These and those are both pronouns, which are words that replace other nouns in a sentence. However, knowing when to use each of these pronouns is not always easy. If you are confused about when to use these and those, read this article to find out the difference between the two.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Understanding Pronouns
Step 1. Understand the function of pronouns
These and those are both pronouns, words that refer to or replace other nouns in a sentence. Both focus on something specific. Because pronouns replace other nouns, using the right pronoun will help the reader understand what or to whom the pronoun is referring (what noun the pronoun is replacing).
These and those are plural pronouns: both refer to or replace plural nouns
Step 2. Understand pronoun agreement
"Assent" means that the pronoun takes the same amount as the noun it replaces. For singular nouns, use this or that. For plural nouns, use these or those.
- American English considers collective nouns or nouns that refer to a group of objects that cannot be counted individually (such as milk or data) as singular nouns. Use this or that instead of these or those for collective nouns. For example: "This milk has spilled all over the floor!"
- British English differs from American English in the use of collective nouns. British English considers some collective nouns such as crowd or data to be plural plural nouns, so it is appropriate to use these or those in British English. For example: "These data don't match the graphs you gave me ".
Step 3. Understand the function of these
These is the plural form of this. We use it to refer to or replace a plural noun.
- Single: This book on the shelf next to me belongs to Rajeev.
- Plural: These books (more than one book) o n the shelf next to me belong to Rajeev. [Note that the verb belong is also plural].
- Single: Look at this bracelet (one bracelet) on my wrist !
- Plural: Look at these bracelets (many bracelets) on my wrist !
- Single: Who put this cupcake (one cake) in the refrigerator ?
- Plural: Who put these cupcakes (more than one) in the refrigerator ?
Step 4. Understand the function of those
Those is the plural form of that. We use it to refer to or replace a plural noun.
- Single: That mountain looks really small from here.
- Plural: Those mountains (some mountains) look really small from here. [Note the verb look also uses a plural verb].
- Single: Could you hand me that box (one box) on the other side of the room ?
- Plural: Could you hand me those boxes (some boxes) on the other side of the room?
- Single: Why hasn't that scientist at NASA found extraterrestrial life?
- Plural: Why haven't those scientists at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [Note that the verb have has been made plural].
Method 2 of 3: Using These Properly
Step 1. Use these to replace nouns that are close in distance and time
If the noun we are referring to is near us, physically or figuratively, we can replace it with these.
- I'm holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of these? (These replace chocolate bars).
- Would you like to borrow some books? Here, take these. (These replace books).
- These are so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers. (These replace flowers).
Step 2. Use these to refer to something physically close
This and these are both used to refer to something closer to the speaker. We can use these to draw special attention to objects.
- These books on the shelf belong to Rajeev. [The books are near the speaker].
- Look at all these bracelets on my wrist! [The bracelets are worn by the speaker, so the bracelets are close].
- Who put these cupcakes in the refrigerator? [The speaker is near the cake].
Step 3. Use these to describe something close figuratively
This and these are also used to express figurative distances, especially distances related to time. Use these when something is happening in the present, has happened recently, or will happen in the near future.
- These shows I've been watching are absolutely extraordinary. [The show has been watched recently].
- Have you seen these letters to the editor in today's news? [The letter has been published in today's newspaper].
- Why don't you take these books with you when you go? [The book will be picked up by someone in the near future]
Step 4. Use these to introduce people to other people
If we are going to introduce more than one person to someone, we can use these at the beginning of the sentence.
- For example: "These are my classmates, Sean and Adrienne".
- However, in English we don't use these to refer directly to people: "These are Sean and Adrienne " is not correct. The correct one is "This is Sean and this is Adrienne".
- When introducing yourself, such as when answering the phone, use this: " Hello, this is Chang ".
Method 3 of 3: Using Those Correctly
Step 1. Use "those" to replace nouns that have a longer distance and time
If the noun we refer to is far from us, physically or figuratively, replace it with those
- That man over there is holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of those? (Those replaces chocolate bars).
- Would you like to borrow some books? Take those over there on the shelf. (Those replaces books).
- Those were so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers you gave me yesterday. (Those replaces flowers).
Step 2. Use those for something relatively remote physically
That and those are both used to refer to something that is far from the speaker. This distance can be literal or figurative. Using those will draw attention to or emphasize the noun we are discussing.
- Those mountains look really small from here. [The mountain is far from the speaker]
- Could you hand me those boxes on the other side of the room? [The box is on the other side of the room].
- Why haven't those scientists at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [Speaker may emphasize that he does not feel any affinity for NASA scientists].
Step 3. Use those to explain something further figuratively
That and those are also used to express figurative distances, especially distances related to time. Use those if something has happened in the relatively long past or will happen in the relatively distant future.
- Those shows I watched last week were absolutely extraordinary. [The show was watched in a long time].
- Did you see those letters to the editor in yesterday's news? [The letter was published in the past].
- Why do all those politicians fight so much? [Speakers may emphasize feelings of not being personally close to politicians].
Tips
- For objects that cannot be counted (such as milk, software, or rain), use this or that.
- For objects that can be counted (such as pencils, sheep, or people) use these' or those.
