What is “that”?
“That” is a pronoun used to refer to something already mentioned or understood in context. It is often used to point out a specific object or idea. In grammar, “that” can function as a demonstrative pronoun, relative pronoun, or conjunction.
Demonstrative Pronoun: When used as a demonstrative pronoun, “that” indicates an object or idea in a distance, separate from the speaker. For example, “That is a beautiful flower.”
Relative Pronoun: As a relative pronoun, “that” introduces a relative clause that provides additional information about a noun. For example, “The book that I read was interesting.”
Conjunction: When acting as a conjunction, “that” connects two clauses in a sentence. For example, “I know that she is coming.”
Conclusion: In conclusion, “that” serves as a versatile pronoun in the English language, allowing for clear references and connections in sentences. It is essential to correctly identify its usage as a demonstrative pronoun, relative pronoun, or conjunction based on the context of the sentence.
