Quick answer: Use this for something near you in space, time or thought, and that for something farther away. This points to one close thing (plural: these), and that points to one distant thing (plural: those). Only that can also join clauses, as in “I know that you care.”
Quick Quiz: This vs That
This vs that looks like the easiest comparison in English, yet learners and native speakers still trip over it. Both words point at something, but they point in different directions. The main difference is distance, and a few extra uses make the pair more interesting than it first seems.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | One person or thing that is near | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | “This is my desk.” |
| that | One person or thing that is farther away | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner; also conjunction and relative pronoun | “That is your bag over there.” |
| these | Several people or things that are near; plural of this | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | “These apples are fresh.” |
| those | Several people or things that are farther away; plural of that | Demonstrative pronoun or determiner | “Those mountains look huge.” |
What does “this” mean?
This is a demonstrative word that points to something close to the speaker, in space, in time or in thought. It can stand alone as a pronoun, as in “This is delicious,” or sit before a noun as a determiner, as in “this sandwich.”
Closeness is flexible. This morning, this week and this year all describe the current time period. The word also introduces what you are about to say, as in “Listen to this.” Its plural form is these.
What does “that” mean?
That points to something farther from the speaker, in space, in time or in feeling. “That tree across the road” is far away physically, and “that summer in 2010” is far away in time.
It also refers back to something already mentioned or finished: “Did you see that?” The plural is those. Unlike this, that has extra grammar jobs, which are covered below.
What is the difference between this vs that?
The difference is distance: use this for near and that for far. If you can touch it, hold it or it just happened, choose this. If it is across the room, over there or in the past, choose that.
Picture a phone in your hand: “This phone is new.” Now picture a phone on a shelf across the shop: “That phone is cheaper.” The object is the same kind of thing, but the distance changes the word.
Distance can be emotional too. “I love this song” feels close and personal, while “I can’t stand that song” pushes the song away from you.
How do this and that work in conversation?
This often looks ahead to what you are about to say, and that often looks back at what has already been said. Compare “Here is the plan: this is what we will do” with “I heard that, and I disagree.”
In casual storytelling, this makes a story feel closer and more vivid: “So this guy walks into the office…” On the phone in the United States, people say “Hi, this is Sam” to introduce themselves and “Is that Sam?” to ask who is speaking.
Can “that” be a conjunction or relative pronoun?
Yes, and this cannot do either job. In “I know that you care,” the word that joins two clauses. In “The book that I bought was great,” it introduces a relative clause.
In these roles, that has nothing to do with distance, so swapping in this would be wrong. You can often drop it entirely: “I know you care.”
How can you remember which one to use?
Use the pointing test. If you could reach out and touch the thing, say this or these. If you would have to point across a distance, say that or those.
A second shortcut is to pair the words with their place words: this goes with here, and that goes with there. The sounds even match: th-i-s and h-e-re are both close and quick, while that and there both feel farther away.
What are the most common mistakes?
- ✗ I like that book in my hands.
✓ I like this book in my hands. - ✗ Who are this people?
✓ Who are these people? - ✗ Look at those mountain over there.
✓ Look at that mountain over there. - ✗ I hope this you are feeling better.
✓ I hope that you are feeling better. - ✗ Hello, that is Maria speaking.
✓ Hello, this is Maria speaking.
What are some memory tricks?
- Here and there. This goes with here, and that goes with there.
- The touch test. If you can touch it, use this. If you would have to point, use that.
- Vowel swap for plurals. This becomes these and that becomes those, so each plural changes its vowel and keeps its distance meaning.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between this and that?
This points to something near you, while that points to something farther away, in space, time or feeling.
What are the plurals of this and that?
The plural of this is these, and the plural of that is those.
Can you use this for something in the past?
Yes. In casual storytelling people say this to make a past event feel close, as in So this guy walks into the room.
Is that a pronoun or a conjunction?
It can be either. That works as a demonstrative pronoun, a relative pronoun and a conjunction, while this only works as a demonstrative.
Do you say this or that on the phone?
In the United States, people usually say this is to introduce themselves and is that to ask who is on the line.
Conclusion
Once you see the pattern, this vs that is simple: this means near and that means far. Remember that that also has grammar jobs this word cannot do. Keep the pointing test in mind and you will choose correctly almost every time.
Share this with someone who mixes these up.