This, That, These, Those —How to Use Demonstrative Pronouns in English
Ever wondered when to say this or that, these or those? These little words are called demonstratives, and they help us point to things — both near and far.
We use them every day when shopping, showing photos, or even talking about food on the table.
👉 “This cake is delicious!” 👉 “Those cookies look amazing.”
Learning demonstratives is an easy way to make your English sound more natural — and they work closely with Articles (a, an, the) too.
🔗 Before you start, check out our related grammar guide:
Together, articles and demonstratives make your English sound natural and clear!
🎥 Watch and Learn! For video lessons that bring this content to life, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
🪄 What Are Demonstrative Pronouns: This, That, These, Those?
Demonstratives tell us which thing or person we’re talking about.
They show number (singular/plural) and distance (near/far).
Distance | Singular | Plural |
Near | this | these |
Far | that | those |
🧩 Grammar in Context
At a Market
👨🌾 Seller: These mangoes are from Thailand.
👵 Customer: Oh! They look so fresh. What about that basket over there?
👨🌾 Seller: Those are from the Philippines — a bit sweeter.
👵 Customer: I’ll take these ones, please.
🧄️ Quick Comparison Table
Near | Far |
This book | That book |
These shoes | Those shoes |
✋ When to Use “This” and “These”
Use this (singular) and these (plural) for things that are near you — in distance or time.
Examples:
This coffee smells amazing. ☕️
These cookies are still warm. 🍪
I love this song! 🎶
🧠 Tip: We often use this / these when something feels personal, immediate, or close to us.
👈 When to Use “That” and “Those”
Use that (singular) and those (plural) for things that are far away — in distance or time.
Examples:
That café across the street looks lovely. ☕️
Those dresses in the window are on sale. 👗
I miss that summer we spent in Italy. 🇮🇹
🧠 Tip:
Use that/those for something more distant or less connected to the present moment.
Related post
💬 Examples in Real Life
👜 At a shop
This dress is cheaper than that one.
These shoes are on sale.
☕ In a café
This coffee smells wonderful!
Could you pass me that croissant, please?
✈️ When travelling
This city is beautiful.
Those mountains are so high!
📸 Talking about photos
This picture was taken last weekend.
Those selfies bring back memories.
🗣️ Quick Pronunciation Tip
“This” /ðɪs/ and “these” /ðiːz/ sound similar — but remember the vowel difference: short /ɪ/ in this, long /iː/ in these
Try saying them aloud:👉 “This pen, these pens.”
🧠 Mini Quiz: Choose the Right Demonstrative!
Try these! Choose the correct word.
_______ is my favourite bag.
_______ are your keys on the table.
Look at _______ rainbow!
_______ shoes don’t fit me anymore.
Answers:
This
Those
That
These
🗣️ Common Mistakes
🚫 Wrong: These bread is fresh. ✅ Right: This bread is fresh.
🚫 Wrong: That are beautiful! ✅ Right: Those are beautiful!
🚫 Wrong: I like these one. ✅ Right: I like this one.
🌟 Grammar Tip: Demonstratives + Articles
We usually don’t use articles (a, an, the) with demonstratives because they already point to a specific thing.
✅ This book is interesting.
❌ The this book is interesting.
But we can use them with other modifiers:
e.g. This little café is lovely.
🌟 Grammar Tip: What Do "One" and "Ones" Mean?
You may hear people say this one, that one, these ones, or those ones. But what do one and ones mean?
One and ones replace a noun that has already been mentioned, so you don't have to repeat it.
Use one for singular nouns.
Instead of repeating the noun, say one.
Examples:
Emma looked at two candles.
✅ I like this candle.
✅ I like this one.
At a clothes shop:
Which dress do you prefer?
I like that one.
Use ones for plural nouns.
Examples:
There are many cookies on the table.
I like these cookies.
I like these ones.
At a shoe shop:
Which shoes are yours?
Those ones by the door.
💡 Native Speaker Tip
Native speakers often leave out "ones" when the meaning is already clear.
For example:
✅ Which biscuits would you like?
These, please. (Most natural)
These ones, please. (Also correct, but less common.)
Another example:
Which shoes do you want?
Those. ✅
Those ones. ✅
Both are correct, but those is usually more natural in everyday conversation.
📝 Quick Comparison
If you're talking about... | Use... | Example |
One nearby thing | this one | I like this one. |
One far-away thing | that one | That one is cheaper. |
Several nearby things | these (or these ones) | These are fresh. |
Several far-away things | those (or those ones) | Those look delicious. |
⭐ Quick Tip to Remember
Think of it like this:
one = one thing 🟢
ones = more than one thing 🟢
You only use one or ones when everyone already knows which noun you're talking about.
