used before a noun to show you mean a specific person, place, thing, or idea that is not near you now or is already known to the speaker and listener
Could you pass me that book on the shelf?
Do you remember that rainy day in June?
used to refer to a specific person, thing, idea, or situation that is not near you or has just been mentioned
That is my favorite painting in the gallery.
I don't believe that is a good solution.
used before a noun to point to a specific person, thing, or idea that is farther away in space or time, or that has just been mentioned
Could you pass me that book on the top shelf?
Look at that dog chasing its tail in the yard.
✦ Old English þæt, neuter form of the demonstrative pronoun **se** (“the, that”), from Proto-Germanic *that/*tat.
used to refer to a person, thing, idea, or situation that is farther away in space or time, or that has just been mentioned
What’s that in your hand?
I don’t like that; it’s too salty.
✦ Same origin as the demonstrative determiner: Old English þæt.
used after a noun to introduce a clause that gives more information about the person or thing just mentioned
The dress that she bought is beautiful.
I finally watched the movie that everyone was talking about.
used to introduce a clause giving more information, often after verbs like say, think, or know
I think that we should leave early.
He promised that he would call me.
✦ Developed in Middle English from earlier demonstrative uses to mark subordinate clauses.
used to introduce a clause which reports speech or thoughts, gives a reason, or shows result
He said that he would arrive by noon.
It's important that you listen carefully.
used before an adjective, adverb, much, or many to mean ‘so’, ‘very’, or ‘to such a degree’.
It isn't that cold today.
I didn't expect the ticket to cost that much.
used after a noun to introduce a clause giving essential information about the noun (relative pronoun)
The cake that she baked was delicious.
Show me the picture that you took yesterday.
✦ From the same Old English demonstrative, extended to relative clause use in Middle English.
used before an adjective or adverb to mean ‘to such a degree’
The test wasn’t that difficult.
I didn’t know she was that famous.
✦ Adverbial degree sense arose in the 16th century from earlier demonstrative uses.
