This VS That VS These VS Those

What's the difference between this, that, these, those? (when used as a pronoun)

As a pronoun,

1. If people/things are near: we use "this" (singular) or "these" (plural) to refer to them

• Talking about 1 thing: This is my surfboard.

• Talking about things: Whose surfboards are these?

• Introducing people: This is James, my colleague.

2. If people/things are far/not close by: we use "that" (singular) or "those" (plural) to refer to them

• What's that? (points to a surfboard in the distance) / That's a surfboard.

• Is that a dog? (points at a rock in a distance) / No, that's a rock.

• Talking about things: Those are expensive basketball shoes.

Using "this" and "that"

• This is our house, and that's Kyle's house over there.

Another way of using this/that/these/those:

With nouns,

1. If people/things are near: we use "this" (singular) or "these" (plural)

• Talking about 1 thing: We have lived in this house for more than ten years.

• Talking about things: Have you read all of these books?

2. If people/things are far/not close by: we use "that" (singular) or "those" (plural)

• Who lives in that building?

• Who are those people?

Try to answer these questions:

1. _______ is my jacket. I always wear it with ______ trousers.

2. _______ dress looks gorgeous on you.

3. Why don't you try on _______ heels?

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