Questions tagged [this-that]

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Is "This is my family" an acceptable response to "Who are they?"? [duplicate]

Context: suppose that I am looking at a family picture in an album in my friend’s house. Who are they? It’s my family. (correct) That’s my family. (correct) This is my family. (wrong) They are my ...
xiaoen's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
51 views

"that that"?!? how to properly express doubt about a distance object?

How do you express that a particular-unknown/undefined item performed a action? Usually I would start my sentence with "I didn't knew that..." indicating a general unawareness. A possible ...
Leonardo's user avatar
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Can "this" and "that" be used interchangeably in some contexts? [duplicate]

As I understand, in English, when we are talking about something so close that we can (literally or figuratively) point our finger to, we can use "this". This cake is great. (implies the ...
guest's user avatar
  • 11
-2 votes
1 answer
73 views

What is best to use in written language: 'that is' or 'this is' [duplicate]

I am interested to know if in written formal language this is reads better than that is She goes to the library every Friday, and that is/this is her weekly respite. Also, I often come across ...
fev's user avatar
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Determiners: This and that. Has “that” replaced “this”?

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 ...
Valeriy Ivanov's user avatar
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1 answer
69 views

Confusion on using this/that and that/those

I have confusion regarding the use of that/those and this/that properly. My first question: Jobs those are generally involved in a lot of repetitive work are boring. Jobs that are generally ...
Encipher's user avatar
  • 117
1 vote
1 answer
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Using ‘this’ in preference to ‘that’ or ‘it’ for a memory or future occurrence

Apologies if this has been asked, as maybe I’m inept with the search function. I’ve been given a paragraph that I feel is incorrect: I’m listening to the radio as I drive to work, and The Beach ...
Dandylion's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
56 views

Not enough ado about this and that

OK, so demonstrative pronouns and their inconsistent use across dialects. I'm South African and have noticed a quirk in some Brit and Yank usages of this and that which really cause me to break out ...
buzzdriving's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
6k views

Difference between "this" and "that" when referring to a previous sentence

I have checked this site. We use this or that to refer to something with special emphasis – indicating an interesting new fact has been mentioned. We use this or that to refer to a new topic, ...
user266865's user avatar
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0 answers
36 views

Thoughts on this/that [duplicate]

I'm talking with someone and I want to know what they think about a specific topic (which was discussed priviously), which of the following should I use: What are your thoughts on that or What are ...
Trey's user avatar
  • 179
2 votes
1 answer
7k views

This vs That in usage with concepts [duplicate]

So, the question that's always been bugging me is: What is the proper usage of "This" and "That", not when it comes to objects or things, but when it comes to concepts. For example, there's a ...
He7Man7's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
92 views

Can "this", "that" and their plurals be used as substantive adjectives in formal writing?

For example: Stein’s avant-garde collection challenges the reader to think of ordinary, everyday objects and concepts in ways that they hadn’t before. This is in direct contrast to... I was ...
Bluefire's user avatar
  • 123
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1 answer
95 views

Usage of this and that almost interchangeably

Here and there the usage of the words this and that look artbitrary and often completely interchangeably. Example Today the politician Pete Brown stated that the CIA bribed the president's ...
Niklas Rosencrantz's user avatar
10 votes
2 answers
3k views

What's up with "this," in Old English(Ænȝlıſ͡ċ/Anglo Saxon‽)

I am asking two things here, about Ænȝlıſċ (Old English) First and foremost, see this picture here: – which was taken from this page: QUESTION 1: What is the difference between these two words: "...
Matthew T. Scarbrough's user avatar
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2 answers
157 views

Use of 'this' – relates to the directly preceding noun

I am a german native speaker. I am currently in the finishing stages of writing a thesis. One of my advisors (English is his mother tongue) provided feedback on the language of my writing. One point ...
beta's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
3k views

That is what …. . This is what …. Can these be used interchangeably here?

