How to Use This, That, These, Those Correctly With Examples

Introduction

Demonstrative pronouns and determiners are essential elements of English that help speakers indicate specific objects or people in relation to time and space. The four primary demonstratives in English—”this,” “that,” “these,” and “those”—may appear simple at first glance, but using them correctly requires understanding their subtle distinctions and various applications. For non-native English speakers developing skilled English communication abilities, mastering these demonstratives can significantly enhance clarity and precision in both spoken and written expression.

These demonstratives exist in many languages with similar functions but different forms. For instance, This That These Those in Hindi correspond to “yeh,” “woh,” “ye,” and “we” respectively, showing how languages universally need ways to indicate proximity and distance. However, each language has its own nuances in how these concepts are expressed, making it important for language learners to understand the specific rules governing English demonstratives.

This comprehensive guide explores how to use “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” correctly across various contexts, providing clear examples and practical rules to help you navigate these fundamental but sometimes confusing elements of English grammar.

Understanding Demonstratives: Basic Concepts

Before diving into specific usage rules, it’s important to understand what demonstratives are and how they function in English.

What Are Demonstratives?

Demonstratives are words used to indicate which person or thing is being referred to, distinguishing them from other similar entities based on their proximity in time or space. In English, the four main demonstratives are:

• This: Refers to a singular item that is near the speaker
• That: Refers to a singular item that is distant from the speaker
• These: Refers to multiple items that are near the speaker
• Those: Refers to multiple items that are distant from the speaker

Functions of Demonstratives

Demonstratives in English can function in two primary ways:

1. As pronouns: When they stand alone and replace nouns
   • This is interesting. (pronoun replacing a specific object or concept)
   • Those were the best days of my life. (pronoun replacing specific days)
2. As determiners: When they modify nouns
   • This book belongs to me. (determiner modifying “book”)
   • Those students performed well. (determiner modifying “students”)

Understanding this dual function is crucial for using demonstratives correctly in different contexts.

Proximity Rules: Near vs. Far

The fundamental principle governing the use of demonstratives is proximity—both physical and temporal.

Physical Proximity

Physical proximity refers to the spatial relationship between the speaker and the object or person being referred to:

• This/These: For objects or people physically close to the speaker
  • This pen on my desk is new.
  • These chairs we’re sitting on are comfortable.
• That/Those: For objects or people physically distant from the speaker
  • That building across the street is a library.
  • Those trees on the horizon are over a hundred years old.

The boundary between “near” and “far” is relative and context-dependent. What matters is the perceived distance from the speaker’s perspective.

Temporal Proximity

Demonstratives also indicate proximity in time:

• This/These: For current or imminent time periods
  • This week has been challenging.
  • These days, technology advances rapidly.
• That/Those: For past or more distant future time periods
  • That summer of 2010 was unusually hot.
  • Those years before the pandemic seem like another lifetime.

Psychological Proximity

Beyond physical and temporal proximity, demonstratives can indicate psychological closeness or distance:

• This/These: For topics the speaker feels connected to or engaged with
  • This issue of climate change affects us all.
  • These values are fundamental to our organization.
• That/Those: For topics the speaker feels detached from or wants to distance themselves from
  • That problem is not my responsibility.
  • Those ideas don’t align with our vision.

This psychological dimension adds subtlety to demonstrative usage that goes beyond simple physical location.

Singular vs. Plural Forms

Another crucial distinction is the number of items being referred to, which determines the choice between singular and plural demonstratives.

Singular Demonstratives: This and That

“This” and “that” refer to singular nouns:

• This car needs to be repaired. (one car that is near)
• That movie was disappointing. (one movie, likely seen in the past)

Plural Demonstratives: These and Those

“These” and “those” refer to plural nouns:

• These cookies are delicious. (multiple cookies that are nearby)
• Those mountains are spectacular. (multiple mountains in the distance)

Common Number Agreement Errors

Errors often occur when the demonstrative doesn’t match the noun in number:

Incorrect: This books are interesting. Correct: These books are interesting.

Incorrect: Those student performed well. Correct: That student performed well.

Maintaining number agreement between demonstratives and the nouns they refer to is essential for grammatical correctness.

Demonstratives as Pronouns

When demonstratives function as pronouns, they stand alone and replace nouns entirely.

