Level: beginner
this and these
We use this (singular) and these (plural) as pronouns:
- to talk about people or things near us:
This is a nice cup of tea.
Whose shoes are these?
- to introduce people:
This is Janet.
These are my friends John and Michael.
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We say, This is John and this is Michael. (NOT |
- to begin a conversation on the phone:
Hello, this is David. Can I speak to Sally?
that and those
We use that (singular) and those (plural) as pronouns to talk about things that are not near us:
What's that?
Those are very expensive shoes.
This is our house, and that's Rebecca's house over there.
- Demonstratives
We also use that to reply to something someone has said:
'Shall we go to the cinema?' 'Yes, that’s a good idea.'
'I've got a new job.' 'That's great.'
'I'm very tired.' 'Why is that?'
- Replies with that's 1
- Replies with that's 2
With nouns
We can also use this, these, that and those with nouns. We use this and these for people or things near us:
We have lived in this house for twenty years.
Have you read all of these books?
and that and those for people or things that are not near us:
Who lives in that house?
Who are those people?
- Demonstratives with nouns
Comments
Thank you.
Hey I have a questions.
So if I am referring to a situation that happened int he past. Which one do I use?
7th of February, the laboratory. These are the date and location of...
OR
7th of February, the laboratory. Those were the data and location of....
Hello lolopopo,
You can use both 'this' or 'that' to refer back to something you just mentioned, with no difference in meaning. We tend to use 'this' more than 'that' when we have more to say about the matter, however. If your sentence merely explains the date and location of an event, then 'those' could be appropriate, but I would probably recommend 'these'. And if you go on to explain even more, then 'these' would also probably be better.
All the best,
Kirk
The LearnEnglish Team
A question. Is it right to write: Who lives in those house? & Who are that people?(Meaning who those people are)??
Hello Andrea Smith,
No, those are not correct. We use 'that' with singular nouns and 'those' with plural nouns. The correct forms would therefore be as follows:
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Hello,
Could in the clause 'that things are' 'that' be a determiner or it is a conjunction? The original statement is 'I can nevertheless know quite a lot about how it appears to me that things are.'
Hello kanka
Strictly speaking, 'that' here is a complementiser, which is a kind of subordinating conjunction. It introduces the complement of the verb 'appear'.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I have a question. This page says you can use "this" to introduce ourselves on the phone. On another page, "it" can alse serve as the same purpose. So, what's the difference? Thanks in advance.
Hello Wang Zijian,
There are many ways of introducing yourself on the phone and it is possible to use both 'this' and 'it' to introduce yourself. For example:
However, when we tell a third person who is calling we use 'it' rather than this:
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thank you for your reply! It's very helful!
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