The specific way: using 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those'

1.182 You use the specific determiners 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those' to refer to people or things in a definite way.

You use 'this' and 'these' to talk about people and things that are close to you in place or time. When you talk about people or things that are more distant in place or time, you use 'that' and 'those'.

You put 'this' and 'that' in front of singular nouns, uncount nouns, and the singular pronoun 'one'. You put 'these' and 'those' in front of plural nouns and the plural pronoun 'ones'.

'This', 'that', 'these', and 'those' are often called demonstratives or demonstrative adjectives.

1.183 'This' and 'these' are used to talk about people or things that are very obvious in the situation that you are in. You use 'this' and 'these' to distinguish these people or things from others of the same kind. For example, if you are inside a house, you can refer to it as 'this house'. If you are holding some keys in your hand, you can refer to them as 'these keys'. If you are at a party, you can refer to it as 'this party'.

He had a private practice in this flat.

I am going to walk up these steps towards you.

I'll come as soon as these men have finished their work.

I like this university.

Good evening. In this programme we are going to look at the way in which British music has developed in recent years.

When it is clear who or what you are referring to, you can use 'this' and 'these' as pronouns. This use is explained in paragraphs 1.123 to 1.126.

1.184 'This' and 'these' are also used in many expressions which refer to current periods of time, for example 'this month', 'this week', and 'these days'. This use is explained in Chapter 5.

1.185 You use 'that' and 'those' when you are talking about things or people that you can see but that are not close to you.

How much is it for that big box?

Can I have one of those brochures?

Can you move those books off there?

1.186 When it is clear who or what you are referring to, you can use 'that' and 'those' as pronouns. This use is explained in paragraphs 1.123 to 1.126.

Could you just hold that?

Please don't take those.

1.187 You can indicate that you are referring to the same person or thing you have just mentioned by using 'this', 'that', 'these', or 'those' in front of a noun. For example, if you have just mentioned a girl, you can refer to her as 'this girl' or 'that girl' the second time you mention her. Normally, you use a pronoun to refer to someone or something you have just mentioned, but sometimes you cannot do this because it might not be clear who or what the pronoun refers to.

Students and staff suggest books for the library, and normally we're quite happy to get those books.

Their house is in a valley. The people in that valley speak about the people in the next valley as 'foreigners'.

They had a lot of diamonds, and they asked her if she could possibly get these diamonds to Britain.

The use of demonstratives to refer again to something which has already been mentioned is fully explained in paragraphs 9.7 to 9.10.

1.188 In informal English, you can also use 'that' and 'those' in front of a noun to refer to people or things that are already known to the person you are speaking or writing to.

That idiot Antonio has gone and locked our cabin door.

They learned how to eat with those horrible chopsticks.

Do you remember that funny little attic apartment?

1.189 You can use 'that' in front of a noun when you are referring to something that just happened or to something that you have just been involved with.

I knew that meeting would be difficult.

'That' is often used as a pronoun to refer to something that has just happened. This use is explained in paragraphs 1.123 to 1.126.

using 'those' instead of 'the' 1.190 In more format English, 'those' can be used instead of 'the' in front of a plural noun when the plural noun is followed by a relative clause. In this use, the relative clause specifies exactly which group of people or things are being referred to.

...those workers who are employed in large enterprises.

The parents are not afraid to be firm about those matters that seem important to them.

informal use of 'this' and 'these' 1.191 In informal spoken English, people sometimes use 'this' and 'these' in front of nouns even when they are mentioning someone or something for the first time.

And then this woman came up to me and she said, 'I believe you have a goddaughter called Celia Ravenscroft.'

At school we had to wear these awful white cotton hats.