This, That, These, Those
Four demonstratives sorted by two questions: near or far, and singular or plural.
Word Origins & Etymology
These words are English’s demonstratives — from Latin demonstrare, "to point out." They point to specific things in space, time, or conversation.
They descend from Old English thæs and related forms; this/these mark what is near, and that/those mark what is farther away.
Just two choices decide everything: near (this/these) vs far (that/those), and singular (this/that) vs plural (these/those).
⚡ Quick Answer
That = one thing far away. Those = several things far away.
Memory Trick: These and these… the plurals (these/those) end in -se. Near words have an I-ish sound (this/these); far words point away (that/those).
🔑 Key Takeaway
Ask two questions: near or far, one or many. Near + one = this; near + many = these; far + one = that; far + many = those.
| Word | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | "this book (in my hand)" |
| These | Plural | Near | "these shoes (I’m wearing)" |
| That | Singular | Far | "that house (over there)" |
| Those | Plural | Far | "those birds (in the sky)" |
Quick Comparison
| Choice | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Near (here/now) | this | these |
| Far (there/then) | that | those |
| Quick test | one item? | more than one? |
Near vs Far
Use this/these for things close to you in space, time, or attention; use that/those for things farther away.
- This coffee (the one I’m holding) is great.
- These keys (right here) are mine.
- That mountain (in the distance) is tall.
- Those people (across the street) are tourists.
Determiner vs Pronoun
Demonstratives can come before a noun (determiners) or stand alone (pronouns).
- Determiner: This phone is new. / Those apples look ripe.
- Pronoun: This is delicious. / Those are expensive.
Time and Conversation
They also point in time and discourse: "this week" (current), "that year" (past), and "this is what I mean" vs "that was a mistake." Match singular/plural to the noun, just as in subject-verb agreement.
Pointing Within a Conversation
Beyond physical distance, these words point inside a discussion. This often introduces what you are about to say ("This is my plan: ..."), while that refers back to something already mentioned ("That was a great idea"). The plurals work the same way: these looks forward, those looks back. One caution: do not confuse the demonstrative that with the conjunction that ("I think that you are right") or the relative pronoun that ("the book that I read") — same spelling, different jobs.
Determiner, Pronoun, and Number Agreement
These four words wear two hats. As determiners they sit in front of a noun and must match it in number: this and that take a singular noun (this book, that car), while these and those take a plural (these books, those cars). As pronouns they stand alone, replacing the noun entirely: "I'll take these." The number rule is where careful writers slip. The phrase is these kinds of or those types of — plural demonstrative with plural kinds or types — not "these kind of." There is also a time sense worth knowing: these days means "nowadays," while those days or in those days points back to the past. Two phrasings to avoid in formal writing are this here and that there, which are dialectal; plain this and that already carry the pointing.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: "this shoes"
✗ Wrong: I like this shoes.
✓ Right: I like these shoes.
Reason: Shoes is plural, so use the plural these (or those).
Mistake #2: "those is"
✗ Wrong: Those is my favorite.
✓ Right: Those are my favorites. / That is my favorite.
Reason: Those is plural and needs a plural verb (are).
Mistake #3: "these kind of"
✗ Wrong: I don’t like these kind of movies.
✓ Right: I don’t like this kind of movie. / these kinds of movies.
Reason: Match the demonstrative to "kind" (singular) or "kinds" (plural).
Mistake #4: far vs near mismatch
✗ Wrong: Pass me that book here in my hand.
✓ Right: Pass me this book here in my hand.
Reason: Something in your hand is near, so use this.
🎯 Test Your Knowledge
1. Look at ____ stars in the sky tonight.
2. I love ____ song that is playing right now.
3. Choose the correct phrase:
4. Are ____ your gloves over there on the bench?
5. Which is correct?
See It Live: Our Engine Flags a Real Mistake
Type below and the engine checks it instantly, on your device. The starter line mismatches a demonstrative and a plural noun — fix it or try your own.
Expected correction: I really like these red shoes in the window.
Honest limits: the engine catches number mismatches like this/these, but near vs far depends on what you mean. Decide the distance, then run the check.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between this and that?
When do I use these vs those?
Is it "this kind" or "these kind"?
Can these words be used for time?
Do demonstratives change the verb?
Real-World Examples
How much are these sunglasses?
Can you see that peak in the distance?
Let’s review this report first.
Those findings were published in 2019.
I’m busy this week.
That was a great idea.
I want this apples.
Those is too expensive.
Why These Get Mixed Up
The errors are almost always number mismatches (this/these) or distance mismatches (this/that), because two variables are juggled at once. Plurals like shoes, scissors, and people invite "this" by mistake. Slowing down to ask the two questions — near or far, one or many — resolves nearly every case, and the verb then follows the number.
Demonstratives interact with number and agreement. Reinforce the foundation with subject-verb agreement and what is a noun.
Related Articles
- Subject-Verb Agreement — Demonstrative pronouns must agree in number
- What Is a Noun? — Singular and plural nouns these words point to
- Irregular Plurals — Tricky plurals that affect this/these
- Countable vs Uncountable Nouns — How countability shapes determiners
- ← View All Grammar Guides
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