasn’t that bad.”
- Modifies an adjective or verb to indicate degree.
Conclusion
The word “that” is one of the most versatile words in the English language, capable of functioning as a pronoun, determiner, conjunction, and adverb. Recognising its role in different contexts is key to using it correctly and improving your overall writing skills.
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