Micro-listening
Demonstrative Adjectives: Choose With Confidence
How do you use this, that, these and those?
Use 'this' for one nearby noun, 'that' for one distant noun, 'these' for nearby plural nouns, and 'those' for distant plural nouns. For example, 'Those lights need replacing.' First check whether the noun is singular or plural, then consider distance in space, time, or conversation. Do not add an article.
Key points
- Check whether the noun is singular or plural first.
- Use 'this' and 'these' for nearby nouns.
- Use 'that' and 'those' for distant nouns.
- Distance can refer to time or conversation.
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At a glance
| Form | Use it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 'this' | One nearby person, place, object, or idea | This key opens the side entrance. |
| 'that' | One distant person, place, object, or idea | That bridge crosses the river. |
| 'these' | Two or more nearby nouns | These reports need careful checking. |
| 'those' | Two or more distant nouns | Those chairs are reserved for guests. |
The full explanation
Demonstrative adjectives point out particular nouns within a physical setting, a timeframe, or an ongoing conversation. The word this indicates a single nearby item, while that indicates a single distant item. For plurals, these indicates nearby items, and those indicates items further away. They clarify exactly which item the speaker means without needing long descriptive explanations.
This badge grants you access to the main laboratory.
Why it works: This modifies the singular noun badge, which is currently held by the speaker.
3 more examples
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That billboard across the highway advertises our annual conference.
That modifies the singular noun billboard located at a physical distance.
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These documents require a manager's signature before five o'clock.
These modifies the plural noun documents resting on the desk in front of the speaker.
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Those storage containers on the upper deck hold safety equipment.
Those modifies the plural noun containers situated far from the speaker.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exercise
Count the noun before checking distance
When you choose between this, that, these, and those, look at the noun first. If the noun names a single item or an uncountable thing, your choices narrow to this and that. If the noun is plural, your choices narrow to these and those. Deciding the number first eliminates two options immediately, so you avoid guessing among four words at once.
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This catalog lists every component in the shipment.
Why it works: Catalog is a singular noun, so the speaker selects this instead of these.
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These catalogs list every component in the shipment.
Why it works: Catalogs is plural, so the speaker selects these instead of this.
Your turn
Which word correctly completes the phrase for several delivery boxes: '___ boxes'?
Answer: These
Show the answer
Answer: These
Boxes is a plural noun, so only the plural form these can introduce it.
Select this for one item within your reach
Use this when you speak about one object, person, or place that is physically close to you or currently in your hands. This signals immediate physical contact or immediate focus. In a workplace or store, you use this when touching an item, holding paperwork, or pointing to something on your own desk.
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This badge allows visitors through the front gate.
Why it works: Badge is singular, and the speaker is holding it while speaking.
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This clipboard holds the safety checklist for today.
Why it works: The clipboard is right in front of the speaker on the counter.
You can practise this again in Who or Whom: Choose with Confidence and Distributive Adjectives: Choose Each and Every.
Your turn
You are holding a pen in your hand. What is the natural way to identify it?
Answer: This pen writes smoothly.
Show the answer
Answer: This pen writes smoothly.
Pen is singular and held directly by the speaker, which calls for this.
Select that for one item separated from you
Use that when you refer to one person, object, or location situated away from you in space. The listener understands that the item sits across the room, down the street, or on a shelf beyond your reach. The distance creates a visual gap between you and the object you identify.
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That forklift belongs to the shipping department.
Why it works: Forklift is singular and parked on the other side of the warehouse.
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That doorway leads straight to the main courtyard.
Why it works: Doorway is singular and positioned at the far end of the hallway.
Your turn
A supervisor points toward a truck parked across the lot. Which phrase is correct?
Answer: That truck
Show the answer
Answer: That truck
The truck is singular and located away from the speaker, so that is the correct choice.
Select these for plural items in your space
Use these when you refer to two or more items that sit near you, rest in your hands, or belong to your immediate workspace. The word pairs the plural number with proximity. When handing files to a colleague or sorting items on your table, these makes the physical proximity clear.
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These samples came from our local supplier.
Why it works: Samples is plural, and the items are sitting on the speaker's desk.
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These invoices need your signature before lunch.
Why it works: Invoices is plural, and the speaker is presenting the stack right now.
Your turn
You have several folders on the table directly in front of you. How should you introduce them?
Answer: These folders contain client accounts.
Show the answer
Answer: These folders contain client accounts.
Folders is plural and located right before the speaker, which requires these.
Select those for plural items at a distance
Use those when you refer to multiple objects or people located away from your immediate area. The items might sit on high shelves, on the other side of a hall, or across an open yard. The plural ending combines with distance to direct your listener's attention across the room.
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Those containers on the top shelf hold spare cables.
Why it works: Containers is plural, and they are stored well out of arm's reach.
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Those delivery drivers are waiting by the loading bay.
Why it works: Drivers is plural, and they are standing across the facility.
Your turn
How do you identify a group of lamps positioned along the opposite wall?
Answer: Those lamps provide extra lighting.
Show the answer
Answer: Those lamps provide extra lighting.
Lamps is plural and separated by distance from the speaker, requiring those.
Drop articles when using demonstrative adjectives
A demonstrative adjective takes the place of articles like a, an, or the. It specifies the noun completely on its own. Placing the or a directly before or after this, that, these, or those creates an ungrammatical combination that confuses English listeners. Say this report, never the this report.
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The manager approved this proposal yesterday morning.
Why it works: This stands directly in front of proposal without any article before it.
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We should inspect those machines before the morning shift.
