This and That

2023-10-28

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1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question about the use of "this, that, these, those."
    • 2
  • Hello,
    • 3
  • Please, how should I use the pronouns "this, that, these, those" beyond the notion of near or far?
    • 4
  • Thanks a lot,
    • 5
  • Odilon
    • 6
  • Thank you for writing, Odilon. This is an excellent question!
    • 7
  • We know that the words "this, that, these, those" have many meanings and uses in English.
    • 8
  • One meaning of "this/these" is to note someone or something is near in physical distance.
    • 9
  • "That/those" can note someone or something that is far in physical distance. Here are two examples:
    • 10
  • You can say, "This book is mine" while holding it in your hand.
    • 11
  • And you can say, "That book is yours" while pointing at one on the table across the room.
    • 12
  • Near and far can also demonstrate time.
    • 13
  • "This" can mean now or current, and "that" can mean before or earlier. For example,
    • 14
  • The solar eclipse will not happen again this year.
    • 15
  • The last supermoon came in September.
    • 16
  • At that time, the moon's orbit brought it closer than usual to Earth.
    • 17
  • In the first sentence, "this" notes the current year. In the second sentence, "that" refers to a time in the past.
    • 18
  • We can also use "this/that" to show preference or a desirable choice.
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  • "This" can demonstrate a more desirable choice, and "that" can demonstrate a less desirable choice. Here are two examples:
    • 20
  • This is my favorite restaurant.
    • 21
  • That doesn't sound very fun.
    • 22
  • In the first sentence, "this" shows the restaurant is the best choice, and "that" in the second sentence demonstrates the idea is not a desirable one.
    • 23
  • "This/these" also has an additional use.
    • 24
  • We can use "this/these" for focus, or attention, to establish new information.
    • 25
  • Using "this/these" can direct the reader's or listener's attention to important information.
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  • Here is an example.
    • 27
  • And this is one major concern about the use of artificial intelligence: ownership.
    • 28
  • "This" directs the reader to pay attention to the new information that is coming in the sentence.
    • 29
  • The important information in the sentence is a major concern. Ownership is the major concern.
    • 30
  • Please let us know if this explanation has helped you, Odilon.
    • 31
  • Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
    • 32
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
    • 33
  • I'm Gena Bennett.
    • 1
  • Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question about the use of "this, that, these, those."
    • 2
  • Question
    • 3
  • Hello,
    • 4
  • Please, how should I use the pronouns "this, that, these, those" beyond the notion of near or far?
    • 5
  • Thanks a lot,
    • 6
  • Odilon
    • 7
  • Answer
    • 8
  • Thank you for writing, Odilon. This is an excellent question!
    • 9
  • We know that the words "this, that, these, those" have many meanings and uses in English.
    • 10
  • One meaning of "this/these" is to note someone or something is near in physical distance. "That/those" can note someone or something that is far in physical distance. Here are two examples:
    • 11
  • You can say, "This book is mine" while holding it in your hand.
    • 12
  • And you can say, "That book is yours" while pointing at one on the table across the room.
    • 13
  • Time
    • 14
  • Near and far can also demonstrate time. "This" can mean now or current, and "that" can mean before or earlier. For example,
    • 15
  • The solar eclipse will not happen again this year.
    • 16
  • The last supermoon came in September. At that time, the moon's orbit brought it closer than usual to Earth.
    • 17
  • In the first sentence, "this" notes the current year. In the second sentence, "that" refers to a time in the past.
    • 18
  • Preference
    • 19
  • We can also use "this/that" to show preference or a desirable choice. "This" can demonstrate a more desirable choice, and "that" can demonstrate a less desirable choice. Here are two examples:
    • 20
  • This is my favorite restaurant.
    • 21
  • That doesn't sound very fun.
    • 22
  • In the first sentence, "this" shows the restaurant is the best choice, and "that" in the second sentence demonstrates the idea is not a desirable one.
    • 23
  • Focus, or attention
    • 24
  • "This/these" also has an additional use. We can use "this/these" for focus, or attention, to establish new information. Using "this/these" can direct the reader's or listener's attention to important information. Here is an example.
    • 25
  • And this is one major concern about the use of artificial intelligence: ownership.
    • 26
  • "This" directs the reader to pay attention to the new information that is coming in the sentence. The important information in the sentence is a major concern. Ownership is the major concern.
    • 27
  • Please let us know if this explanation has helped you, Odilon.
    • 28
  • Do you have a question about American English? Send us an email at learningenglish@voanews.com.
    • 29
  • And that's Ask a Teacher.
    • 30
  • I'm Gena Bennett.
    • 31
  • Gena Bennett wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English.
    • 32
  • _______________________________________________
    • 33
  • Words in This Story
    • 34
  • notion-n. idea or belief
    • 35
  • eclipse-n. an event in which the sun is blocked by the moon, or when the moon passes through the Earth's shadow