🌷Learn English Through Stories – Practising This, That, These & Those
☕ Which One Should I Buy?
Emma had just finished work when she decided to visit her favourite weekend market.
There were lots of small stalls selling handmade bags, colourful flowers, fresh bread, jewellery, and delicious cakes.
As she walked in, a friendly shopkeeper smiled.
"Good afternoon! Can I help you?"
"Yes, please," Emma said. "I'm looking for a birthday present for my sister."
The shopkeeper pointed to a display near the counter.
"These candles are our best sellers."
Emma picked one up. "Oh, this candle smells like vanilla! I love it."
She looked around the shop. "What about that candle on the top shelf?"
"Oh," said the shopkeeper, "that one smells like lavender."
Emma smiled. "My sister loves lavender."
Just then, another customer walked into the shop.
"Excuse me," he said. "How much are those baskets by the door?"
"The large ones?" asked the shopkeeper.
"Yes, those."
"They're twenty dollars each."
Emma wandered over to another table.
"Wow! These mugs are beautiful."
The shopkeeper laughed. "Those are handmade, but these ones are our newest designs."
Emma picked up a blue mug. "I like this one," she said.
Then she pointed to another mug on the top shelf. "But that one is beautiful too."
"They're both popular," the shopkeeper said.
Emma couldn't decide. She took a photo and sent it to her friend Mia.
A few seconds later, Mia replied. "I like this mug. The blue one is lovely! But those flower mugs are beautiful too!"
Emma laughed. "Now I'm even more confused!"
Before leaving, she bought the lavender candle, the blue mug, and a small box of chocolates.
As she paid, the shopkeeper smiled. "These gifts are perfect."
"I hope so," Emma replied. "I think my sister will love this birthday surprise."
When Emma got home, she wrapped everything carefully.
Looking at the presents on the table, she smiled.
"This is going to be a wonderful birthday."
📚 Demonstratives Used in the Story
Demonstrative | Example from the story | Why? |
This | This candle smells like vanilla. | One thing nearby |
These | These candles are our best sellers. | Several things nearby |
That | What about that candle? | One thing farther away |
Those | Those baskets by the door | Several things farther away |
🔍 Reading Comprehension
Before You Read
Can you answer these questions while reading?
What present is Emma looking for?
Which candle does she choose?
Which mug does Mia like?
What does Emma finally buy?
Check Your Answers
A birthday present for her sister.
The lavender candle.
The blue mug.
A lavender candle, a blue mug, and chocolates.
📖 Vocabulary
Word | Meaning |
handmade | made by a person, not a machine |
stall | a small shop at a market |
shelf | a flat place where things are kept |
lavender | a purple flower with a pleasant smell |
wrapped | covered with gift paper |
best seller | something that sells very well |
✨ Grammar Spotlight
Notice how Emma uses different demonstratives depending on where the object is.
Near her
This candle
These mugs
Farther away
That candle
Those baskets
Demonstratives help listeners understand exactly which thing you're talking about.
💡 Can You Continue the Conversation?
Imagine you're shopping with a friend.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Which dress do you like?
B: I like ______ one.
A: What about ______ shoes over there?
B: I think ______ are nicer.
A: Shall we buy ______ bag too?
🗣️ Speaking Challenge
Look around the room you're in right now.
Can you make four sentences?
This __________________.
These __________________.
That __________________.
Those __________________.
✏️ Share your answers in the coments below ⬇️
🌸 Teacher's Note
This story naturally repeats the target grammar over 20 times without sounding repetitive. Repeated exposure like this helps learners notice patterns and remember the language more easily.
💬 Discussion & Conversation Questions This, That, These & Those
These questions are suitable for Pre-Intermediate to Intermediate (A2–B1) learners.
🛍️ Shopping
Do you enjoy shopping at markets or shopping centres? Why?
What is your favourite thing to buy?
Do you usually buy handmade gifts or shop online?
Have you ever bought a gift that someone really loved?
What's the best birthday present you've ever received?
☕ Everyday Life
Look around your room. What can you say using this?
What can you see outside using that?
Can you name three things near you using these?
Can you think of three things far away using those?
Which objects do you use every day?
🎁 Personal Questions
If you were buying a birthday present today, what would you choose?
Which would you prefer:
this book or that book? these flowers or those chocolates?
Do you enjoy giving gifts or receiving gifts more?
What makes a gift special?
Do you like choosing presents for other people?
🌍 Around the Classroom (or Home)
Ask students to point at real objects.