Why it works: Those specifies machines directly, so no extra article is necessary.
Your turn
Which sentence follows standard English grammar?
Answer: Please review this contract before five o'clock.
Show the answer
Answer: Please review this contract before five o'clock.
Demonstrative adjectives replace articles, so adding 'the' or 'a' before 'this' is incorrect.
Use distance words for moments and ideas
Distance in English extends beyond physical geography into time and conversational focus. Use this or these for events happening right now, current periods, or the topic you are currently raising. Use that or those for events in the past, completed stages, or ideas mentioned earlier by someone else.
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This morning went much faster than expected.
Why it works: This marks the current morning, which is close in time to the speaker.
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That discussion yesterday helped clarify our budget.
Why it works: That refers back to a conversation completed in the past.
Your turn
How should an employee refer to the calendar month they are currently working in?
Answer: This month has several bank holidays.
Show the answer
Answer: This month has several bank holidays.
The current month is singular and near in time, making this month the proper expression.
Distinguish adjectives from standing pronouns
A demonstrative adjective always sits directly before a noun to modify it, as in this computer or those chairs. If the word appears alone as the subject or object of a verb without an accompanying noun, it functions as a demonstrative pronoun. Knowing this distinction keeps your sentence structures clear.
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This printer produces crisp labels, but that one is jammed.
Why it works: This is an adjective modifying printer; that modifies the substitute pronoun one.
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These packages are ready for dispatch, but those are still missing labels.
Why it works: These acts as an adjective before packages, whereas those acts as a pronoun standing alone.
Your turn
In which sentence does 'those' function as an adjective?
Answer: Those tools belong in the cabinet by the window.
Show the answer
Answer: Those tools belong in the cabinet by the window.
Those sits directly before the noun tools, serving as a demonstrative adjective.
Common mistakes
What learners often say, what to say instead, and why.
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Not this:
These folder contains the schedule.Say: This folder contains the schedule.
'Folder' is singular, so use 'this', not the plural form 'these'.
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Not this:
That documents across the room are ready for filing.Say: Those documents across the room are ready for filing.
'Documents' is plural and distant, so use 'those', not the singular form 'that'.
-
Not this:
Please read the this notice carefully.Say: Please read this notice carefully.
A demonstrative already identifies the noun, so do not add an article.
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Not this:
This are the figures from today's meeting.Say: These are the figures from today's meeting.
'These' stands for plural items; 'this' is singular.
Before you go
Remember this
Determine whether your noun is singular or plural first, narrowing your choices to two words. Next, consider whether the item or concept sits near you or farther away in space, time, or conversation. Keep the demonstrative directly before the noun and omit any extra articles.
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Please scan these invoices before noon.
The speaker refers to plural invoices sitting right there on the desk, using 'these' directly before the noun.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
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Read the transcript
Keep this envelope on your desk.
'This' points to one envelope being handed directly to the listener.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- A small word like this is said quickly and softly, not as written.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 4
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Read the transcript
Please file this agreement in our central archive, and store those aprons near the workshop door.
'This agreement' refers to one document held by the speaker, while 'those aprons' refers to multiple garments stored across the room.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
This clip is longer. Follow the instruction above the answer field.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
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Read the transcript
Please review this outline before our afternoon walk through the facility. We must move this electronic scanner into the main reception area, because visitors require fast check-ins. After packing that order, help Sarah unpack those envelopes on the steel shelving. Store these ink cartridges inside our secure cabinet, and leave that open crate by the loading ramp.
The briefing pairs each demonstrative with the location and quantity of the equipment: single nearby items use 'this', distant items use 'that' or 'those', and plural nearby items use 'these'.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
Listen for
At natural speed these words change shape. Tap one to hear it again.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
- The last sound of the first word runs straight into the next word.
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Say it your way
Describe three items in your current room or workspace. Explain which items are right next to you and which items are further away, using this, that, these, and those correctly.
Use: demonstrative adjectives: choose with confidence
You could start with “On my desk right here, I have…”
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Please scan these invoices before noon.
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Questions about "Demonstrative Adjectives: Choose With Confidence"
Can I use 'the' and 'this' together in the same phrase?
No. In standard English, demonstrative adjectives already identify specific items, so they replace definite and indefinite articles. You should never place 'the', 'a', or 'an' directly before or after 'this', 'that', 'these', or 'those'. Saying 'the this report' or 'a that car' is always incorrect.
Please hand me this report.
That car in the parking lot belongs to our director.
Which demonstrative should I use with uncountable nouns like water, information, or advice?
Uncountable nouns take singular demonstratives because they do not have a plural form. You must choose between 'this' and 'that' based on whether the concept or substance feels near or far. Never use 'these' or 'those' with uncountable nouns.
This information helps our planning team tremendously.
That advice from the consultant solved our scheduling bottleneck.
How do 'this' and 'that' work when talking about ideas instead of physical objects?
Speakers use 'this' for ideas they are introducing right now or focusing on as the main topic. In contrast, 'that' refers back to something someone else just mentioned, an earlier statement, or an idea that feels more distant from the immediate discussion.
This suggestion could reduce our production expenses by ten percent.
That point you mentioned during the meeting was very insightful.
How can I tell whether 'that' is an adjective or a pronoun?
Look directly after the word. If a noun follows immediately, the word acts as a demonstrative adjective modifying that noun. If no noun follows and the word stands alone as the subject or object of a verb, it functions as a demonstrative pronoun.
That laptop needs an urgent operating system upgrade.
That is the best presentation we have seen all week.
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