those vs these

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How to Use These and Those

Last Updated: June 7, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 666,270 times.

These and those are both pronouns, words that substitute for other nouns in a sentence. Knowing when to use each pronoun can be tricky, however. If you're confused about when to use these and those , read on to find out the difference between them.

Understanding Pronouns

• These and those are plural pronouns: they refer to or replace plural nouns.

• American English considers collective nouns, or nouns that refer to a large group of things that cannot be counted individually (such as milk or data ), as singular nouns. Use this or that rather that these or those for collective nouns. For example: " This milk has spilled all over the floor!"
• British English differs from American English in using collective nouns. British English refers to some collective nouns such as crowd or data as plural, so it is appropriate to use these or those in British English. For example: " These data don't match the graphs you gave me."

• Singular: This book (a single book) on the shelf next to me belongs to Rajeev.
• Plural: These books (several books) on the shelf next to me belong to Rajeev. [Note that the verb belong has also been made to agree in number.]
• Singular: Look at this bracelet (a single bracelet) on my wrist!
• Plural: Look at these bracelets (many bracelets) on my wrist!
• Singular: Who put this cupcake (a single cupcake) in the refrigerator?
• Plural: Who put these cupcakes (some cupcakes) in the refrigerator?

• Singular: That mountain (a mountain) looks really small from here.
• Plural: Those mountains (several mountains) look really small from here. [Note that the verb look has also been made to agree in number.]
• Singular: Could you hand me that box (a box) on the other side of the room?
• Plural: Could you hand me those boxes (a few boxes) on the other side of the room?
• Singular: Why hasn't that scientist (a scientist) at NASA found extraterrestrial life?
• Plural: Why haven't those scientists (many scientists) at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [Note that the verb have has also been made to agree in number.]

Using These Correctly

• I'm holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of these ? ( These replaces chocolate bars .)
• Would you like to borrow some books? Here, take these . ( These replaces books .)
• These are so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers. ( These replaces flowers .)

• These books on the shelf belong to Rajeev. [The books are near the speaker.]
• Look at all these bracelets on my wrist! [The bracelets are on the speaker's wrist, so they're nearby.]
• Who put these cupcakes in the refrigerator? [Presumably, the speaker is close to the cupcakes.]

• These shows I've been watching are absolutely extraordinary. [The shows have been watched in the recent past.]
• Have you seen these letters to the editor in today's news? [The letters have been published in today's newspaper.]
• Why don't you take these books with you when you go? [The books will be taken by the other person in the near future.]

• For example: " These are my classmates, Sean and Adrienne."
• However, in English we do not use these to refer directly to people: " These are Sean and Adrienne" is incorrect. Instead, you would say " This is Sean and this is Adrienne."
• If introducing yourself, as when answering the phone, use this : "Hello, this is Chang."

Using Those Correctly

• That man over there is holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of those ? ( Those replaces chocolate bars .)
• Would you like to borrow some books ? Take those over there on the shelf. ( Those replaces books .)
• Those were so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers you gave me yesterday. ( Those replaces flowers .)

• Those mountains look really small from here. [The mountains are far away from the speaker.]
• Could you hand me those boxes on the other side of the room? [The boxes are on the other side of the room.]
• Why haven't those scientists at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [The speaker may be emphasizing that they don't feel connected to the NASA scientists.]

• Those shows I watched last week were absolutely extraordinary. [The shows were watched some time ago.]
• Did you see those letters to the editor in yesterday's news? [The letters were published in the past.]
• Why do all those politicians fight so much? [The speaker may be emphasizing a feeling of personal distance from the politicians.]

Usage Chart

Community Q&A

• If you can count the number of objects you're talking about (like pencils, sheep, or people) use these' or those . [10] X Research source Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you can't count the number of objects you're talking about (like milk, software, or rain), use this or that . Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 9

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/grammar/pronouns/index.html
• ↑ https://www.niu.edu/writingtutorial/grammar/pronoun-agreement.shtml
• ↑ https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/grammar/british-grammar/this-that-these-those
• ↑ https://www.grammar.cl/Notes/This_That_These_Those.htm
• ↑ http://www.theenglishspace.com/grammar/demonstratives.html
• ↑ https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/english-grammar-reference/demonstratives
• ↑ http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/noncountnoun.htm

About This Article

If you’re not sure how to use the words “these” and “those” correctly, try to remember that “these” refers to multiple objects which are nearby in space and time, while “those” refers to objects which are far away. For example, you might say, "I loved those cookies you made yesterday," or you could say "These books are making my backpack really heavy!" To learn more about the functions of pronouns from our English reviewer, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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This That These Those

Perfect english grammar.

