this, that, these and those

 

Why do we use this and these?

We use this (singular) and these (plural) as pronouns:
- to talk about people or things near us:
This is a nice cup of tea.
Whose shoes are these?
- to introduce people:
This is Janet.
These are my friends, John and Michael.
WARNING:
We don’t say These are John and Michael.
We say This is John and this is Michael.
- to introduce ourselves to begin a conversation on the phone:
Hello, this is David, Can I speak to Sally?

Why do we use that and those?

We use that (singular) and those (plural):
- to talk about things that are not near us:
What’s that?
This is our house, and that’s Rebecca’s house over there.
Those are very expensive shoes.
- We also use that to refer back to something someone said or did:
  • - Shall we go to the cinema?
    - Yes, that’s a good idea.
  • - I’ve got a new job.
    That’s great.
  • - I’m very tired.
    - Why is that?

thisthesethat, those with nouns

We also use thisthesethat and those with nouns to show proximity
We use this and these for people or things near us:
We have lived in this house for twenty years.
Have you read all of these books?
… and that and those for things that are not near us:
Who lives in that house?
Who are those people?

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