This, That, These, and Those: Rules and Examples in English Grammar
Learning how to use this, that, these, and those is an important part of English grammar. These four words help us point to people, animals, places, and things. However, choosing the correct one can sometimes be confusing for English beginners.
The good news is that the rules are simple! You only need to remember two things:
- Distance: Is something near or far?
- Number: Are you talking about one thing or more than one?
In this lesson, you will learn the difference between this, that, these, and those, discover their grammar rules, and practise using them in everyday sentences.
1. What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are words we use to point to specific people or things.
There are four main demonstrative pronouns in English:
- This
- That
- These
- Those
Each word has a different use depending on distance and whether the noun is singular or plural.
2. When Do We Use “This”?
We use this to talk about one person or thing that is near us.
Rule: This = Singular + Near
Examples:
- This is my book.
- This is my new phone.
- This is a beautiful flower.
- This is my best friend.
- I like this bag.
Notice that we often use this when pointing to something close to us.
More examples:
- This apple is delicious.
- This classroom is clean.
- This is my favourite pen.
3. When Do We Use “That”?
We use that to talk about one person or thing that is far away from us.
Rule: That = Singular + Far
Examples:
- That is my house.
- That is a tall building.
- That is your car.
- Look at that bird!
- I like that dress.
We use that when pointing to something at a distance.
More examples:
- That mountain is beautiful.
- That boy is my brother.
- That is an interesting picture.
4. When Do We Use “These”?
We use these to talk about two or more people or things that are near us.
Rule: These = Plural + Near
Examples:
- These are my books.
- These are my new shoes.
- These flowers are beautiful.
- I like these apples.
- These children are happy.
Remember that these is used with plural nouns.
More examples:
- These pencils are mine.
- These cookies are delicious.
- These are my friends.
5. When Do We Use “Those”?
We use those to talk about two or more people or things that are far away from us.
Rule: Those = Plural + Far
Examples:
- Those are my friends.
- Those buildings are very tall.
- Those birds are flying.
- Look at those stars!
- Those houses are beautiful.
We use those when pointing to several things at a distance.
More examples:
- Those students are from my school.
- Those trees are very old.
- Those cars are expensive.
6. This, That, These, and Those: Comparison Table
Here is a simple table to help you remember the four demonstrative pronouns.
| Word | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This is my pen. |
| That | Singular | Far | That is your car. |
| These | Plural | Near | These are my books. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those are birds. |
Easy Way to Remember
- This: One thing near you.
- That: One thing far from you.
- These: Several things near you.
- Those: Several things far from you.
7. Using This, That, These, and Those with Is and Are
An important grammar point is choosing the correct verb.
We use is with this and that because they refer to one person or thing.
Examples:
- This is my pencil.
- That is my teacher.
- This is a nice house.
- That is a big dog.
We use are with these and those because they refer to more than one person or thing.
Examples:
- These are my pencils.
- Those are my teachers.
- These are beautiful houses.
- Those are big dogs.
Remember:
- This / That → Is
- These / Those → Are
However, when these words come before a noun, the verb agrees with the noun in the sentence.
Examples:
- This book is interesting.
- Those books are interesting.
8. Common Mistakes to Avoid
English beginners sometimes confuse these four words. Here are some common mistakes and their corrections.
Mistake 1: Using “this” with plural nouns
❌ This are my books.
✅ These are my books.
Mistake 2: Using “those” with a singular noun
❌ Those is my car.
✅ That is my car.
Mistake 3: Confusing near and far
❌ These is the house over there.
✅ That is the house over there.
Mistake 4: Using “these” for something far away
❌ These are the mountains over there.
✅ Those are the mountains over there.
Always remember to check both the distance and the number before choosing a demonstrative pronoun.
9. Quick Grammar Summary
Let’s review the four rules one more time:
- THIS: One thing that is near.
- THAT: One thing that is far.
- THESE: More than one thing that is near.
- THOSE: More than one thing that is far.
Learning these four words will help you speak and write English more naturally. Try using them when talking about objects, people, and places around you!
10. Test Your Knowledge! Take the Interactive Quiz 🎯
Now that you understand the difference between this, that, these, and those, it’s time to practise!
Can you choose the correct demonstrative pronoun in different everyday situations?
Take the interactive quiz below and challenge yourself with 20 beginner-friendly questions. You will receive instant feedback and explanations to help you understand your mistakes and improve your English grammar.
Ready to test your knowledge? Start the quiz below and see how many questions you can answer correctly!
