Updated on November 18, 2025
With clear grammar rules, examples, and exercises, you can learn how to use this, that, these, and those in English. It’s easy to tell the difference between things that are close and things that are far away!
Exercises & Summary
This/these= here, that/those= there
This, these (near – here)
We use this and these to talk about things or people that are near us.
This goes with singular nouns, and these go with plural nouns.
- This is my new watch. → (one item, near me)
- These are my sisters, Anna and Jenny. → (more than one, near me)
That, those (far – there)
We use that and those to talk about people or things that are far away from us.
That is for one thing, and those is for more than one thing.
- That man looks very strange.
- I need those boxes on the other side of the room.
Using with or without a noun
You can use this, that, these, those either together with a noun (e.g. this box, that car) or alone, when the noun is clear from context.
- This watch is very expensive.
- I like that woman in the park.
- Who is that? (= that person)
- “What are those?” “They’re old photos.”
Introducing people or speaking on the phone
We use “This is …” when we introduce someone or make a phone call
- Hi, this is Tim. (Tim speaking on the phone)
- Laura: “Hi, Sara. This is my friend Paul.” Sara: “Hi, Paul. Nice to meet you.”