How demonstrative pronouns are used in spoken English.
Demonstrative pronouns:
this, this, this these - this
that, that, then - that
those - those
this is it
such, such - such
the same (s), the same (same) - the same
That/that. This/these.

1. This (these)index fingers pronouns used:
to indicate an object located close to the speaker.
This old woman is Mr. White's secretary.
This elderly woman is Mr. White's secretary.
to describe situations relating to the future or present time.
We are sorry but Dr. White is out at this moment.
We're sorry, but Dr. White is not available at the moment.
I'm seeing Tom this Sunday.
I'm meeting Tom this Sunday.
in a situation where you introduce people to each other or introduce yourself over the phone.
Kate, this is Liz and these are my friends Bob and Ted.
Katya, this is Lisa, and these are my friends Bob and Ted.

2. Those/that are used:

To indicate an object or person located at a certain distance from the speaker.
Look at those new beautiful buses over there! they are his!
Look at those beautiful new buses over there! They are his!
to describe situations related to the past.
That month spent at the seaside was the best in my life!
That month spent on the sea coast was the best of my life.
when talking on the phone to clarify who you are talking to.
"Hello! This is Lilia Smith. Who is that, please?”
"Hello. My name is Lilia Smith. Who, tell me, am I talking to?

3. these/ this, those/that are used as pronouns and independently without a noun behind it.
Let's have a talk over this. Let's discuss this.
These peaches are riper than those in the basket.
These peaches are riper than the ones in the basket.

4. If in interrogative sentence If the pronouns these /those are used, then in the answers they are replaced by they.
Are these papers yours? Are these your papers?
Yes, they are. Yes.

It
It is also used as a demonstrative pronoun.
It is a candle. This is a candle.

5. When responding to special and general issues containing this or that, the pronoun it is used
Is that a butterfly over there? Is that a butterfly over there?
Yes, it is. Yes.
What is this? What is this?
It is a beetle. It's a beetle.
It or There?

How to use It correctly:

1) in sentences with It +be + adjective + to infinitive, highlighting the adjective, or it + be + adjective (+ that)
It is useless to know how it works without manual.
It's useless to know how it works without instructions.
It was coincident (that) Zinaida met her future husband in Paris.
What a coincidence that Zinaida met her future husband in Paris.

2) When we talk about the weather It has been foggy today.
Today it was foggy.
It has been snowing here since 2 o’clock.
It has been snowing since 2 o'clock.

3) When we ask for the exact time -What is the time?
What time is it now?
-It is 23.30 sharp.
Exactly twenty three thirty.

4) When we describe places (terrains)
It is always calm and beautiful here at the lake.
Here by the lake it is always quiet and beautiful.

5) When we use phrases like it is becoming/ it is going to...
It is going to be boring at Rubik’s party.
Rubek's party promises to be boring.
It is becoming less and less interesting film to watch on TV. There are less and less interesting movies to watch on TV.

There

Used when there is a combination: there + be (is, are, will be, have/has/had been, was, were):

1) When we say that something exists somewhere (is, exists, is located)
There is wooden old church in my village.
In my village there is an old wooden church.

2) When we indicate the presence of something, someone
I’m sure there was some people at the restaurant.
I'm sure there were several people outside the restaurant.

3) When we indicate that something is happening or will happen in the future
There was a wedding here 3 hours ago.
There was a wedding here 3 hours ago.

If the sentence contains an enumeration, then rpm there is / are be agrees in number with the first noun.
There was his aunt, two cousins ​​and Granny at my last birthday party. My birthday party last year was attended by his uncle, two cousins ​​and grandmother.

Greetings, everyone! Today we'll talk about the basics. We will tell you the difference between “this / that” and “these / those”, explain their meaning, give illustrative examples and decorate it all with a final table with the difference.

It's time to dispel doubts and find out the difference in order to be 200% confident in using one of the most common words in English.

This and That

The main difference is distance of the object from the speaker.

You need to use " this"[ðɪs] - this / this / this, when the object is close to the speaker (he is holding it in his hands, for example), and " that» [ðæt] - that / that / that when it is at a distance or outside the field of view of the speaker or listener.

This is my cat (pointing at a cat on my lap).
This my cat (pointing to him on her lap).

That is his dog (pointing at a dog beside some stranger on the street).
Ta his dog (pointing to the dog next to the stranger on the street).

Note that tense will also affect the use of "this" and "that" as demonstrative pronouns.

If something happened in the past, use " that" would be more appropriate. Although in Russian we still say “this”.

You can, of course, say “that”, but it will sound suspiciously strange. There is no need for clarification, which cannot be said about English.

He didn't die yet. That made me think.
He's not dead yet. This got me thinking.

On the other hand, if the event has not yet occurred, then the appropriate form would be " this».

