Grammar
This, that, these, and those: choose by distance and number
When you point to something, English gives you two quick choices: is it one thing or more than one, and is it near or farther away? This, that, these, and those answer both questions.
Choose this, that, these, or those to match the number of nouns and their place in the situation.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
these and those /ðiːz ən ðəʊz/
The short answer
First choose singular or plural. Then choose near or farther away: this is near and singular, these is near and plural, that is farther and singular, and those is farther and plural.
This jacket is mine, but those coats belong to the visitors.
Why it works: This points to one nearby jacket. Those points to several coats that are farther away in the situation.
6 more examples
-
This map shows the walk from the station to our hotel.
This introduces one map that the speaker treats as near or currently important.
Not this:
These mapshows the walk from the station to our hotel. What changes: These is plural, so it cannot describe the singular noun map. -
These tomatoes are ready for the salad.
These matches several nearby tomatoes.
Not this:
This tomatoesare ready for the salad. What changes: This is singular, but tomatoes is plural. -
That house with the red door belongs to my aunt.
That points to one house that is farther away or easy to identify from the context.
Not this:
Those housewith the red door belongs to my aunt. What changes: Those is plural, so it does not match the singular noun house. -
Those lights on the hill come on after sunset.
Those matches several lights that are far from the speaker.
Not this:
That lightson the hill come on after sunset. What changes: That is singular, while lights is plural. -
Could you pass me this folder beside your laptop?
The folder is close enough for the listener to find in the immediate situation.
Not this:Could you pass me
those folderbeside your laptop? What changes: Those requires a plural noun, such as folders. -
I still remember those warm evenings by the sea.
Those can point to several times in the past that feel separate from the present moment.
Not this:I still remember
that warm eveningsby the sea. What changes: That describes one evening, so it does not agree with the plural noun evenings.
Read the full guide
You can use demonstratives before a noun, as in this chair or those chairs. You can also use them alone when the noun is already clear, as in I will take this or Who owns those? The same two decisions still guide you: number and distance.
Start with the number of things
Count the people or things you mean before you choose a word. Use this or that with one noun. Use these or those with a plural noun. This check prevents many mistakes because the form changes when the number changes.
This key opens the front door.
This key names one key. If there are several keys, say these keys or those keys instead.
Choose a word for more than one nearby photograph.
Use these: These photographs are from our holiday.
Use this for one nearby thing
Use this when one person, object, place, or idea is near you or is the present focus of the conversation. The noun after this is singular. A speaker can hold the object, point to it, or make it clear through the situation.
This seat is free if you want to sit here.
The speaker means one seat close by. This seats is not possible because seats is plural.
Use these for nearby plural things
Use these when there is more than one nearby person or thing. These often appears with plural nouns such as books, messages, shoes, or questions. It can also stand alone when the noun is obvious.
These messages need an answer before lunch.
Messages is plural, so these agrees with it. Say this message when you mean one message.
You are holding two tickets. Which demonstrative can you use?
Say these tickets because there are two tickets near you.
Use that for one thing farther away
Use that for one thing you see as farther away, or for one thing that the listener can identify from an earlier part of the conversation. The noun remains singular. You may point across a room, look at a building, or refer back to a single event.
That bus at the corner goes to the museum.
That points to one bus away from the speaker. Use those buses when several buses are the target.
Use those for things farther away
Use those for several people or things that are farther away. It is common when you point at a group, compare two groups, or remember a group from an earlier time. Check that the noun is plural.
Those chairs by the window are reserved.
Chairs is plural, so those agrees with it. That chair would mean one chair.
You can see three bicycles across the road. Which word fits?
Use those: Those bicycles belong to the delivery team.
Use demonstratives without a noun
You can leave out the noun when both speakers already know what you mean. The demonstrative then takes the noun's place. Keep the number clear: this and that replace one thing, while these and those replace a group.
Which scarf do you prefer? I prefer this.
This replaces one scarf. If you prefer several scarves, say I prefer these.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose this or that for one person, thing, place, or idea. Choose these or those for more than one. Then use the situation to decide whether you mean something near and current or something farther away or separate from the present focus.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "This, that, these, and those: choose by distance and number"
What is the difference between this and that?
Use this for one person, thing, place, or idea that feels near or current in the situation. Use that for one that feels farther away or has already been mentioned. Both words are singular.
This map shows the walk from the station to our hotel.
What is the difference between these and those?
These and those are both plural. Use these for people or things you treat as near, and use those for people or things you treat as farther away or separate from the present focus.
These map shows the walk from the station to our hotel.
Can this, that, these, and those come before a noun?
Yes. They can come before a noun to identify it, as in this map or those lights. Match this and that with a singular noun, and match these and those with a plural noun.
These tomatoes are ready for the salad.
Can I use these and those without a noun?
Yes, when the listener already knows the noun. These and those can replace a plural noun, while this and that can replace a singular noun. The situation should make the missing noun clear.
This tomatoes are ready for the salad.
Do this and that always describe physical distance?
No. They can also organize a conversation. This may introduce the topic you are discussing now, while that can refer to an earlier event, idea, or comment that the listener can identify.
That house with the red door belongs to my aunt.