This question, "what is that," really shows up everywhere. You might hear it when someone sees something new on their social media feed, something just a little funny or unusual. Or perhaps a young child, just beginning to speak, points to a finger and someone asks, "what is it?" while another might ask, "what is this?" These moments, you know, are about figuring things out, about putting names to things we see or hear.

From trying to find a single word for something that happens every two years, to figuring out what a certain expression in a movie means, "what is that" and its close relatives are always there. They help us fill in the gaps in our knowledge. This piece will explore the many ways we use this basic question and why it remains so very important to our chats and our learning.

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Table of Contents

• Understanding the Core Question: "What Is That?"
• When We Ask for Meaning: "What's That Mean?"
• This or That? A Matter of Distance
• Finding the Right Word For It
• The Linguistic Dance of "What It Is That Is"
• Tackling Tricky Phrases and Double "That" Moments
• Everyday Curiosity and the "Flat Earth" Idea
• Frequently Asked Questions

Understanding the Core Question: "What Is That?"

The phrase "what is that" seems simple enough, doesn't it? Yet, its use goes far beyond just naming an object. It's a request for information, a sign of curiosity, or sometimes, a way to show surprise. We use it when we see something at a distance, something we can't quite touch or immediately identify. For instance, if you're scrolling through some social media and you see something that is only a little funny, you might just wonder, "what is that?" It's a quick way to ask for more details about something that catches your eye, a bit like saying, "tell me more about this thing I'm seeing."

This question can also show a need for deeper explanation. It's not always about a physical thing. It could be an idea, a feeling, or a situation. Think about it, when something unexpected happens, our first reaction might be to ask, "what is that?" This is really about trying to figure out the nature of something new or puzzling. It's a very human reaction, a natural drive to make sense of our surroundings and experiences, you know.

When We Ask for Meaning: "What's That Mean?"

A common variation of our main phrase is "what's that mean?" People often use this when they want to ask about the meaning of something. It's a casual, everyday way to seek clarification. You might hear this expression from movies, and it seems that native speakers use it quite a lot. For example, if someone says something you don't quite get, you could just say, "what's that mean?" This is a quick way to ask for a simple explanation, perhaps.

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This phrasing, while common, is a bit different from a more formal "what does that mean?" The "what's that mean" version is more relaxed, more conversational. It shows how language can be flexible and change depending on who you're talking to and the situation. It's a direct route to getting the information you need without sounding overly formal. It's almost like saying, "explain that to me, please," but in a more friendly way, you see.

This or That? A Matter of Distance

There's a subtle but important difference between asking "what is that?" and "what is this?" When entertaining a young child who is learning English, some people might ask her "what is it?" when pointing to her finger. This might surprise someone who always learned to ask "what is this?" The key difference often comes down to distance or closeness.

"This" usually refers to something close to the speaker, something they can easily touch or point to directly. "That," on the other hand, typically refers to something further away, something not immediately within reach or something previously mentioned. For instance, if a zebra has stripes for camouflage, and you are talking about that, you might say, "That trick of using a colon before camouflage is misleading." Here, "that" refers to something already discussed, something not physically present but brought up in the conversation. So, it's really about how we point to things with our words, you could say.

Finding the Right Word For It

Sometimes, "what is that?" isn't about identifying an object, but about finding the right term for a concept or a specific item. For instance, if something occurs or is payable every year, we call it "annual." But what is the corresponding single word for occurring every two years, three years, four years, and so on? This is a question about vocabulary, about finding the precise word that fits a particular description. It's a common need when we're trying to be clear and concise in our communication, you know.

Similarly, when we want to know the term for the beginning of a letter, we use "salutation." So, what is the term used for the closing of a letter? These kinds of questions show our desire to categorize and label things correctly. It's about building our language skills, putting the right name to a specific idea or action. People ask these questions to refine their expression, to make sure they are using the most accurate words available, which is quite useful.

