These four little words are how English points at things. But distance isn't only about space. It's about time, emotion, and how connected you feel to something. Get the difference right and your English instantly sounds more natural.
These four words are called demonstratives, from the Latin demonstrare: to point or show. They replace or accompany nouns to tell us where something is in relation to the speaker.
The rule has two dimensions: number (singular vs plural) and distance (near vs far).
Physical Distance Map
Quick grammar note: "This" and "that" go with singular nouns (or no noun at all). "These" and "those" go with plural nouns. You can also use them alone: "This is mine," "That was interesting," "These are expensive."
This is where most textbooks stop. Real English goes much further. Native speakers use this/these and that/those to signal how connected or distant they feel to something, even when it has nothing to do with physical space.
| Word | Time context | Emotional/attitudinal distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This / These | The present moment, current period, today, this week, this year | Something you feel close to, involved in, enthusiastic about | "I love this song." / "These days everything costs more." |
| That / Those | The past, finished events, a period now over | Distance, detachment, criticism, nostalgia, dismissal | "That was a hard time." / "Those were different days." |
The attitude trick: English speakers use "that" to create psychological distance from something unpleasant, or to dismiss it. "That idea doesn't work." (implying it was never mine, or I'm done with it.) Compare it with "this idea doesn't work", which sounds like you're still engaged with it.
On the phone: You say "This is Patryk", because from your own perspective you're right here, present. In older formal English you might hear "That is Patryk", but it sounds very dated today.
Pointing at something just mentioned: If someone says something interesting, you might respond: "That's a great point." It's now "out there": you heard it, it moved away from the present moment, and you're reflecting on it. If you're building on your own current idea, you might say: "This is exactly what I mean."
Time examples:
"I hate this weather." (right now, today)
"Remember that storm last year?" (in the past, gone)
"These past few weeks have been exhausting." (a period you are currently in)
"Those three years in London changed me." (a finished chapter)
Each sentence has two options highlighted. Click the one that fits. Read carefully: some are about physical distance, others about time or attitude.
Type the correct word: this, that, these, or those. Focus on the context clues: number and distance.
Ten questions. Mix of physical distance, time, and attitude. Each correct answer scores a point. Your total is tracked at the bottom of the screen.
The same exercises as a PDF. Handy for homework or offline practice.