She won't go to church tomorrow. This is quite strange.
She won't go to church tomorrow. This quite strange.

It’s surprising that Americans, when they pick up the phone, usually say: “ Who is this?", and the British - " Who is that?».

Usually we use " that", speaking about things, but not about people or animals:

Right: - Have you met Mr. Rogers? - The one with the stupid haircut or silly mustache?
Wrong: That who has stupid haircut?

These and Those

In a formal context, especially in scientific work, when talking about the similarity of something, we use " that of / those of" instead of "the one of / the ones of".

The proton has a similar mass to that of a neutron.
A proton has a similar mass to a neutron proton.

The emotions in the poems are those of loss and grief.
The emotions in the poems reflect loss and grief.

How to use these pronouns

• In the role defining word:

What's in this bag?
That whiskey tastes strange.
I might get myself a pair of those Nikes.

• In the role pronouns(meaning things or ideas):

Come and look at this.
That's a very bad idea.
Can I have one of these?

Uses of this and that

Emotional distance

Sometimes we use this, that, these and those to refer to things that make us happy.

For example, you can use " this/these”, referring to something we approve of or feel positive about.

I love this new woolen smartphone cover that you can get.
I like this new wool phone case, which you can get.

We use " that/those” to create distance.

What are you going to say to that friend of yours?
What are you going to say that friend of mine?

We use " those", talking about objects inside the room where we were.

I didn't like his house. It had those awful paintings.
I didn't like his house. It contained those terrible pictures.

Knowledge sharing and new information

Often this happens when we are telling a story or explaining something.

You know that waterfall in the forest nearby? Well, they're gonna privatize it.
You know That waterfall in the forest nearby? Well, they're going to privatize it.

« This" is sometimes used instead of "a/an" when we are referring to something important or recent, or when introducing someone to a new person or thing in our history.

This guy today knocked on the door and asked if I wanted to talk about God.
This the guy knocked on the door and asked if I wanted to talk about God.

Physical proximity and distance

We use " this", And " these» most often, pointing to things and people that are close to the speaker or writer, or to what is happening at the moment.

Shall I use this knife here?
I should take advantage this with a knife?
I'll post these letters on my way home.
I'll throw it in these letters to the post office on the way home.

We use " that" And " those”, pointing out things and people that are not easily identified in a situation. They are often located at a distance from the speaker, and sometimes closer to the listener.

What's in that bottle over there?
What's in it that bottle there?

Sometimes things are not visible to either the speaker or the listener.

Death Star! That's my favorite star!
The Death Star! This my favorite star!

Useful expressions and phrases

That's it- exclamation when solving a problem: “that’s all!”; in the role of agreement: “yes, right”, “exactly!”, “whoa!”, “period!; in the role of the final replica in an unambiguous plan: “that’s it!”, “that’s enough!”, “dry the oars!”; interrogative meaning in the sense of “that’s all?”, “oh well?”.

That's it! I"m not putting up with any more of her rudeness!
That's it! I won't tolerate her rudeness anymore!
That's it, it is working now.
That's all! Now it works.

That's alright(that's ok) - both expressions can be used to express forgiveness.

- Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.
-That's ok.
- Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.
- Everything is fine.

That's right is one of the most popular answers in English. Says that you agree or confirm someone else's words.

Translations: exactly like that, right, exactly, absolutely, just about, like that.

- You must be one lucky son of a b*tch, right?
- You must be a lucky son of a bitch, huh?
- That's right, I am. What?
- Yes sir. What?

And others:

this one time only(this once, just for once) - only 1 time;
this one is still kicking- this one is still alive;
this one is as good as any- this one is no better than any other;
this side of the Black Stump- on “this side” (where there is water, trees, life);
this said- at the same time (despite the fact that ...), everything said means that ... ;
this and that- This and that; bench stoves;
those against?- who is against?;
those abstaining- abstained from voting;
those and those ones- both;
those are her days- on these days she receives (guests, for example).
Is this one taken?- Is it busy/free here?;
What's all this/that about?- What kind of news is this!; Here's more news!;
This is it!- Here it is!; This is what I was looking for!; This is a critical moment!; Fine!; Right!; In fact of the matter!

Conclusion

Summarize:

This/that- here & singular / there & singular.

These/those- here & plural / there & plural.

We hope you enjoyed it and discovered something new. After all, this is why we are here writing to you! Enjoy your correct English and aim for more!

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• What is the difference between pronouns this and it in English.
• Features of use this and it in an English sentence.
• Difference this and it with examples of use.

Anyone studying English language according to the audio course VoxBook, which is based on fiction without simplifying the text, I should be interested in what case they are used this and it, and how they differ in sentences similar to the following:

This is a pen.
It is a pen.

