that's

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Short form of 'that is', used to identify, describe, or explain something.

   Grammar: Used as a subject and verb together; often followed by a noun or adjective: That's my bag. That's great.

   Patterns

   • that's + noun
   • that's + adjective
   • that's + prepositional phrase

   That's my brother over there by the door.

   That's a really good idea.

   That's why I called you earlier.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Short form of 'that has', used before a past participle in the present perfect.

   Grammar: Followed by a past participle: That's happened before. Not used with a simple past verb.

   Patterns

   • that's + past participle

   That's happened to me twice this year.

   That's been the plan since January.

   That's got to be the strangest excuse I've ever heard.

Common combinations

that's it

That's it — we're finished for today.

that's right

That's right, the meeting is on Friday.

that's all

That's all I wanted to say.

that's why

That's why the train was late.

that's fine

That's fine with me; I don't mind waiting.

Synonyms and how they differ

it's

Also a contraction of 'it is', but used for things rather than for pointing back to a fact or idea.

this is

Refers to something closer or more immediate; 'that's' usually points to something already mentioned or further away.

Word family

that pronoun

The full word from which the contraction is made.

that'll phrase

Informal short form of 'that will'.

that'd phrase

Informal short form of 'that would' or 'that had'.

Commonly confused: that's or thats? that's or that?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “that's”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words