Learn How to Pronounce that's
(Listen to the audio above for the stress and intonation)
The Expert's Take
Meaning and Context
"That's" is a fundamental English contraction, seamlessly blending the demonstrative pronoun "that" with either the verb "is" or the auxiliary verb "has" to form a single, efficient word. Its primary function is to identify, describe, or assert something about a subject, as in "That's my car" or to indicate possession in perfect tenses, as in "That's been a problem." This ubiquitous contraction is a cornerstone of conversational English and informal writing, serving as a critical tool for fluency and rhythm. Its correct usage is a key marker of English grammar proficiency and understanding common contractions. Mastering "that's" and its appropriate contexts—distinguishing between "that is" for definitions and "that has" for actions—is essential for clear and natural communication in both spoken and written English.
Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings
While "that's" is the universally accepted and grammatically correct contraction, several common errors and stylistic variations surround its use. The most frequent typo is the omission of the apostrophe, resulting in "thats," which is incorrect as it becomes a possessive pronoun (as in "The book and its cover"). Another common mistake is the misuse of the apostrophe, such as "that's'" with an extra apostrophe. In informal digital communication, one might encounter the elongated "thatt's" due to a typing error. It is also important to distinguish "that's" from the similar-sounding "that was," which cannot be contracted. Some learners may incorrectly attempt to contract "that was" into "that's," leading to grammatical errors. The contraction should not be used in extremely formal prose where the full forms "that is" or "that has" are preferred.
Example Sentences
Upon seeing the finished mural, the curator exclaimed, "That's the most compelling piece of street art we've acquired this year."
In the technical report, the engineer noted that the system's instability indicates that's been malfunctioning since the last software update.
When trying to decide between two options, she pointed to the menu and said, "I think that's the dish I ordered last time, and it was delicious."
You can often identify a beginner in the kitchen when that's the third smoke alarm they've set off this week.
The teacher explained to the class, "Remember, 'that's' can mean 'that is,' as in 'That's correct,' or 'that has,' as in 'That's changed everything.'"
Sources and References
This common contraction is well-documented in Wiktionary and Wikipedia. I also used Forvo and YouGlish to observe the subtle differences in how the "s" sound is voiced depending on the following word in natural, fast-paced English speech.
- https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/that%27s
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That%27s
- https://forvo.com/word/that%27s/
- https://youglish.com/pronounce/that%27s/english