Example:
Teacher:
"What's this?"
Student:
"This is a notebook."
Teacher:
"What are those?"
Student:
"Those are windows."
Continue using classroom objects.
🗣️ Pair Work
Student A points to objects.
Student B answers using complete sentences.
Example:
A:"What's that?"
B:"That is my backpack."
📸 Picture Challenge
Show a picture full of objects.
Describe it.
Examples:
This woman is smiling.
Those children are playing.
These flowers are beautiful.
That building looks old.
✍️ Writing Practice
Write 8–10 sentences describing your bedroom, kitchen or office.
Try to use:
this
that
these
those
at least once each.
❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Demonstratives
What are Demonstratives in English?
Demonstratives are words we use to point to specific people, animals, places, or things. The four English demonstratives are this, that, these, and those.
What is the difference between this and that?
Use this for one thing that is near you.
This book is interesting.
Use that for one thing that is farther away.
That building is very tall.
What is the difference between these and those?
These is the plural form of this.
Use it for more than one nearby object.
These cookies are delicious.
Those is the plural form of that.
Use it for things that are farther away.
Those mountains are beautiful.
Can I use this and these for time as well as distance?
Yes.
We also use demonstratives to talk about time.
Examples:
This morning
This week
These days
For more distant times:
That day
That summer
Those years
Can Demonstratives be used with people?
Yes.
You can point to people who are nearby or farther away.
Examples:
This is my friend Sarah.
Those people are my neighbours.
Can I use this and that with Uncountable nouns?
Yes.
Examples:
This water is cold.
That music is beautiful.
This advice is useful.
Because these nouns are uncountable, we use the singular demonstratives.
Can Demonstratives replace Nouns?
Yes.
Sometimes the noun is already understood.
Instead of saying:
I like this mug.
You can simply say:
I like this.
Likewise:
Those are expensive.
instead of
Those shoes are expensive.
Can I use the with this or that?
Usually, no.
Demonstratives already identify a specific noun, so we do not use an article before them.
✅ This book is interesting.
❌ The this book is interesting.
What's the easiest way to remember this, that, these and those?
What's the easiest way to remember this, that, these and those?
Remember these two simple rules:
Near = This / These
Far = That / Those
Then remember:
Singular → this, that
Plural → these, those
A quick way to check yourself is to ask:
Is it near or far?
Is it one or more than one?
The answers will tell you which demonstrative to use.
Are Demonstratives and Articles the same?
No. Both are Determiners, but they have different jobs.
Articles (a, an, the) tell us whether a noun is general or specific.
Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) point to a specific person or thing based on distance or context.
For example:
A book = any book.
The book = a specific book already known.
This book = the specific book that is near me.
That book = the specific book that is farther away.
👉 If you'd like to learn more about articles, don't miss our complete guide:
The Complete Guide to English Articles: A, An, The (and Zero Article!).
This, That, These, Those at a Glance
Singular | Plural | |
Near | This | These |
Far | That | Those |
Remember:
This = one thing nearby
These = more than one thing nearby
That = one thing farther away
Those = more than one thing farther away
Common Demonstrative Expressions
this morning
this afternoon
this evening
these days
that day
that time
those days
this way
that way
📩 Free Download
🎁 Printable Demonstratives Chart + Mini Quiz (A4)
Perfect for classroom or self-study! Download Free PDF
☕ English Minute with Rose
A little grammar. A little vocabulary. A lot more confidence.
📍 Farther vs Further
Farther usually talks about physical distance.
Example:
That café is farther down the road.
Those mountains are much farther away.
Further usually means more, additional, or to a greater degree.
Example:
For further information, visit our website.
Let's discuss this further tomorrow.
🌟 Easy trick
📍 Farther = Far = Distance
💡 Further = Further discussion or further information
Good news! 🎉 In everyday English, many native speakers use further for both physical and figurative distance, especially in British English. However, using farther for measurable physical distance is still a helpful rule for English learners and is more common in American English.
Learning English is easier one small step at a time. 🌸
🔗 Related Grammar Lessons
🌟 Want to learn how demonstratives work with articles?
Read next → Articles: A, An, The (and Zero Article!)
🔗 For more related posts checkout links below ⬇️
🎥 Related Videos: YouTube Channel Playlist
🎥 Watch & Learn
🎨 Coming soon:
“This, That, These, Those – Learn with Everyday Examples”
Learn how to use these words naturally in daily conversations.
🔗 Subscribe to our YouTube series Grammar Made Simple for clear and fun English lessons!
Thanks so much for reading & Happy Speaking!
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