This, that, these and those
This and these for things near you, that and those for things further away.
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We use this, that, these and those to show which thing or person we mean. Two questions decide the word: is it near or far, and is it one or more than one?
Near or far, one or many
One | More than one | |
|---|---|---|
near | this | these |
far | that | those |
- This bag is heavy.
(The bag is here, in my hand.)
- That car is very expensive.
(The car is over there, in the street.)
- These shoes are new.
- Who are those people at the door?
This and that with one thing
Use this and that with a singular noun, or with a noun we can't count, like coffee or music.
- This coffee is too hot.
- Is that your phone on the desk?
- Incorrect: These coat is very warm.
- Correct: This coat is very warm.Coat is singular, so we use this.
These and those with more than one
Use these and those with a plural noun. The verb is plural too.
- These apples are very sweet.
- Those flats near the river are expensive.
- Incorrect: This are my books.
- Correct: These are my books.Books is plural, so the word is these and the verb is are.
- Incorrect: Those house is very old.
- Correct: That house is very old.
Without a noun
The four words can also stand alone, without a noun after them.
- This is my office.
- That's a good idea.
- These are for you.
- How much are those?
When we introduce people, we say This is. On the phone, we say This is or It's + our name.
- This is my colleague, Elena.
- Hello, this is Sam from the hotel.
Questions with this and that
Put is or are before this, that, these or those. In the short answer we usually say it or they.
- Is this your seat? Yes, it is.
- Are these your keys? No, they aren't.
- What's that on the table? It's a present for Ana.
- Who's that? It's my new neighbour.
This and that for ideas
This and that can also mean an idea, not a thing. Use that for something someone has just said. Use this for something that is happening now, or that we are going to say or show.
- "I've got a new job." "That's great."
- Listen to this. It's my favourite song.
Time: this week, that day
With time words, this means the present or the time near now. That means a time in the past or the future, not now.
- I'm very busy this week.
- We're meeting this evening.
- My birthday is on Friday. I'm free that day.
- Incorrect: I'm working a lot this days.
- Correct: I'm working a lot these days.Days is plural, so we say these days. It means "now, in this period of my life".
How to say this and these
The vowels are different. This has a short sound, like the i in sit. These has a long sound, like ee in see, and ends in a z sound.
- this /ðɪs/: this room, this week
- these /ðiːz/: these rooms, these weeks