Demonstrative THAT — When and How to Use It
Quick Answer
Use that for one thing that is far from you — across the room, across the street, anywhere you cannot reach without walking.
Example: That car is red. (The car is across the street, not here.)
THAT in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how that works:
- That is my house. (The house at the end of the road.)
- Look at that bird! (The bird up in the tree.)
- That dog is friendly. (The dog over there, not next to me.)
When to Use THAT
Use that when one thing is far from you — somewhere you cannot touch without moving. Across the room. Across the street. On the next page.
- Pointing at something far: “That shop is open.”
- Talking about a past time: “That was a great holiday.”
- Replacing something already mentioned: “That is a good idea.”
- On the phone (about a person you cannot see): “Hello, who is that?”
Easy way to remember: That = one + far. One thing, away from you. If you have to point at it from a distance, use that.
The Rule in One Line: Use that for one thing that is far from you.
Real-Life Examples With THAT
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- That is my car at the end of the road. (The car is far from me.)
- Look at that beautiful sunset. (The sunset is in the sky, not in my hand.)
- That man over there is my teacher. (He is across the room.)
- That was a long meeting. (Talking about a meeting that finished — “far” in time.)
- Do you see that tall building? (The building is far away.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With THAT
The most common mix-up is using “that” for things in your hand, or for plural things. “That” is always one thing + far. Even native-speaker children take a while to feel this difference.
Using that for something near you
✗ That is my phone (holding it up).
✓ This is my phone (holding it up).
Using that for plural
✗ That shoes over there are mine.
✓ Those shoes over there are mine.
Saying those for one far thing
✗ Those car at the end of the road is red.
✓ That car at the end of the road is red.
How to remember: Stretch your arm. If you cannot reach it, it is that. Far goes with that — both have an “a” sound.
Common “that” sentences: that car over there, that man, that was great, that is a good idea, who is that?
Test Yourself: THAT
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. Look at _______ bird in the tree!
2. _______ shop on the corner is closed.
3. _______ was a beautiful holiday last year.
4. Who is _______ man over there?
5. _______ idea sounds great. (an idea your friend just shared)
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that — the partner of this. Now you can talk about one thing whether it is in your hand or across town.
But what about more than one? When you have two pens in your hand, or three books on the desk, “this” stops working — it sounds wrong, like wearing one sock. There is a special word for two or more nearby things.
Next lesson: Demonstrative THESE — When and How to Use It
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.