Standalone Usage

As pronouns, demonstratives don’t modify nouns but replace them:

• This belongs to me. (referring to a single object near the speaker)
• That was unexpected. (referring to a single event or situation)
• These are my favorites. (referring to multiple items near the speaker)
• Those were difficult times. (referring to multiple past periods)

In Subject Position

Demonstrative pronouns often serve as subjects of sentences:

• This is the solution to our problem.
• That seems unlikely to succeed.
• These appear to be authentic documents.
• Those were intended for another department.

In Object Position

They can also function as objects:

• I need this for my project.
• She didn’t expect that from her colleague.
• The manager approved these yesterday.
• The museum will display those next month.

With Linking Verbs

Demonstratives frequently appear with linking verbs, especially “to be”:

• This is my brother, John.
• That was the best movie I’ve ever seen.
• These are the instructions you requested.
• Those were my grandparents in their youth.

Demonstratives as Determiners

When demonstratives function as determiners, they modify nouns and appear before them in sentences.

Modifying Nouns Directly

As determiners, demonstratives specify which noun is being referred to:

• This report contains our quarterly results. (specifying which report)
• That customer requested a refund. (specifying which customer)
• These methods have proven effective. (specifying which methods)
• Those concerns will be addressed tomorrow. (specifying which concerns)

With Adjectives

When adjectives modify the noun, the demonstrative comes before the adjective:

• This important document needs your signature.
• That talented musician performed last night.
• These colorful paintings attracted many visitors.
• Those ancient ruins fascinated archaeologists.

With Quantifiers and Numbers

Demonstratives can be used with quantifiers and numbers:

• These few remaining tickets are discounted.
• Those many attempts failed to solve the problem.
• These three candidates will proceed to the next round.
• Those five strategies yielded positive results.

Context-Dependent Usage

The appropriate choice of demonstrative often depends on the specific context of the conversation or written text.

In Face-to-Face Conversations

In direct interactions, demonstratives often accompany gestures:

• This one here is defective. (perhaps pointing to an object)
• That painting over there is a Picasso. (perhaps nodding toward a distant artwork)
• These samples show promising results. (perhaps indicating items in front of the speaker)
• Those seats in the back are still available. (perhaps pointing to distant seats)

In Written Communication

In writing, demonstratives rely more on textual context than physical proximity:

• This argument presented above is compelling. (referring to something just mentioned)
• That incident described in Chapter 3 changed everything. (referring to something mentioned earlier)
• These findings suggest new research directions. (referring to findings just listed)
• Those criteria established in the previous section will guide our evaluation. (referring to criteria mentioned earlier)

In Anaphoric Reference

Demonstratives can refer back to previously mentioned ideas or entities (anaphoric reference):

• The company announced layoffs. This news shocked employees. (“This news” refers back to the announcement)
• She failed the exam. That outcome was predictable. (“That outcome” refers back to the failure)
• Several errors appeared in the document. These mistakes must be corrected. (“These mistakes” refers back to the errors)
• Many investors lost money. Those losses prompted regulatory changes. (“Those losses” refers back to the investors’ financial situation)

In Cataphoric Reference

Less commonly, demonstratives can point forward to something about to be mentioned (cataphoric reference):

• This is what I want to tell you: we’re moving to Paris. (“This” points forward to the announcement)
• Those who arrive late will not be admitted. (“Those” points forward to “who arrive late”)

Common Expressions and Phrases

Certain expressions and phrases incorporate demonstratives in fixed or idiomatic ways.

Fixed Expressions with “This”

• This way: The exit is this way.
• This time: This time I won’t forget.
• By this time: By this time tomorrow, we’ll know the results.
• This morning/afternoon/evening: This morning I had an important meeting.

Fixed Expressions with “That”

• That is: He’s a vegetarian, that is, he doesn’t eat meat. (used to clarify)
• That said: It’s expensive. That said, the quality is exceptional. (introducing a contrasting point)
• That’s it: That’s it, I’ve finished the project. (indicating completion)
• Like that: Don’t speak to me like that. (referring to a manner)

Fixed Expressions with “These”

• These days: These days most people shop online.
• In these circumstances: In these circumstances, we must be cautious.
• At times like these: At times like these, communities must unite.

Fixed Expressions with “Those”

• Those who: Those who hesitate are lost.
• In those days: In those days, travel was much slower.
• One of those: It was one of those moments you never forget.

Special Cases and Considerations

Several special cases require particular attention when using demonstratives.

