Указательные слова this, that, these, those

When you use it

You use this, that, these and those to point at things, people or moments. This and these are for what is near you, in your hand or in the present moment. That and those are for what is further away, or already finished. The words work in two ways: in front of a noun (this coffee) or alone, in place of a noun (this is my coffee).

How it is formed

There are only four forms. The choice depends on two questions: is it near or far, and is it one thing or more than one?

With a noun, the word goes directly before it, and no article is needed: this book, those shoes, never this the book. When the word stands alone, the verb agrees with the number: this is, these are, that is, those are. The short form that's is very common in speech; this is and these are are not shortened in writing.

Near and far are not only about space. This week, this morning, this year refer to the present period. That day, that summer refer to a time in the past. When you introduce people, you use this: Anna, this is Tom. When you refer back to something that was just said, you usually use that: Tom is late again. That is not a surprise.

On the phone, this is means the speaker: Hello, this is Anna. To ask who is calling, the usual question is Who is this? in American English and Who is that? in British English.

Examples

• This coffee is very hot.
• That building over there is the station.
• These shoes are too small for me.
• Those people are waiting for the bus.
• Anna, this is Tom. Tom, this is Anna.
• Is that your bag on the chair?
• I am very busy this week.
• Tom is late again. That is not a surprise.

Common mistakes

• ✗ This books are cheap. Those shoe is nice.
  ✓ These books are cheap. That shoe is nice.
  Ukrainian and Russian demonstratives change for gender and number (цей, ця, це, ці / этот, эта, это, эти), so the idea of agreement is familiar. English ignores gender but still changes for number: this and that go with one thing, these and those with more than one. The mistake usually appears because this is learned first and then used for everything.
• ✗ This is my friends. That are my parents.
  ✓ These are my friends. Those are my parents.
  When the pointing word stands alone as the subject, it still agrees with the noun that follows be. Plural noun, plural pointing word, plural verb: these are, those are.
• ✗ Anna, it is Tom. Hello, it is Anna.
  ✓ Anna, this is Tom. Hello, this is Anna.
  In Russian and Ukrainian one word, это / це, covers both situations: Это Том. In English it refers to something already known; a new person or a new thing is introduced with this. Save it for the second mention.
• ✗ I bought a new phone. This is very fast.
  ✓ I bought a new phone. It is very fast.
  After a thing has been named, English refers back to it with it (or he, she, they). This is very fast sounds as if you are pointing at the phone for the first time. The habit comes from Он очень быстрый / Він дуже швидкий, where a pronoun feels natural, and from это, which is used far more widely than English this.
• ✗ this the book, these the shoes
  ✓ this book, these shoes
  A noun takes either a pointing word or an article, never both. This already tells the listener which book, so the would be a second answer to the same question.

Try it