• This car. (One car.)
• These cars. (More than one car.)
• That boy. (One boy.)
• Those boys. (More than one boy.)
• I’d like this, please.
• That is beautiful!
• Could I try these on?
• She wants those.
• This child is hungry. (NOT: This is hungry. )
• This book (in my hand) is really good, but that book (on the table) is boring.
• I really like this film (that we’re watching now).
• I hated that film (that we watched last week).
• That’s a really good idea. (The things that you have explained.)
• This is so amazing (I mean the whole experience of today).
• This is Julia. (Julia is speaking.)
• Who is that?
• Amanda, this is John.
• This is my friend Lukas.

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• A1-A2 grammar

This, that, these, those

It's a few weeks before Christmas and Sophie is working in India. She's doing her Christmas shopping in a local market.

Instructions

As you watch the video, look at the examples of this, that, these and those . They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, this , that , these and those correctly.

Sophie: Darling, hi, it’s me.

Daisy: Hi, Mum.

Sophie: Listen, I’m in a bit of a hurry, but can you help me for a minute?

Daisy: Ummm ... yeah.

Sophie: Well, I’m doing a bit of Christmas shopping and I want your advice. Look. I’m here in the market. Wait a second, I’ll put my video on, OK? Listen, what do you think about these for your Uncle Bob?

Daisy: Mmm ... I’ve never seen Uncle Bob in trousers like those, but they are great! Maybe he needs a bit of colour in his life?!

Sophie: I’m not sure ... but maybe you’re right. I mean, they’re pure silk. OK, so you think they’re perfect for Bob?

Daisy: Well, I didn’t say ‘perfect’ exactly, but I’m sure he’ll like them. Wow, that market looks amazing. Lovely and colourful.

Sophie: It’s beautiful, Daisy. I’ll bring you next time for sure.

Daisy: You always say that, Mum!

Sophie: I know, love, but you have school and this is work you know!

Daisy: Yeah, I know. It’s all work, work, work.

Sophie: Daisy, one more question - what about this shirt for Oliver?

Daisy: For Ollie? Yeah, Mum, he’ll love it. No, hold on, what about that one over there, behind you? The one with the flowers on.

Sophie: This one? Really? Do you think it’s Ollie’s style? It’s a bit loud, isn’t it? He usually likes darker colours ... and I’m not sure about the flowers.

Daisy: Oh, he’ll love it, Mum. At least he won’t get lost on a dark night!

Sophie: Yeah, maybe ... he has got some brighter coloured clothes recently. OK then, I’ll get these for Uncle Bob and this shirt for Oliver and you’re getting a surprise!

Daisy: Perfect, Mum! When are you arriving home?

Sophie: I’ll be there on Monday, OK? See you then, love.

Daisy: All right, Mum, see you soon. Take care.

Oliver: Was that Mum?

Sophie: Yeah.

Oliver: Any news?

Sophie: No, she was in a market, doing some Christmas shopping.

Oliver: Oh no! It’s going to be one of those years of ‘exotic’ presents, isn’t it?

Sophie: I’m afraid so! It’s going to be another weird Christmas Day! Do you remember that year when she’d just come back from Peru?

Oliver: Oh no!

We use this/that/these/those to explain what we are talking about. We sometimes use them with nouns and we sometimes use them on their own.

We use this (singular) and these (plural) to talk about things close to us, and that (singular) and those (plural) to talk about things at some distance away from us.

What about this shirt for Oliver? No, hold on, what about that one over there?

So this is the idea of here and that is the idea of there ?

Yes, exactly.

Wow, that market looks amazing. (= there . I'm not in the market, it's at some distance away from me) This market is amazing. (= here . I'm in the market)

What about time? How does time affect this or that ?

A good question. We use that to show distance in time as well as distance in space.

This is a good film. (we're watching it now) That was a good film. (we saw it at some time in the past)

Are this/these and that/those always used with nouns?

No, we can use them as pronouns , without nouns, when it's obvious what they refer to.

What do you think about these for your Uncle Bob? (pointing to trousers) I've never seen Uncle Bob in trousers like those . (those trousers, but we don't need to repeat trousers) Who was that ?

So they are useful words in shops or cafes. If you don't know the word for something, you can just say, 'Can I see that ?' or 'I'd like those , please' and point.

Yes, they're very useful words!

I think I've heard this and that refer to more general things too, not just specific things.

That's right. This and that can refer to what somebody has said or what has happened. This could be several things or ideas.

That 's right. (everything you said) This is work you know! (all the things I'm doing) That was a great concert! (something that has just happened)

What about phone language? How do people use this and that ?

When you explain who is talking you say, 'Hi, this is Dan.' And to check who is speaking, you can say, 'Is that Jenny?'

Can I say 'This is me'?

No. If you're phoning someone you know very well, you'd say ' It's me.'

What about introducing people to each other? Do I use this or that ?

When you're introducing one person to another person, you say, 'Juliette, this is Marc'.

OK, thanks. That 's all for now!

Check your grammar: gap fill - this, that, these and those

Check your grammar: multiple choice - this, that, these and those, worksheets and downloads.

Did you enjoy this Grammar Snack? Do you think Oliver will like that shirt? ;)

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