This, That, These and Those: Rules, Uses and Examples
This, that, these and those point to people and things: this phone, those shoes. Learn how near and far, singular and plural decide which word you need, and how native speakers use them in conversation.
By LearnLingo Team · Updated
Form
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near (here) | this: this cup | these: these cups |
| Far (there) | that: that cup | those: those cups |
Near and far can mean distance in space (here and there), in time (now and then) or in feeling (something close to you or something you want to keep at a distance).
| Word | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | This is my bag. | This isn't my bag. | Is this your bag? |
| that | That's my car. | That isn't my car. | Is that your car? |
| these | These are my keys. | These aren't my keys. | Are these your keys? |
| those | Those are my shoes. | Those aren't my shoes. | Are those your shoes? |
That is is often shortened to that's. This is, these are and those are are usually not shortened in writing.
| Question | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Is this your phone? | Yes, it is. | No, it isn't. |
| Is that your sister? | Yes, it is. Or: Yes, she is. | No, it isn't. |
| Are these your glasses? | Yes, they are. | No, they aren't. |
| Are those your children? | Yes, they are. | No, they aren't. |
In short answers, this and that become it, and these and those become they. Say Yes, it is, not Yes, this is.
Near or far, one or many
Two questions decide which word to use. First: is the thing near you or farther away? Second: is it one thing or more than one?
Use this for one thing that is near (you can often touch it) and these for more than one. Use that for one thing that is farther away and those for more than one. Make sure the noun matches: this book (singular), these books (plural). If you are not sure about plural forms, see plural nouns.
Pronunciation tip: this has a short i sound ⁄ðɪs⁄ and these has a long ee sound ⁄ðiːz⁄ that ends with a z. Making that difference clear helps people understand whether you mean one or many.
This coffee is too hot.
The coffee is in my hand.
These biscuits are delicious.
Who is that man over there?
Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.
Can I try these jeans on, please?
Jeans is always plural, so we use these, not this.
Before a noun or on their own
These four words can go before a noun as determiners: this house, those people. Then no other article is needed: say this car, not this the car.
They can also stand alone as pronouns, when the noun is clear from the situation: What's this? I love that! These are mine. When the word stands alone and refers to a thing, it often comes with be.
To avoid repeating a countable noun, use this one and that one (singular), and these ones and those ones (plural). These ones and those ones are common in British speech; in careful writing, and in much American English, people simply say these or those.
What's that on your shirt?
I don't like this jacket. I prefer that one.
These are my friends from work.
Which shoes do you want? Those, the black ones.
Those stands alone; shoes is clear from the question.
Introducing people and on the phone
When you introduce someone, use this is, even when you introduce more than one person one by one: This is my friend Ali. This is Sara and this is Tom. You do not say He is my friend Ali in introductions.
On the phone, British speakers say This is Emma or It's Emma to say who they are. To ask who is calling, British English often uses Who's that? or Is that Mark?, while American English prefers Who's this? and Is this Mark? See English phone calls for more phone phrases.
You can also use that to ask about a person you can see in the distance or in a photo: Who's that?
Mum, this is my teacher, Mr Clark.
Hello, this is Emma from the dental clinic.
Is that Mark? It's Sam here.
British English on the phone. American English: Is this Mark?
Who's that in the photo? It's my grandmother.
Time: now and then
Near and far also work in time. This and these talk about the present or the near future: this morning, this week, these days (nowadays). That and those talk about a time in the past or a time that is far away: that day, in those days.
Notice the difference between this morning (today) and that morning (a morning in a story in the past). With this, we never use the word in or on: say this Friday, not on this Friday.
I'm really busy this week.
These days a lot of people work from home.
These days means nowadays.
We met in 2015. I remember that summer very well.
In those days there were no mobile phones.
Talking about ideas and what someone just said
We use that to refer to something another person has just said or done: That's a great idea! That's right. That's not fair. These are some of the most common phrases in spoken English.
We use this to introduce something we are about to say or show: Listen to this. This is what I think. In stories, informal speakers also use this to introduce a new person or thing: There was this man at the station...
That also has other jobs in English, for example in relative clauses (the book that I bought) and after verbs (I think that he's right). In those cases it is not pointing at anything; it is linking two parts of a sentence.
Let's get pizza. That's a good idea.
I've lost my keys again. Oh no, that's annoying.
Listen to this: they've cancelled the concert.
That's all for today. See you next week.
In real life
In shops and cafés, these words are very useful because you can point instead of knowing the exact name of something: Can I have one of those, please? How much is this? Read more phrases in shopping English phrases.
In conversation, that's + adjective is a quick, friendly way to react: That's great, That's terrible, That's interesting. To ask what something is, use question words: What's this? Whose are these? Which one?
How much are these apples?
Can I have one of those chocolate muffins, please?
I passed my driving test! Wow, that's fantastic!
Is this seat free?
Common mistakes
This shoes are very comfortable.
These shoes are very comfortable.
Shoes is plural, so use these (or those). This and that are only for one thing.
These is my brother.
This is my brother.
One person takes this, with is. These goes with are and plural nouns.
Is this your bag? Yes, this is.
Is this your bag? Yes, it is.
In short answers, this and that change to it, and these and those change to they.
I'll see you on this Friday.
I'll see you this Friday.
Do not use on or in before time phrases with this, next or last.
This my house.
This is my house.
An English sentence needs a verb, so do not leave out is or are after this, that, these and those. Many languages can drop the verb here, but English cannot.
Practice quiz
10 questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
1. ___ flowers in my hand are for you.
2. Look at ___ bird on the roof over there!
3. Choose the correct sentence.
4. Are those your keys? Yes, ___.
5. Which phrase talks about the past?
6. I don't want the red T-shirt. I'll take the blue ___.
7. Your friend says: I got the job! What is the best reply?
8. Mum, ___ my friend Hakan.
9. Which sentence is correct?
10. How much ___ cost? I'm holding one.
0 of 10 answered
Show all answers
- These
- that
- That's my car.
- they are
- in those days
- one
- That's great!
- this is
- These jeans are new.
- does this
See what the A1 English course covers, or test your level first.
People also ask
What is the difference between this and that?+
Both are singular. This is for something near you in space or time (this book in my hand, this week), and that is for something farther away (that house over there, that day last year).
Can I say these ones and those ones?+
Yes, in informal speech, especially in British English: I like these ones. In more careful writing, and often in American English, people just say these or those. Never use ones with uncountable nouns.
Is it this or that on the phone?+
To say who you are, use this is in both British and American English: This is Ayşe. To ask who is calling, British speakers often say Who's that?, while Americans usually say Who's this?
Why is these pronounced differently from this?+
This has a short vowel ⁄ðɪs⁄ and ends in an s sound, while these has a long vowel ⁄ðiːz⁄ and ends in a z sound. The difference tells the listener if you mean one thing or many, so practise saying the two words one after the other.
Related reading
English Grammar for Beginners: Where to Start
A clear starting map for English grammar beginners: the ten topics to learn first, in the right order, with simple rules, examples and a short practice quiz.
6 min readVocabulary · A2Shopping English Phrases
Learn useful English phrases for shopping: asking for help, sizes and fitting rooms, prices and discounts, paying, and returning or exchanging items.
6 min readGrammar · A1A, An or The? English Articles Made Easy
A clear guide to English articles: when to use a, an, the or no article at all, with simple rules, sound-based tips, examples and a practice quiz.
6 min readCommon Mistakes · A2
English for Phone Calls
Useful English phone call phrases for answering, making calls, leaving messages and handling problems, with sample dialogues.
6 min read