This and that

This page explains the difficulty of the words this and that for English language learners.

Beginners in English learn that we use this to refer to an object close to us, and that to refer to an object further away. This book (here, in my hand, etc.) is very good. That one (over there, on the table, in your hand) is not so good. But sometimes these two words are not so easy to use.

Quiz

Read the following sentences and decide which of the two words this / that is the more usual choice in each case.

  • I like this / that music. Who is it by?
  • This / that was not very nice! Why did you do it?
  • Who's this / that man standing by the window?
  • Tell me about this / that man you've been seeing recently.
  • She's very clever! - This / that is right!
  • This / that is it! Wish me luck!
  • This is it! / that's it! From now on you can make your own dinner!
  • I've just won $10,000. What do you think about this / that?
  • John has just lost his job! - Oh, this / that is terrible!
  • I'm sorry to bother you like this / that, but can you take me to the airport?
  • And then in 1988 the accident happened. I had to spend three months in a wheelchair. This / that changed my life completely.
  • I like this music. Who is it by? (Assuming the music is still playing, otherwise you'd probably say I liked that music, who was it by ? )
  • That was not very nice! Why did you do it?
  • Who's that man standing by the window?
  • Tell me about this man you've been seeing recently.
  • She's very clever! - That is right!
  • This is it! Wish me luck!
  • That's it! From now on you can make your own dinner!
  • I've just won $10,000. What do you think about that?
  • John has just lost his job! - Oh, that 's terrible! ( This is terrible is also possible, but less likely.)
  • I'm sorry to bother you like this, but can you take me to the airport?
  • And then in 1988 the accident happened. I had to spend three months in a wheelchair. This / that changed my life completely. (Both answers are possible, but this is more likely if the effects of the accident are still keenly felt today.)

If you found this page interesting, that is good!