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I'm confused. As far as I know, this is reserved for something that is right ahead of speakers and/or speakers talk about that item the whole conversation. That is reserved for something that is not exactly right here.
But in different literature I see “that” all the time, even though sometimes it's more appropriate to use “this”.
Has “that” replaced “this”? When to use “this” and “that”?
Has that replaced this?
Of course not.
(i) is new -> Introduction: “This is my sister.”
(ii) the first thing -> “This first example is very valuable”
(iii) is being experienced presently and ‘for the first time’ -> “This is my first time in Africa.”
(iv) is the only thing being presently discussed/experienced -> “You have described the main idea, concept, thing, person; This could be worth a fortune.” “Nowadays, a lot of young women want to have plastic surgery. This has become a social issue in my country.
(v) will be immediately discussed/experienced, -> “I would like some more information on this idea of yours.”
(vi) Is the nearest thing (in space or time) -> “This ring in my hand is very expensive.”
(vii) Is the thing now indicated -> “Moving on, if I may show you this. [points at something]…”
(i) has been discussed/experienced, -> “I told you about that yesterday!”
(ii) is the next and subsequent thing, -> “This pin is rusty, now let’s look at that one."
(iii) was experienced in the past -> “I went to Zambia in 1987. That was my first time in Africa.”
(iv) is the second or subsequent thing being discussed/experienced -> "You have told me about your experience in Africa, but you also went to America, tell me about that."
(v) a more distant object in space or time-> “That over there is my shopping list.” / “Ah yes, 1950… that was the year I went to Brazil.”
This and that are deictic pronouns, and they are involved in contexts of "distance" and "pointing:" This is my dog (I'm "pointing" to my dog, which is close to me); That is my house (I'm "pointing" to the house, which is at some distance from me).