This is a demonstrative pronoun and is translated: this, this, this.
It is a personal pronoun and is translated: he, she, it, his, her, him, her.
In some cases the pronoun it is indicative in nature, and is translated in the same way as this in a word: This.

Let's look at the difference between it and this in English:

In the VoxBook audio course, sentences with the words this and it are often found. The article examines only some of these examples. After studying the audio course, you will be able to translate, correctly pronounce and use this and it, as well as other phrases in any text or conversation.

Interlinear translation of the audio course will greatly speed up the memorization of new words. Competent and correct speech by native speakers who voiced the VoxBook audio course guarantees that you will receive perfect pronunciation.

Thanks to the VoxBook audio course, you will achieve wonderful, outstanding results in learning English, even those that seem impossible to you. All this is due to the fact that you were simply curious, installing the VoxBook audio course on your computer, and having installed the audio course, you were smart enough to understand what it promises you in the future.

Difference between this and it - examples of use.

1. This introduces the concept into conversation It continues the conversation about the previously introduced concept. It replaces the introduced concept and is used to avoid repeating the word.

   This is a road.
   This is the road. (Introduces the concept into the conversation)
   ....
   It is a good road.
   This is a good road. (continues)
   ....
   Look at this tree. Look at this tree. (Introduces the concept into the conversation) It is full of fruit.
   It is full of fruits. (continues)
   

   This is a nice house. This good house . (Introduces the concept into the conversation) : "This It is neat add clean. it He is neat and clean. (continues) [this “will not do” = will not do, for it must be something of his own] ."

   (English Fairy Tales - "Whittington And His Cat")

   (First time this, next time it.)

2. Unlike the word it, this can be used as a definition and can appear immediately before a noun.
   For example:
   

   is good.
   This book is good.

   But..., that is, it cannot be placed immediately before book. While this is possible, compare:
   Is a good thing.
   

3. This book is good. it is a good.
   

   This is a good book.
   Pronoun
   

   can be used in intensifying sentences as a formal subject, as an intensifying and is usually translated by the words exactly, this, just. Answer to the question Who's there? when knocking on the door: It's me, Jon! Me. / It's me, John. Answer during roll call: It "s me (I) I am. / Here. / Present. Home came the giant [a giant came home], and a great big tree in his hand [and a great big tree in his hand], and he took down the sack [and he “took down” = lowered the bag], and began to batter it [and started hitting him]. His wife cried [the wife screamed], " It's me, man [it's me, husband] "; but the dog barked [but the dog barked] .

   and the cat mewed

4. [and the cat meowed] it, and he did not know his wife's voice [and he didn't recognize his wife's voice](English Fairy Tales - "Molly Whuppie")
   

   Another significant difference is that the pronoun
   used in
   impersonal sentences
   as a formal subject that is not translated.
   For example:
   It's five past twelve.
   The time is five minutes past twelve.
   It is two o'clock.
   Two hours.
   It's rains. It's raining.
   

It is cold.

Cold. It is warm. Warm.] . It's hot. Hot. It's winter. Winter. It is spring. Spring. It is getting dark. It's getting dark. It was interesting to read this article. It was interesting to read this article....

Take a look at an example of an impersonal sentence from the VoxBook audio course and its translation. The audio course uses word-by-word translation, so the word It is translated, but placed in quotation marks, which means “translation of the word as it is.” Such a translation must either be omitted, as in the example below, or replaced with a translation after the equal sign, as in the examples above.

One day the rose-tree flowered

1.	This- introduces a new one, and it- a well-known fact in discussion.
2.	This- used if you need to point to a specific object in the field of view or highlight this object against the background of other objects
3.	Pronouns this- indicating a person, object, event or action close in place or close in time.
4.	This- used as a definition and stands before a noun.
5.	This book is good. it- usually refers to an inanimate thing, or is used in relation to a person, thing, idea, taken in the abstract.
6.	It- can be a substitute word for a previously mentioned noun and act as a subject or object.
7.	It- used in impersonal sentences as a formal subject, not translated into Russian.
8.	It- used in intensifying sentences as a subject.

The demonstrative pronouns this (this), that (that, this) in a sentence can act as a determiner, subject, object, used as a noun determiner or independently:

Definition
We'll stay here, at this place. - We will stay here, in this place.

Subject
Those are the lorries that carry our brothers to the mines. “These are the trucks that take our brothers to the mines.

Addition
Put that down. - Put this on.

There is an important semantic difference between this and that. This is used when we're talking about about people and objects physically close to the speaker, and about situations corresponding to the moment of speaking. This is correlated with here - here and now - now. That is used when talking about people, objects and situations remote from the speaker in time or space. That is correlated with – there – there and then – then. Compare:

Get this cat off my shoulder. - Take this cat off my shoulder.
Get that cat off the piano. - Take that cat off the piano.
That was nice. - That was great.
This will be interesting. - It will be interesting.

