Foundation grammar · Unit 74 · A1

this/that/these/those

Determiners and pronouns

Use this and these for things near you, and that and those for things further away. This unit also covers that for something just said or done, and this is ... on the phone and for introductions.

Go to the exercises

A Near and far, singular and plural

Two questions decide the word. Is it near or far? Is it one thing or more than one?

singular plural
near (here) this mug these biscuits
far (there) that car those clouds

A woman is holding a mug in her hand: this mug. She points at a car across the road: that car.

  • This mug is too hot to hold.
  • These biscuits are for the visitors.
  • Is that car yours?
  • Look at those clouds. It's going to rain.

B With a noun or without a noun

We use this / that / these / those with a noun (this coat, that man) or on its own, without a noun (this, that). Without a noun, the listener already knows what you mean.

  • This café is small, but the coffee's good.
  • Who's that man by the door?
  • Do you like these trainers? I got them in the sale.
  • Those pears look ripe. Can I have one?
  • This is a lovely flat, but it's very cold.
  • "Excuse me, is this your seat?" "No, it's fine. Sit down."
  • Who's that? (= Who is that person?)
  • Which cakes do you want? These or those?

C that for something that has happened or been said

that = something that has happened.

that = what somebody has just said.

In both cases the thing is behind us in time, so we use the word for "over there".

  • "Sorry, I've eaten the last biscuit." "That's all right."
  • That was a brilliant film. I'm glad we went.
  • "You're from Hull, aren't you?" "Yes, that's right."
  • "Nadia is getting married." "Is she? I didn't know that."
  • "We've won a holiday." "Oh, that's great."

D this is ... on the phone and for introductions

On the telephone we say this is ... for ourselves and is that ...? for the other person.

(this = the speaker, that = the person at the other end)

We also use this is ... to introduce one person to another.

  • Hello, this is Gareth. Is that Bethan?
  • Mum, this is Kemal. He's in my class.
  • "Nice to meet you, Kemal." "Nice to meet you too."

Exercises

74.1 Complete the sentences. Use this, that, these or those with one of the words in the box.

bootscakescarcowscupstable

  1. A shop assistant is holding a pair of boots in front of a customer.

    Do you like these boots?

    Do you like these boots?

  2. Two neighbours are standing at a gate. One points at a red car parked at the far end of the street.

    Whose is ?

  3. A man in a bakery points at some cakes on a shelf at the back of the shop.

    How much are ?

  4. A girl on a walk points at some cows in a field a long way off.

    Look at !

  5. A woman in a busy café puts her hand on an empty table beside her and asks a man.

    Excuse me, is free?

  6. A waiter is holding three cups in his hands. They have tea stains inside.

    are dirty.

74.2 Write questions: Is this/that your ...? or Are these/those your ...?

  1. A woman picks up a scarf from the chair next to her and holds it out to the man beside her.

    (scarf)

    Is this your scarf?

    Is this your scarf?

  2. A teacher points at a coat hanging on a hook on the other side of the classroom.

    (coat)

  3. A man is holding a pair of gloves he has found on the bus.

    (gloves)

  4. A woman looks out of the window at a bike leaning against a wall across the street.

    (bike)

  5. A man points at some sunglasses on a table at the far end of the room.

    (sunglasses)

  6. A girl holds up a bunch of keys she has found on the floor by her feet.

    (keys)

  7. A man in a park points at a dog running about a long way off.

    (dog)

  8. A dinner lady is holding a lunchbox and showing it to a boy.

    (lunchbox)

  9. A woman points at some muddy shoes by the front door at the other end of the hall.

    (shoes)

  10. A man is holding some pens he has picked up from the desk in front of him.

    (pens)

74.3 Complete the sentences with this is, that's or that.

  1. A: Sorry, I've spilt tea on your carpet. B: That's all right. It's an old carpet.

    A: Sorry, I've spilt tea on your carpet. B: That's all right. It's an old carpet.

  2. A: My brother can't come to the wedding. B: Oh, a shame. Is he ill?

  3. (on the telephone) Kirsty: Hello, Gran. Kirsty. Gran: Hello, love. How are you?

  4. A: You never do the washing-up. B: not true!

  5. A: Leon speaks four languages. B: Really? I didn't know .

  6. (Amira meets Dev's dad.) Dev: Amira, my dad. Amira: Hello, Mr Shah.

  7. A: I'm sorry I shouted at you this morning. B: OK. I was in a bad mood too.

  8. A: You work at the hospital, don't you? B: Yes, right.

See also