Simple Guide on Using ‘This,’ ‘That,’ ‘These,’ and ‘Those’ the Right Way

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Have you ever pointed to something and struggled to find the right word in English? Those small words—’this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these,’ and ‘those’—may seem simple, but they’re essential building blocks for clear communication. As you begin your English learning journey or look to join one of the English schools in Dubai, mastering these demonstratives will immediately improve your everyday conversations.

What Are Demonstratives?

Demonstratives help us indicate specific objects, people, or ideas in relation to ourselves. They answer an important question: Where is something in relation to the speaker?

Let’s break them down into a simple framework:

'This' and 'These': For Things Within Your Reach

When something is close enough to touch, ‘this’ and ‘these’ are your go-to words.

'This' for one nearby item:

“This coffee tastes amazing!” (The cup in your hand)
“I love this shirt I’m wearing.”
“This is my friend Ahmed.” (Person standing next to you)

'These' for multiple nearby items:

“This coffee tastes amazing!” (The cup in your hand)
“I love this shirt I’m wearing.”
“This is my friend Ahmed.” (Person standing next to you)

'That' and 'Those': For Things at a Distance

When pointing to something farther away, ‘that’ and ‘those’ become your verbal pointing fingers.

'That' for one distant item:

“That building has beautiful architecture.” (Across the street)
“Is that your car parked outside?”
“That idea sounds interesting.” (Concept mentioned earlier)

'Those' for multiple distant items:

“Those stars are particularly bright tonight.” (In the night sky)
“Do you remember those days when we were students?”
“Those people waiting in line must be tired.” (Group across the room)

Beyond Physical Distance: Time and Conversation

Demonstratives aren’t just about physical distance—they can indicate distance in time or conversation too:

Time distance:

“This week is very busy.” (Current week)
“That summer was the hottest on record.” (Past summer)

Conversation distance:

“This point I’m making now is important.”
“That example you gave earlier was helpful.”

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Mixing singular and plural forms

Incorrect: “This books are interesting.”
Correct: “These books are interesting.”

2. Using demonstratives without clear reference

Unclear: “That’s amazing!” (What is ‘that’ referring to?)
Clear: “That performance we just watched was amazing!”

3. Forgetting to match demonstratives with verbs

Incorrect: “These car are expensive.”
Correct: “These cars are expensive.”

Practice Makes Perfect: Your Turn!

Try making your own sentences with each demonstrative. Think about objects around you:

Something in your hand (this)
Multiple items near you (these)
Something you can see but not touch (that)
Multiple things at a distance (those)

Real-Life Scenarios: Putting Demonstratives to Work

At a restaurant:

“I’ll have this pasta dish, please.” (Pointing to menu item)
“Are those people waiting for a table?” (Looking at the entrance)

Shopping:

“How much is this shirt?”
“I like those shoes in the window display.”

In the classroom:

“This exercise we’re doing now is important.”
“Those questions on page 35 are for homework.”

Now that you understand demonstratives, why not continue your learning English for Academic Purposes or other goals? As one of the most dynamic cities in the world, Dubai provides an immersive environment where you can practise these concepts in real-life situations—from bustling markets to international business settings. Our language courses in Dubai offer this perfect blend of classroom learning and real-world application.

The journey from basic understanding to fluent communication happens one step at a time. Check out our world-class English courses and begin with the right English course to help you succeed in your language goals.

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