When to Use ‘This’, ‘These’, ‘That’, and ‘Those’: Simple Rules & Examples
This page teaches students how to use this these that and those in English sentences. These words, called demonstrative pronouns, help point to things or people nearby or far away. Here, you will find definitions, rules, everyday examples, helpful quotes, and practice worksheets to master these important grammar tools for clear communication.
What are ‘This’, ‘These’, ‘That’, and ‘Those’?
This and these point to things near you; that and those point to things far from you. This/that are for singular nouns. These/those are for plural nouns.
Page Outline: What You’ll Learn
- Definitions of this, these, that, and those
- Rules for correct usage in English
- Practical examples in sentences
- Quotes & quick facts for clarity
- Essay and speech samples (150, 250, 500 words)
- FAQs answered in simple language
- Printable worksheets and answer keys
This These That And Those: Definition and Rules
Demonstrative pronouns are words used to point to people, objects, or ideas. This (singular) and these (plural) refer to things that are close to the speaker. That (singular) and those (plural) refer to things farther away. These words improve clarity in writing and speaking.
Types and Position
There are two main types: this/these (near), that/those (far). Demonstratives come before the noun or stand alone as pronouns. Example: "This book is mine," or "These are delicious."
Examples
1. This is my pencil.
2. These are my friends.
3. That is your bag.
4. Those are old trees.
5. This cake tastes amazing.
Quick Quotes & Facts
– Cambridge English
Sample Essays and Speeches (Collapsible)
Sample Speech – 150 words
Today, I will talk about this these that and those in English grammar. These are called demonstrative pronouns. We use this for one thing near us and these for more than one thing close by. We use that for something far away, and those for many things that are not close. For example, "This is my book," and "These are my pencils." If something is not near, we say, "That is my house," or "Those are my shoes." Knowing how to use this these that and those helps us point clearly to people or objects. It makes speaking and writing more accurate. Mastering these words improves our communication and grammar in both essays and conversations.
Sample Paragraph – 250 words
This these that and those are essential for beginner and advanced English learners. They are used every day, whether in writing assignments or giving speeches. This is used when referring to something singular and close, like "This chair is comfortable." These is its plural form, as in "These apples are sweet." On the other hand, use that for a single object far away. For example, "That mountain looks tall." Those is used for plural objects at a distance: "Those stars are beautiful." Also, this these that and those act as demonstrative adjectives when used before a noun: "This car is new." As demonstrative pronouns, they can stand alone: "This is delicious." Being able to distinguish between near/far and singular/plural helps in using them correctly. Many students make mistakes by mixing up these/those or this/that. Practicing sentences, using worksheets, and reading aloud can strengthen these concepts. In exams or real life, using these words well makes your speech or essay easy to understand. Vedantu offers many worksheets to practice. Remember: this/these for near, that/those for far, and always match with singular or plural nouns.
Essay – 500 words
When learning English grammar, this these that and those play an important role. These words, called demonstrative pronouns, allow us to refer to people, places, or things and show exactly which one we mean. For example, when you say "This is my pen," you point to one pen near you. If you have a group to show, say, "These are my books." When pointing to something far away, use "That is my friend's bag," and for many at a distance, "Those are our bicycles." This these that and those help avoid confusion in daily speech and writing. In essays, using them makes descriptions specific and creative. As demonstrative adjectives, they add detail, like "This apple tastes fresh," or "Those animals are in the zoo." As pronouns, they stand alone: "That was amazing."
Always remember, "this/these" are for things close by, "that/those" for things farther away. Use "this" and "that" with one thing (singular), and "these" and "those" with two or more (plural). Students often mix up "these" and "those." To avoid mistakes, see if what you are pointing to is near or far, and check if it’s one or many. Worksheets, like those at Vedantu, offer practical sentences and answer keys for extra practice.
These words are not just for grammar exams—they appear in stories, instructions, and even in friendly talks. For example, “This story reminds me of my childhood,” or “Those memories will never fade.” In speeches, using demonstratives keeps your audience engaged. With dedicated practice and clear examples, mastering this these that and those becomes easy. Use them to improve your marks and communicate confidently every day.
