Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those
Demonstratives point to specific things and indicate their distance from the speaker.
Overview
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near | this | these |
| Far | that | those |
This vs. That
This (near, singular)
- This book is interesting. (holding it)
- This is my car. (standing next to it)
- I like this. (something here)
That (far, singular)
- That building is tall. (pointing at it)
- That is her house. (over there)
- What is that? (something there)
These vs. Those
These (near, plural)
- These shoes are comfortable. (wearing them)
- These are my friends. (standing with them)
- I’ll take these. (items here)
Those (far, plural)
- Those mountains are beautiful. (in the distance)
- Those are her children. (over there)
- Who are those people? (people there)
As Determiners vs. Pronouns
Determiner (before a noun)
- This book is good.
- I want that car.
- These apples are fresh.
- Look at those birds.
Pronoun (replacing a noun)
- This is good. (= This book/thing)
- I want that. (= that car/thing)
- These are fresh. (= These apples/things)
- Look at those. (= those birds/things)
Time References
This (present, near future)
- this morning / afternoon / evening
- this week / month / year
- this Monday (the coming Monday)
- I’m busy this week.
That (past, completed)
- that day (a past day we’re talking about)
- that time (referring to a past occasion)
- Do you remember that summer?
Phone Conversations
This (for yourself)
- Hello, this is John speaking.
- This is the front desk.
That (asking about the other person)
- Who is that?
- Is that you, Mary?
Special Uses
Introducing People
- This is my friend, Sarah.
- Mom, this is Tom.
Referring Back
- The meeting was canceled. That was disappointing.
- He lied to me. I can’t forget that.
Emphasis
- I don’t like this weather!
- That was amazing!
Practice
Choose the correct demonstrative:
-
“Look at ___ stars!” (far, plural) → Look at those stars!
-
”___ is delicious!” (eating something now) → This is delicious!
-
“I’ll see you ___ Friday.” (the coming Friday) → I’ll see you this Friday.
-
“Who are ___ people over there?” (far, plural) → Who are those people over there?
Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) mark both distance and number. In phone conversations, English speakers traditionally use this for themselves (“This is Maria”) and that to ask about the other person (“Is that you, Tom?”).