This and that: the demonstratives: How and When to Use in English

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This and that: the demonstratives 

There are two main demonstratives: 

  • We use this (singular)  and these (plural)  for pointing out things that are close to use. 

This book is interesting. 

These books are interesting.

This  is my friend.

These  are my friends.

  • We use that (singular) and those (plural)   for pointing out things that are further away. 

That coat is expensive.

Those coats are expensive.

That is my cousin.

Those are my cousins.

Exercise 1

This, that or these? Select the correct option for each of the three images.

beer.

beer.

beers.

This, that or these? Select the correct option for each of the three images.

This 1 beer.

That 2 beer.

These 3 beers.

1 This:

This beer. We use this to refer to something close to us. Examples: this bottle here; this glass in front of me.

1 That:

We use that to refer to something not close to us. Examples: that pub over there.

1 These:

We could use these to refer to beers (plural) that are close to us, but not just one beer as here. Examples: these bottles; these glasses.

2 That:

That beer. We use that to refer to something not close to us. Example: that waiter over there.

2 This:

We use this to refer to something close to us. Example: this table right here.

2 These:

We could use these to refer to beers (plural) that are close to us, but not to one beer that isn't close, as here. Examples: these bottles; these glasses.

3 These :

These beers. We use these to refer to things (plural) that are close to us. Examples: these olives here; these crisps I am eating.

3 That:

We use that to refer to something (singular) not close to us, but here there is more than one beer and they are close. Examples: that notice on the wall; that aeroplane.

3 This:

We do use this to refer something close to us, but not when there is more than one, as here (beers). Examples: this menu; this dish.

Exercise 2

This, these or those? Select the correct option in each case, thinking about whether the donkeys are singular or plural, near or far.

donkey loves me.

donkeys love me.

donkeys love me.

This, these or those? Select the correct option in each case, thinking about whether the donkeys are singular or plural, near or far.

This 1 donkey loves me.

These 2 donkeys love me.

Those 3 donkeys love me.

1 This:

This donkey loves me. We use this to refer to something close to us. Example: this dog belongs to me.

1 These:

We do use these to refer to things close to us like this, but only when they are plural. Example: these beers are expensive. 

1 Those:

We use those to refer to (plural) things not close to us, but here there is only one donkey and it is close. Example: those dancers are amazing.

2 These:

These donkeys love me. We use these to refer to things (donkeys = plural) that are close to us. Example: these guests have just arrived.

2 Those:

We do use those to plural things like the donkeys here, but only when they are not close. Examples: those shoes are ridiculous.

2 This:

We could say this donkey loves me (singular), but here we have a plural (donkeys). 

3 Those:

Those donkeys love me. We use those to refer to things (donkeys = plural) that are not close to us. 

3 These:

We could say These donkeys love me if they were close to us, but here they are not.

3 This:

We use this to refer to a singular thing close to us, but here there are three donkeys and they are not close. Examples: this guest will never come back!

Exercise 3

Select the singular or plural equivalent of each underlined word.

(singular) This is my dog. → (plural) are my dogs.

(singular) is my cat. → (plural) Those are my cats.

Select the singular or plural equivalent of each underlined word.

(singular) This is my dog. → (plural) These 1 are my dogs.

(singular) That 2 is my cat. → (plural) Those are my cats.

1 These:

This is my dog. → These are my dogs, with the plural these to point out things that are close to us. Example: these shoes are so comfortable!

1 Those:

Those are my dogs is the plural of That is my dog and not of this is my dog.

1 Them:

We use them to replace a plural noun like dogs, but we don't use it to point things out. Example: These are my dogs. I love them.

2 That:

That is my cat → Those are my cats, to point out something further away. Example: Is that man wearing a wig?

2 This:

This is my cat is the singular of These are my cats and not of Those are my cats. 

2 It:

We could say It is my cat if someone asked us, for example, what was making the strange noise, but not to point our cat out. Example: -What's that around your neck? -It is my cat.

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