This / That / These / Those
We use this, that, these, and those to point to people, things, or ideas. They tell us two things at once: whether something is singular or plural, and whether it's near or far from the speaker.
Examples: This pen is mine. (near + singular) / Those mountains are beautiful. (far + plural)
Memory trick: "This" and "these" both have an I/E sound for near. "That" and "those" both have an A/O sound for far.
| Word | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This phone is new. |
| That | Singular | Far | That building is old. |
| These | Plural | Near | These chairs are comfortable. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those mountains are beautiful. |
A demonstrative can come before a noun (adjective) or stand alone (pronoun). Both are correct: I like this book. / I like this.
To avoid repeating a countable noun, we often use this one / that one (singular) or these ones / those ones (plural, informal): I don't want this shirt — I want that one.
| Type | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Adjective (before noun) | This book is great. / Those cars are fast. | Describes the noun |
| Pronoun (alone) | This is great. / Those are fast. | Replaces the noun |
Important: The demonstrative AND the noun must both match — singular with singular, plural with plural.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| this idea | these ideas |
| that company | those companies |
| this child | these children |
| that man | those men |
Demonstratives can refer to physical distance or time. "This" tends to refer to the present/near; "that" to the past/distant.
| Use | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Near (this/these) | This chair is next to me. | Physically close |
| Far (that/those) | That man over there is the manager. | Physically distant |
| Near in time | This morning was busy. | Now or recent |
| Far in time | That day changed everything. | Past or distant time |
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| At a shop | I like this shirt, but not that one. |
| At work | These reports are ready; those need checking. |
| On the phone / online | This is my email; send it to that address. |
| Telling a story | I'll never forget that day. |
| Comparing options | These hotels are cheaper than those. |
| Introducing yourself on the phone | Hello, this is Kerim speaking. |
"This" = immediate, current idea · "That" = something already mentioned or distant in thought
- This is what I mean. (a current idea)
- That's true, but it's not fair. (referring to a previous statement)
- I'll never forget that moment. (a past experience)
- This sounds like a good idea. (a current proposal)