What type of pronoun is that?

Answer 1

The pronoun "that" is either demonstrative or relative pronoun depending on how it is used in a sentence.

Demonstrative pronouns take the place of a noun, indicating near or far in distance or time.

The demonstrative pronouns are: this, that, these, those.

Relative pronouns introduce a relative clause; a relative pronoun "relates" to the word that it modifies.

The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.

Examples

Demonstrative pronoun: That is mom's favorite flower.

Relative pronoun: Tulips are the flowers that mom likes best.

Note: When the word 'that' is placed just before a noun, it is an adjective that describes the noun: that flower, that tulip.

Answer 2

The word 'that' functions as a demonstrativepronoun by taking the place of a noun and indicating near or far in place or time.

The demonstrative pronouns are: this, that, these, those.

Example: "I'll take that!", said Midge pointing to her choice on the dessert cart.

The word 'that' functions as a relativepronoun, introducing a relative clause which gives additional information about its antecedent.

The relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.

Example: The family that bought the house is from Ohio.

The word 'that' also functions as an adjective when placed just before a noun.

Example: My mom took me to that movie when I was a kid.

The word 'that' also functions as an adverb when modifying an adjective.

Example: I didn't realize it was that expensive.

The word 'that' also functions as a conjunction introducing a noun clause that is the subject or the object of a sentence.

Example: Midge said that she would be here by noon.