'This, these, that, those' usage and rules. English grammar explanations.
The words this, these, that, and those are used to point to specific things or people. They can be used both as demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives . Their usage mainly depends on proximity (near or far) and number (singular or plural).
Usage
As a pronoun, 'this' and 'that' are used to refer to singular nouns, 'these' and 'those' are used to refer to plural nouns.
This is my umbrella.
That is my umbrella.
These are my umbrellas.
Those are my umbrellas.
As an adjective, 'this' and 'that' are used with singular nouns, 'these' and 'those' are used with plural nouns.
This umbrella is expensive.
That umbrella is expensive.
These umbrellas are expensive.
Those umbrellas are expensive.
'This' and 'these' are used for things close to the speaker, 'that' and 'those' are used for things far from the speaker.
What is this? (near)
What is that? (far)
This book is interesting.
That house is beautiful.
Are these your keys?
Those shoes are comfortable.
'This' and 'these' are used to refer to something happening in the present or near the present, 'that' and 'those' are used to refer to something in the past or not the present.
This is the best day of my life. (Referring to today or the present situation.)
That was the best day of my life. (Referring to a particular day in the past.)
This year has been amazing. (Referring to the current year.)
These weeks have been busy. (Referring to the current period in time.)
I miss that summer we spent at the beach. (A specific past time.)
Those were tough times. (Referring to a period in the past.)
'This, these' are used to refer to a specific idea or situation, 'that, those' are used to refer to an idea or situation already mentioned.
This is what I mean. (Referring to an idea being discussed.)
We’ll deal with these problems today. (Referring to current issues.)
That was a great concert. (Referring to a past event.)
I don’t want to repeat those mistakes. (Referring to the mistakes made before.)
'This, these' is used to introduce someone present, 'that, those' is used to introduce someone not nearby.
This is my friend, Sarah.
That’s my cousin, John.
These are my friends, Anna and Jake.
Who are those people over there?
On the phone, 'this' is used to introduce yourself, 'that' is used to refer to the listener.
Hello, this is Tom.
Is that Maria Miller?