Meaning of ‘This/That/These/Those’
This, that, these and those are what we call demonstrative pronouns. They can also be called determiners. This, that, these and those indicate or point to people and things.
We usually use them in the following way:
•this and that are used with singular countable nouns
•these and those are used with plural countable nouns
This, that, those and these as determiners:
Indicating ‘things’
Generally, if this and that are used as determiners, they should be followed by singular and uncountable nouns.
For example*:
1) Try to repeat this exercise every morning and evening.
2)What does this music make you think of?
3)I’ve never been to that part of France.
4)Can I have some of that juice, please?
*The examples have been taken from: McCarthy, M., Mark, G,. & O’Keeffe, A. 2011. English Grammar Today: An A-Z of Spoken and Written Grammar. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
Generally, if these and those are used as determiners, they should be followed by plural nouns.
For example*:
1)You can use any one of these computers.
2)I need to paint those windows.
*The examples have been taken from: McCarthy, M., Mark, G,. & O’Keeffe, A. 2011. English Grammar Today: An A-Z of Spoken and Written Grammar. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
This and Time phrase
This is often used with time phrases. Time phrases are words that describe times and dates (morning, afternoon, evening + week, month, year). Additionally, this can be used to refer to, “the one that’s coming or the one we’re currently in.” (McCarthy,2011, pg. 521)
For example*:
1)I’ll be with your sometime this evening
2) Johan seemed very happy this afternoon
3) Ian is in Germany all this week
*The examples have been taken from: McCarthy, M., Mark, G,. & O’Keeffe, A. 2011.English Grammar Today: An A-Z of Spoken and Written Grammar. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.
More things to know about this, that, these and those as determiners
This and these are mostly used to refer to people or things that are in close proximity to the person speaking or to the things that are happening at the moment of speaking:
1)Can I use this cloth? ( someone pointing to something)
2)I’ll give them these books to use in class (someone pointing to something)
That and those are mostly used to refer to people or things that are not close to the person speaking or to thing that is happening at the moment of speaking:
1)All the time I was in that county I hated it.
2)What’s in that box?
3) Could you hand me those papers on your desk.
This, that, these and those as pronouns
As mentioned before, this, that, these and those can be used as determiners and as pronouns.
As pronouns, this, that, these and those refer to things, ideas and people.
For example:
1)Can you turn that off if you are not listening to it? (referring to thing-probably radio, CD, iPod, etc)
2)What colour are those pants? I can’t see if they are black or blue.
3)You will have to practice four hours a day and come for two lessons a week. Are you ok with that? (Meaning: are you satisfied with the idea of working and practising hard)
When referring to people, “this and that as pronouns refer to people when we want to identify ourselves or others, or to ask the identity or other speakers.” (McCarthy, M., Mark, G., & O’Keefee, A. 2011, p. 522)
For example:
1)Olga, this is my sister, Susan.
2)Is that your father?