This vs. It

Both “this” and “it” can refer to something previously mentioned, but with different emphases:

• The company announced a new policy. It will be implemented next month. (“It” refers neutrally to the policy)
• The company announced a new policy. This will affect all employees. (“This” draws more attention to the policy and its consequences)

“This” often carries more emphasis or introduces a new comment about the referent.

That vs. Which in Relative Clauses

Although “that” can function as a relative pronoun, this is distinct from its role as a demonstrative:

• The book that I bought yesterday is interesting. (“that” as a relative pronoun)
• That book which I bought yesterday is interesting. (“That” as a demonstrative, “which” as a relative pronoun)

Demonstratives with Abstract Concepts

When referring to abstract ideas or concepts, the choice of demonstrative can signal the speaker’s relationship to the concept:

• This freedom we cherish must be protected. (suggesting personal connection)
• That happiness everyone seeks remains elusive. (suggesting philosophical distance)

Emphatic Usage

Demonstratives can be emphasized to draw special attention:

• This very issue was discussed yesterday.
• That exact moment changed my life.
• These particular features distinguish our product.
• Those specific concerns were never addressed.

Cultural and Regional Variations

Demonstrative usage can vary across different English-speaking regions and contexts.

British vs. American Usage

While the basic rules remain the same, some subtle differences exist:

• British English sometimes uses “this” and “these” more frequently in certain expressions where American English might use articles.
  • British: I’ll see you this Tuesday.
  • American: I’ll see you on Tuesday.

Formal vs. Informal Contexts

In formal writing, demonstratives are often used more precisely and sparingly:

• Informal: This thing is what makes our product special.
• Formal: This feature distinguishes our product from competitors.

In casual speech, demonstratives might replace more specific nouns:

• Hand me that over there. (rather than naming the specific object)

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Several common errors occur with demonstratives across different language backgrounds.

Overuse of Demonstratives

Non-native speakers sometimes overuse demonstratives where articles would be more appropriate:

Incorrect: This weather is cold today. (when making a general statement about today’s weather) Correct: The weather is cold today.

Incorrect: I like those books about history. (when referring to history books in general) Correct: I like books about history.

Confusion Between Demonstratives and Personal Pronouns

Sometimes learners confuse demonstratives with personal pronouns:

Incorrect: This is broken. (when referring to a person) Correct: He is injured. or She is injured.

Mixing Singular and Plural Forms

Matching demonstratives with the correct number is crucial:

Incorrect: This apples are fresh. Correct: These apples are fresh.

Incorrect: Those book belongs to me. Correct: That book belongs to me.

Using Demonstratives Without Clear Referents

Unclear references can cause confusion:

Unclear: This shows the problem. (What is “this” referring to?) Clearer: This graph shows the problem. or This pattern shows the problem.

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Effective approaches can help both teachers and learners master the correct usage of demonstratives.

Contextual Learning

Rather than memorizing rules in isolation, practice using demonstratives in meaningful contexts:

• Role-play scenarios involving giving directions or identifying objects
• Describe photographs, indicating near and far objects
• Practice narrating stories with multiple characters and objects requiring specification

Visual Aids

Visual representations can clarify the concept of proximity:

• Use diagrams showing “this/these” objects near the speaker and “that/those” objects at a distance
• Create classroom zones labeled “this area” and “that area” for physical practice
• Use timeline visualizations for temporal proximity concepts

Contrastive Exercises

Practice distinguishing between different demonstratives:

• Complete sentences choosing between “this” or “that”
• Convert singular sentences to plural (this → these, that → those)
• Identify and correct errors in demonstrative usage

Conclusion

Demonstratives—”this,” “that,” “these,” and “those”—serve as fundamental building blocks of English communication, allowing speakers to indicate specific objects, people, or concepts in relation to time and space. While their basic function may seem straightforward, their proper usage involves understanding subtle distinctions of proximity, number, and function within sentences.

Mastering these distinctions enhances clarity and precision in both spoken and written English. Whether functioning as pronouns standing alone or as determiners modifying nouns, demonstratives help create coherent discourse by establishing clear references within physical environments or textual contexts.

For English language learners, regular practice with demonstratives in authentic contexts, attention to number agreement, and awareness of physical, temporal, and psychological proximity will lead to more natural and accurate usage. With time and practice, the appropriate choice of demonstrative becomes intuitive, contributing to more skilled and effective communication in English.

By understanding the principles outlined in this guide and applying them consistently, you can use “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” with confidence and precision across all contexts of English communication.