The simplest way to understand the difference between 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' is to remember two key ideas: distance (is it near or far?) and number (is it one thing or many?). 'This' and 'these' refer to things that are close to you, while 'that' and 'those' refer to things farther away.
Learning English grammar can feel overwhelming, but some rules are simpler than they seem. The words 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' are called demonstrative pronouns and determiners. Their job is to point to specific people or objects. Once you master the two simple rules of distance and number, understanding the difference between 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' will become second nature.
How do you know when to use 'this' or 'that'?
When you are talking about a single item (singular), your choice depends entirely on its location relative to you. Think of it as pointing with your words.
Use 'This' for One Thing, Near You
'This' refers to a singular noun that is close to you. 'Close' can mean physically within your reach, or something happening right now in time.
- Physical Proximity: "This is my favourite coffee mug." (You are holding it or it's right next to you.)
- Temporal Proximity: "Listen to this song; it's great!" (The song is playing now.)
- Introducing People: "Sarah, this is my friend, Mark." (Mark is standing with you.)
Use 'That' for One Thing, Far from You
'That' refers to a singular noun that is farther away from you. 'Far' can mean physically out of reach or something that happened in the past.
- Physical Distance: "Do you see that bird on the telephone wire?" (The bird is over there, not here.)
- Temporal Distance: "I loved our vacation last year. That was a wonderful trip." (The trip happened in the past.)
- Referring to Something Someone Said: "You're moving to London? That's exciting!"
Understanding the Difference Between 'This', 'That', 'These', and 'Those' for Plural Nouns
When you need to point to more than one item (plural), the same rule of distance applies. You just need to switch to the plural forms of 'this' and 'that'.
Use 'These' for Multiple Things, Near You
'These' is the plural of 'this'. Use it to refer to multiple items that are close to you.
- Physical Proximity: "These books on my desk need to be returned to the library." (The books are here.)
- Identifying a Group: "These are my parents, John and Mary." (They are standing with you.)
Use 'Those' for Multiple Things, Far from You
'Those' is the plural of 'that'. Use it to refer to multiple items that are farther away from you.
- Physical Distance: "I want to buy those apples at the back of the display." (The apples are over there.)
- Referring to a Past Group: "I miss my university friends. Those were the best days."
A Quick Guide for Easy Reference
To make it even simpler, here is a chart you can use to check your understanding. Just ask yourself two questions: "How many?" and "Where is it?"
- This: One thing, near me.
- That: One thing, far from me.
- These: More than one thing, near me.
- Those: More than one thing, far from me.
Mastering the difference between 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' is a fundamental step in building your English fluency. By focusing on the concepts of number (singular/plural) and distance (near/far), you can use these essential demonstrative pronouns with confidence. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be pointing things out like a native speaker.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What's an easy trick to remember this vs. that?
An easy way to remember is to connect the words to 'here' and 'there'. 'This' and 'here' both contain the letter 'E' and refer to things close by. 'That' and 'there' both contain the letter 'A' and refer to things at a distance.
Can I use 'this' or 'that' to talk about ideas?
Yes, absolutely! You can use 'this' for an idea you are about to explain ("Listen to this idea...") and 'that' for an idea someone else just mentioned ("That's a great point!"). The concept of 'near' and 'far' becomes more abstract, referring to who introduced the idea.
Is it correct to say 'these information' or 'this information'?
'Information' is an uncountable noun, which means it doesn't have a plural form. You should always treat it as singular. The correct phrase is "this information" (if it's a current topic) or "that information" (if it's something mentioned earlier).
When should I use 'those' instead of 'they'?
'Those' is a demonstrative pronoun that points to specific items or people ("Those are my shoes"). 'They' is a personal pronoun that replaces a noun that has already been mentioned to avoid repetition ("I saw the students. They were studying."). Use 'those' to identify, and 'they' to describe an action of the identified group.