Please note that in Russian the difference between this and that is not conveyed.

When speaking on the telephone, the English use this to name themselves, and that to ask who is calling:
Hello. This is Elizabeth. Is that Ruth? - Hello. This is Elizabeth. Is this Ruth?

When this and that are used without a noun, they usually denote things:

This costs more than that. - This one costs more than that one.
But not: This says he’s tired. “This one says he’s tired.”

However, in sentences that identify a person, this and that can be used to refer to people:

That looks like Mrs. Walker. - Looks like it's Mrs. Walker.
This is Elizabeth. - This is Elizabeth.

Informally, this and that are often used with adjectives or adverbs as intensifiers. For example:

I didn’t realize it was going to be that hot. – I didn’t think it would be so hot.
If your boy-friend is that clever, why isn’t he rich? – If your friend is so smart, why isn’t he rich?

Not all that is used in the meaning of “not very”, “not so much”, “not so much”. For example:

But was the party? – Not all that good. - How was the party? - Not that good.

Such structures cannot be used before a subordinate clause. You can't say:

It was that cold that I couldn’t feel my fingers. “It was so cold that I couldn’t feel my fingers.”

If the noun in the function of the nominal part of the predicate is in the plural, then the demonstrative pronoun in the function of the subject also takes the form of the plural, but is translated into Russian by the pronoun “this”:

These are the books I told you about. - These are the books I told you about.

The pronoun that can be used to avoid repetition of the preceding singular noun:

The butter we import is less expensive than that (which) we produce ourselves. – The oil we buy abroad is cheaper than the oil we produce ourselves.

In such constructions, that can only replace inanimate nouns. The pronouns these and those can replace both inanimate and animate plural nouns. At the same time, these / those are translated into Russian by the noun they replace, sometimes by a personal pronoun, or not translated at all:

These flowers are better than those which we planted last year. – These flowers are better than those (flowers) that we planted last year.
All bodies consist of molecules and these of atoms. – All bodies are made of molecules, and molecules are made of atoms.
Then he bought a reader, some exercise-books… and hid these at the bottom of his trunk. “Then he bought a textbook, several notebooks... and hid them at the bottom of his suitcase.

Sometimes the pronoun those can have a general meaning:

He admires those who succeed. “He admires those who get their way.”

Those are often used with the participle:

Those taking part in the competition are requested to come onto the stage. – Those who take part in the competition are asked to go on stage.
He never approved of those chosen by other people. “He never approved of those chosen by others.”

Today I'm ho body would like to talk aboutThis, that, these, those There are often cases when students, even with a very good knowledge of English grammar, get confused with demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those- This is a common mistake, but don’t think that you don’t need to pay attention to it. This error often appears when you translate sentences with pronouns from Russian into English. These four words can be classified according to 2 criteria: distance And quantity. Let's consider the distance. Take a look at the plate below. You will see that pronouns this And these can be used, if there is a conversation about personalities and whether things who are close to the speaker. Let's take an example, this newspaper (this newspaper), these newspapers (these newspapers). That And those – Can be used when talking about something or someone located far away, far away from the one who speaks. Eg , that book (that book), those book s (those books). Let's talk about numbers (sg. - the singular - singular number , pl. - plural - plural). The pronouns this and that are used with singular nouns - this pear (this pear) that pear (that pear), and these and those - in the plural - these pears (these pears) those pears

(those pears).

Particular attention should be paid to the pronunciation of the demonstrative pronouns this and these. These two sounds are very similar. Now repeat several times to feel the difference between [??s] (“s”) and [?i:z] (like the “and” in the word “needles”). Do not forget,what after these and those good to use pluralize a noun by adding the ending -s or -es ( these shops s those bench).

those

1. It's time to check how clear my explanation is to you :) Translate into English:

2. this man

3. these houses

4. those fruits

5. these lamps

that city I have no doubt that everyone coped with this

Those are

1. We fix:

2. These are magazines, and this is an ABC book.

3. These are our envelopes, and this is his letter.

4. This is her white bag, and that is her coat.

5. This is the student, and this is the teacher.

Interrogative forms with this, that, these, those

Continuing to consider topic demonstrative pronouns, we'll touch on questionmeaningful sentences. Before asking “What is this?” in English, determine sya , singular or plural noun will be in the answer. Because your question and answer must match in number. For example, if there are several oranges , then the question “What is this?” will sound: “What are these?”, and not “What’s this?”, because the answer will be: "These are orange s."

We train:

1. - What is this? - This is money .

2. - What is this? - This is the door.

3. - What is it (there)? - That sweets .

4. - What is it (there)? - T am balls.

Now you will no longer have confusion with this, that, these, those!

Teacher at the online school "Multiglot"
Stefania Annenkova
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