This vs that, these vs those: near or far, singular or plural?
Ask two questions: near or far? and one or more? Near and one: this. Near and more: these. Far and one: that. Far and more: those. This book, these books, that car, those cars.
Examples
- This phone is new.
- These bananas are cheap.
- That man is my teacher.
- Those houses are very old.
Easy to mix up
- Near means near the speaker: what you hold, wear or stand next to is this or these. What is with the listener or further away is that or those.
- It works for time too: this week (now), at that time (back then).
- The noun and verb change with it: this book is, these books are; that car is, those cars are.
- They can stand alone: This is my room. What are those?
Common mistakes
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| these books | |
| this book | |
| Those are my bags. |
Try it
Choose the right word:
Look at those birds in the sky!
- A. this
- B. that
- C. these
- D. those — Correct
Answer: D. those
Birds is plural, and birds in the sky are far from the speaker, so the word is those.
Choose the right word:
This coffee in my cup is cold.
- A. This — Correct
- B. These
- C. That
- D. Those
Answer: A. This
The coffee is in the speaker's cup, close at hand, and coffee is one thing (uncountable), so the word is this.
Choose the right verb:
Those are my new shoes.
- A. is
- B. are — Correct
Answer: B. are
Those and these are plural and take are. This and that are singular and take is.