The Linguistic Dance of "What It Is That Is"

Language can be quite interesting, with phrases that seem a bit redundant but serve a purpose. You might recently hear an American presenter using the phrase "discover what it is that is important to you." This raises a question: what is the linguistic difference between saying "what it is that is" rather than just "what is important to you"? The longer phrase, "what it is that is," often adds emphasis or a certain weight to the statement. It draws attention to the "what" part, making it feel more significant or profound.

It's a way of highlighting the core idea, making it stand out. While it might seem like extra words, it can change the feeling of the sentence, making it sound more thoughtful or deliberate. It's a stylistic choice, a bit like adding a flourish to your words. This shows how language can be shaped to convey not just meaning, but also tone and emphasis, and it's quite fascinating, actually.

Tackling Tricky Phrases and Double "That" Moments

Sometimes, language throws us a curveball, like when you feel compelled to include strange things like a double "that" in a sentence. For example, "I never knew that that was the case." If you've ever faced this, you might wonder what to do to resolve it. This happens when one "that" acts as a conjunction (connecting clauses) and the other acts as a demonstrative pronoun (referring to something specific). Generally speaking, in written forms, "that" refers to something previously mentioned. So, you might say, "I'm betting that most people know exactly what I am talking about."

When you have a double "that," it can feel a bit clunky. Often, you can remove one of them without losing meaning. For instance, "I never knew that was the case" works just fine. These moments show how flexible English can be, and how we can sometimes simplify our sentences for better flow. It's about making our words clear and easy to follow, which is always a good goal, you know.

Everyday Curiosity and the "Flat Earth" Idea

"What is that?" also pops up when we encounter ideas that seem true but simply aren't. Take the "Earth is flat" idea. If all you know is the world outside your window, and you never really look beyond that, then it might seem like the Earth is flat. When someone presents such a notion, a natural response might be, "what is that?" or "what does this mean?" This is correct for the context you described, asking for clarification on a presented idea. There are other things you could say, of course, but "what does this mean?" is perfectly fine for the situation.

This kind of questioning is about challenging assumptions and seeking factual information. It’s about the drive to learn and correct misunderstandings. It's a way to prompt further explanation or evidence, helping us to sort out what's real from what's not. It shows how our simple question can be a powerful tool for critical thinking and learning about the world, which is pretty cool, I think.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between "what is that" and "what is this"?

The main difference usually comes down to distance. "What is this?" is generally used for something close to the speaker, something they can point to directly or hold. "What is that?" is typically for something further away, something not immediately at hand, or something that has been mentioned before in a conversation. So, it's about how near or far something is, physically or in the discussion, you know.

When do we use "what is that" in a sentence?

We use "what is that" in a sentence when we want to identify something that is not close to us, or something that we just heard about or saw. For example, if you hear a strange noise from down the street, you might ask, "What is that?" Or if someone tells you a story and mentions an unusual object, you could ask, "What is that?" It's a way to ask for clarification or identification of something not immediately present, you see.

Why do people often say "what's that mean" instead of "what does that mean"?

People often say "what's that mean" because it's a more casual and conversational way to ask for a definition. The "s" in "what's" is a contraction of "is," so it's technically "what is that mean," which isn't grammatically standard. However, it's very common in everyday talk and movies. It's a quick, relaxed way to get clarification, rather than a more formal question, you know. It shows how spoken language can be a bit different from written rules, too.

As we've seen, the phrase "what is that" and its close relatives are more than just simple questions. They are tools for discovery, for making sense of confusing things, and for connecting with others. From understanding a strange sound to clarifying a complex idea, this phrase helps us navigate our daily lives. It helps us learn new words, like what we call those special sounds like "9th" or "301st." It's a fundamental part of how we interact with information and with each other. To truly grasp the nuances of language, you might like your own exploration of how words work. Learn more about grammar and usage on our site, and perhaps consider how context shapes meaning by visiting our page on language context. It's a very useful thing to think about, really.