This, That, These, Those? Near or Far Decides

You hold a cup. You say this cup. You point across the room. You say that cup. The cup did not change. Your distance did.

That is the whole system. Ask how many, one or many. Then ask how close, near you or far from you. Those two answers give you this, that, these or those almost every time [1].

You will use the same four words in three places. You will use them for things you can touch. You will use them for time, like this week. You will use them to point back to words you just said, like that idea.

Ask two questions before you speak

Start with number. One thing takes this or that. More than one takes these or those. This never changes. If the noun is plural, you cannot use this or that.

Then ask about distance. Near you takes this or these. Far from you takes that or those. Near usually means you can touch it, or it is yours right now. Far usually means someone else is holding it, or it sits across the room.

• This phone is mine. One phone, in your hand. These phones are mine. Many phones, in front of you.
• That phone is yours. One phone, in your listener's hand. Those phones are yours. Many phones, on their table.
• Say it with your hands: hold one pen and say this pen. Hold two pens and say these pens. Point at one pen across the table and say that pen. Point at two and say those pens.

Learn the four as pairs. This pairs with these for near things. That pairs with those for far things. This pairs with that for one thing. These pairs with those for many things. Once you see the square, you stop guessing.

Near means you can reach it

Near is about your body, not about size. If it is in your hand, on your desk, or next to you, use this or these. If it is with your listener, by the door, or across the street, use that or those. Speakers move, so the same object changes its name.

You walk into a shop with a friend. You pick up a shirt. You say this shirt. Your friend holds up another shirt. You say that shirt. You did not describe the shirts. You described where each speaker stood.

Practise this out loud. Touch something and name it with this or these. Point at something far and name it with that or those. Your hands will teach you faster than a list.

This week is now, that week is then

Time works like space. Now is near. Away from now is far. This week means the week you live in right now. That week means a different week, past or future. The calendar did not move. You did.

Use this for the current period. Say this morning, this week, this month, this year. Use that for the other one. Say that morning, that week, that month, that year. Learners often say that week for the current week. Do not do that. If you are inside it, it is this.

You also use these days for life now. Say I work from home these days. You mean nowadays. You use those days for memory. Say We had no phones in those days. You mean back then. Exams expect this split, in British and American English alike.

Use them alone or before a noun

The four words have two jobs. Before a noun they work like adjectives. Alone they stand in for the noun. Compare this book and this. The first names the book. The second replaces it because you both know which book you mean.

Use the short form when the thing is clear. You point at cakes and say I will take this. You mean this cake. You point at photos and say I like those. You mean those photos. Do not add the noun twice. Say I like those photos or I like those, never both at once.

Short tests like this beat rereading the rule [2]. Say each answer out loud. Touch or point while you speak. Your body will remind you which word fits.

Point back with that and those

That and those often point to words, not things. You finish a sentence, then you comment on it with that. Say You got the job. That is great. That means the whole news you just heard. It would feel too small here because there is no single noun to replace.

Use that for a whole idea. Say He missed the train. That means he will be late. Use this only when you bring something new forward. Say Listen to this: he missed the train. This pulls attention forward. That looks back.

Those who is a fixed plural for people. It means the group of people who do something. Say Those who arrive late will wait outside. You mean any people in that group. Do not say these who. The form is always those who in this pattern. You will see it on signs, forms and exam texts.

Use this and that on the phone

Phone English is fixed. You cannot change it with logic. You introduce yourself with this. You ask about the other person with that. Say Hello, this is Ana speaking. Say Is that Mark. The distance is the same. The convention decides.

Use this for you. Say This is Ana. Do not say I am Ana on a business call, though friends accept it. Use that for the other speaker. Say Is that the clinic. Say Are you still there, Mark. Is that you. British and American speakers follow the same pattern here.

Introductions face to face work the same way. You bring someone near with this. Say Ana, this is Mark. You present Mark to Ana. Do not say that is Mark when he stands next to you. That would push him away. Keep this for people you present.

Swap a repeated noun for one and ones

English hates repeating nouns. Instead of this shoe twice, you say this one. Instead of those shoes twice, you say those ones in speech or those in writing. The words one and ones carry the noun so you do not have to say it again.

Use one after this and that. Say I like this shirt, not that one. Use ones after these and those in speech. Say I like these shoes, not those ones. In formal writing, drop ones. Say I like these shoes, not those. Both are correct, but exams prefer the shorter form.

• I will take this one. You mean this cake, but cake is clear so one replaces it.
• Those ones are cheaper. Speech only. You mean those shirts. In an essay, write Those are cheaper.
• Keep the number the same: this one and that one for one thing. These ones and those ones for many things in speech.

Never say this ones or that ones. This and that are singular, so they only pair with one. Never say these one or those one. These and those are plural, so they only pair with ones or with no noun at all.

Fix five mistakes before they stick

These five mark you out fast. Each one breaks the two questions, near or far and one or many. Fix them now and the rest feels easy. Read each pair out loud and feel the difference.

1. "This shoes are nice." The noun is plural, so the first word must be plural. Say These shoes are nice. Say This shoe is nice for one shoe.
2. "That book in my hand is mine." The book is in your hand, so it is near. Say This book in my hand is mine. Keep that for things you point at.
3. "I like this ones." This never takes ones. Say I like this one for one thing. Say I like these ones in speech or I like these in writing for many.
4. "He was late. It was a problem." Where you mean the whole fact, English prefers that. Say He was late. That was a problem. Keep it for one noun, as in He missed the bus. It was full.
5. "That is Ana speaking." On the phone, the speaker is this. Say This is Ana speaking. Ask Is that Mark for the other person.

Conclusion

Near or far, one or many. That pair picks this, that, these or those in space, in time and in conversation. Touch near things when you say this and these. Point at far things when you say that and those.

Practise with real objects today. Pick up one thing and say this one. Pick up two and say these ones. Point across the room and switch to that one and those ones. Then try time. Say this week for now and that week for another week. Say this is Ana on your next call.

Frequently asked questions

Sources