Practice more with Vedantu’s expertly crafted worksheets and answer keys — ideal for quick revision and deep learning.
For younger learners, see how to use this these that those for kids.
To get more sentence examples, visit examples of this these that those.
Looking for extra practice? Try this that these those exercises and this that these those worksheets.
Understanding this these that and those is key for clear, precise English in both writing and daily speech. These demonstratives help students correctly point to people or things and improve grammar marks. With real-life examples, practical worksheets, and expert tips from Vedantu, you can confidently use these pronouns in any situation. Keep practicing for better results every day!
FAQs on Using 'This', 'These', 'That', and 'Those' in English Grammar
1. What are demonstrative pronouns in English?
Demonstrative pronouns are words used to point to specific people, places, or things in a sentence. The four main demonstrative pronouns in English are this, that, these, and those.
Key highlights:
• This/these: refer to things near the speaker.
• That/those: refer to things farther away.
• This/that: are for singular nouns.
• These/those: are for plural nouns.
They help make sentences clear and specific.
2. When should I use ‘this’, ‘these’, ‘that’, and ‘those’?
This, these, that, and those are used to show the number (singular or plural) and distance (near or far) of something.
Use them as follows:
• This: singular + near (e.g., This book)
• These: plural + near (e.g., These pens)
• That: singular + far (e.g., That car)
• Those: plural + far (e.g., Those chairs)
They are essential for clear and accurate sentences.
3. Can you give examples of ‘this’, ‘these’, ‘that’, and ‘those’ in sentences?
Here are example sentences using this, these, that, and those:
• This is my notebook.
• These are my friends.
• That is your umbrella.
• Those are your shoes.
Each word points out nouns based on number and distance.
4. What is the difference between demonstrative pronouns and adjectives?
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns, while demonstrative adjectives describe nouns.
Remember:
• Pronoun: Stands alone (e.g., This is tasty.)
• Adjective: Comes before a noun (e.g., This cake is tasty.)
Both use this, that, these, those but serve different purposes in grammar.
5. Are there worksheets for practising ‘this’, ‘these’, ‘that’, and ‘those’?
Yes, many grammar worksheets help students practice this, these, that, and those. These worksheets include:
• Fill in the blank exercises
• Sentence rewriting
• Picture-based questions
• Answer keys for self-check
Practising such worksheets improves accuracy and confidence.
6. How can I teach ‘this’, ‘that’, ‘these’, and ‘those’ to children?
To teach this, that, these, those to children, use objects and activities for easy understanding.
Strategies include:
• Show real objects for near/far and singular/plural
• Use flashcards and pictures
• Practice with interactive worksheets
• Give spoken and written examples
Keep lessons visual and practical for better learning.
7. When do we use this, these, that, and those?
This and these are used for things close by; that and those are used for things farther away.
Usage summary:
• This: 1 item, near
• These: more than 1 item, near
• That: 1 item, far
• Those: more than 1 item, far
8. What are some rules for using demonstrative pronouns?
The main rules for demonstrative pronouns are:
• Use this/that for singular nouns
• Use these/those for plural nouns
• This/these = close; that/those = far
Always match the pronoun with number and distance in context.
9. What are 10 examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentences?
Here are 10 example sentences using demonstrative pronouns:
1. This is my pencil.
2. That looks interesting.
3. These are new shoes.
4. Those are old books.
5. This is tasty.
6. These are my cousins.
7. That is a tall tower.
8. Those are mangoes.
9. This feels soft.
10. These are the winners.
Each sentence uses demonstratives to point out something clearly.
10. What is the difference between ‘this’ and ‘these’?
This is used for one item that is near; these is used for more than one item that is near.
Key points:
• This: singular, close (e.g., This apple)
• These: plural, close (e.g., These apples)
Always match the pronoun to the number of nouns it represents.
11. How do demonstrative pronouns help in writing and speaking?
Demonstrative pronouns make sentences clear and specific by showing what is being talked about.
Benefits:
• Avoids confusion in essays or conversations
• Clearly points to exact people, objects, or ideas
• Improves overall grammar and clarity in writing
Using this, these, that, those correctly results in better communication.
