Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - that

~1 determiner plural those 1 used to talk about a person, thing, idea etc that has already been mentioned or that the person you are talking to knows about already  (Who was that man I saw you with last night? | Those flowers that you gave me lasted over a week. | Later that day the news was being broadcast all over the world. | How much is that hat in the window? | The lawyer was expensive, but at that stage we wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.) 2 used to talk about the person or thing that is farthest from you, or the situation that is not happening at the moment  (That party of hers was great but this one will be even better. | So many cakes to choose from - I'll take that one over there. | Look at those men in that car. What on earth are they doing?) ~2 pronoun plural those 1 used to talk about a person, thing, idea etc that has already been mentioned or that the person you are talking to already knows about  (Pregnant! Who told you that? | Where did you get those? I've been looking for some shoes just like that. | So that's why you don't like him. | I wish you wouldn't say things like that. | with that (=after doing that))  (She slammed the book on the table and with that ran out of the room.) 2 used to talk about the person or thing that is farthest from you, the situation that is not happening at the moment etc  (No, that's your desk, this one's mine. | Those were great years at college, but I think that I'm even happier now.) 3 formal used when talking about a particular person or thing, especially one which is a particular type or kind  (In my opinion the finest wines are those from France. | that of)  (Rupert's manner was that of someone accustomed to mixing with aristocracy.) 4 that's life/men/politics etc spoken used to say that someone's actions are typical of a particular group of people, situation etc  ("I washed all my clothes only to find I'd left a -20 note in the pocket." "That's life I suppose." | We go out for a romantic meal and all he wants to do is talk about football. That's men for you.) 5 at that especially spoken used to give more information, about something mentioned before  (He'll have to buy a new car and a big one at that. There are 8 children in his family.) 6 and (all) that BrE spoken and similar people or things  (There were lots of sandwiches and pies and that but I wasn't really hungry.) 7 that is (to say) spoken used to correct something that you have just said or written  (I know how to operate a computer. That is, I thought I did until I saw this one.) 8 that's a clever dog/that's a good girl spoken used to praise children or animals  (You've eaten all your supper - that's a good boy!) 9 that's it spoken used when you are angry about a situation and you do not want it to continue  (That's it. I'm not taking any more. You can keep your rotten job.) 10 that's that spoken used to say you will not change a decision  (I refuse to go and that's that!) ~3 conjunction 1 used after verbs, nouns and adjectives to introduce a clause (2) which gives more information, a reason, an explanation etc  (If she said that she'd come, she'll come. | The rules state that only the goal keeper can handle the ball. | Is it true that the Robinsons are emigrating? | The fact that he is your brother-in-law should not affect your decision.) 2 a) so big/tall etc that ... very big, very tall etc with the result that something happens or someone does something  (She's so tall that she has to have her clothes made for her.) b) such a big man/such a tall house etc that a very big man, a very tall house etc with the result that something happens or someone does something  (He's such a miserable so-and-so that none of the nurses like helping him.) 3 used as a relative pronoun like `who', and `which'  (Did you know the man that bought the sportscar? | There are lots of things that I need to buy before the trip.) 4 used with objects of a prep in a clause (2)  (The police have found the gun that she was shot with. | There's Betty, my sister that I've been telling you about.) 5 the year/time etc that the year, the time etc when something happened  (The day that my father died, I was on holiday in Greece.) 6 used to introduce a clause after a superlative (2)  (Veronica is the most boring person that I've ever met. | He was the greatest boxer that ever lived.) 7 formal in order that, or so that something may happen or someone may do something  (We pray that he may recover soon.) 8 literary used when you wish that something would happen, that you could do something etc  (Oh, that I could fly.)  (- see also so (that) so2 (2))  ( USAGE NOTE: THAT SPOKEN-WRITTEN In conversation it is not usual for that to actually be used in a that clause after a verb or adj. This is especially true after the commonest verbs taking such clauses in spoken English - think, say, know, see, and after common adjectives like sure, confident, afraid, sorry, aware, glad I think Stuart's gone crazy. | I'm afraid it could be there for six months. In written English there are differences between different styles of writing. That is hardly ever left out in academic writing, where in any case the commonest verbs are not the same as in spoken English, but are words like show, ensure Empirical data show that similar processes can be guided quite differently. | It is important that both groups are used in the experiment. In newspapers that is used at least twice as much as it is left out The police say that they don't have the time to worry about marijuana. But in fiction it is left out more than it is kept in I'm sorry I hit you just now! GRAMMAR That is more often left out when the subject of the that clause is the same as the subject of the main clause, or where it is a pronoun I think I'll make a shopping list. | They were glad she'd gone out. But, I suspect that John was a bit drunk. That is usually put in if the main v is passive, or where the that clause does not immediately follow the v I was told that he had arrived. | They warned him that it was dangerous. PUNCTUATION That does not usually immediately follow a comma. Who and which may follow a comma in relative clauses that add information but do not restrict the meaning, but that is not used in these clauses. Look at this restrictive clause She visited her brother who/that lives in Detroit (=she has more than one brother, and the relative clause with who/that tells us which one). Compare this non-restrictive clause She visited her brother, who lives in Detroit (= she has only one brother, and the relative clause, which cannot begin with that, just adds further information about him).