I’ve been wondering if "That is what….," and "This is what ….," in the following passage (taken from Fieldfish.com) can be used interchangeably. Imagine you are an unmarried ...
user152425's user avatar
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2 answers
6k views

"This one is" OR "This is"

I have seen people using "This one is Daddy's" with the word "one" before a form of the verb be. I am confused about which is more accurate, to use: This is Daddy's. or This one is Daddy's. ...
eudoraleer's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
69 views

"Then this" vs "Then that" [duplicate]

I have the following paragraph: We often write hundreds of lines of code to express simple concepts. This code takes time to develop and maintain - and if you’re writing tests, then that time ...
Lawrence Wagerfield's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
8k views

This is right. Or that is right? [duplicate]

Opinions sought. I vaguely remember that the expression "This is right" (meaning "I agree with what you just said") appeared in the 1970s. And I remember it because, if I remember correctly, it ...
plugincontainer's user avatar
-1 votes
1 answer
81 views

That vs This in uncommon contexts

I can see the difference between "this" / "that" in most common contexts. There are a couple of unusual ones, though, that are still pretty unclear to me. Here are some of them: 1.A friend of mine ...
Igo's user avatar
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6 votes
5 answers
71k views

When to use "this" or "that"?

It is 10 cm on the map. That is 100 km in real terms. I am proofreading and it seems odd that the writer always uses that in these cases. I would have said this. Who is right and who is wrong?
Caroline Sitskoorn's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
49k views

"To this end" or "To that end"

Is there a usage note for choosing between these two phrases? Nothing in Garner. And I've seen it both ways. Example: To that end, we propose the following compromise. or To this end, we ...
PatKilg's user avatar
  • 143
4 votes
2 answers
59k views

Is it correct to use the phrase "pay attention" with "that"?

Is it correct to say "Pay attention that..."? or must I use "Pay attention to..." For example: "An attention should be paid that this is a one-way street".
Yuri Feigin's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
224k views

What is the difference between "happy to hear that" and "happy to hear this"?

Let's say I've sold a product to a customer. A bit later the costumer tells me "wow, this is fantastic". Now, do I better answer with "Thanks, I am glad to hear that" or "Thanks, I am glad to hear ...
user60881's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

How can I explain a word used in a previous sentence?

I am defining a "thing" with an adjective. Example: X is a small y. Then I want to give a clean and simple explanation for the adjective small --because it can mean several things and I want to ...
Phil's user avatar
  • 131
5 votes
3 answers
21k views

In answering a telephone call, why do you say "Who is this?" instead of "Who is that?"

On the telephone, the person answering it may say "Who is calling?" or "Who is this?" Why do you say "this" to the caller on the other end of the phone? Is is wrong to say "Who is that?"
Fujibei's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
436 views

This, that and it for non-material objects [duplicate]

The question is not about how to use "this, that, it" with material objects, but how to use them with non-material ones? I don't understand (it, that, this) yet. For example: I go to a gym ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 883
0 votes
2 answers
3k views

Could I use 'this' to introduce a person? [closed]

Which of the sentences below are correct? This’s my best friend, William. Those’re my classmates, James and Harry. That’s my teacher, Mrs Wilson. UPDATE: I just took an exam. The correct ...
Nguyen  Minh Binh's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
670 views

When to use “this" and when to use “that”? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using “that” and “this” interchangeably What is the difference? What do you think about that? What do you think about this? What is the grammar rule about using this and ...
Vic's user avatar
  • 1
2 votes
1 answer
16k views

"this way" vs "that way" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using “that” and “this” interchangeably When should I use "this way" or "that way"? Is there any difference between these two when they used in a sentences? ...
ezpresso's user avatar
  • 1,495
3 votes
2 answers
5k views

Difference between “this” and “that” [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: “… things like this.” vs. “… things like that.” I have two sentences for both this and that. This is what bothers me: we have no time to consider late ...
macio.Jun's user avatar
  • 311
4 votes
2 answers
71k views

What is the difference between "this" and "that" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using “that” and “this” interchangeably Is there a clear delineation between the usages of 'this' and 'that' in American English? Is ...
J. Walker's user avatar
  • 341
10 votes
3 answers
29k views

"… things like this." vs. "… things like that."

Yesterday on talk radio an interviewee speaking about Sudanese Northerner's being forced into the mountains and away from their farmlands by the Sudanese Army said the result was: The men would ...
NOTjust -- user4304's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
674 views

"This paper" vs "That paper" in an abstract

I'm writing an absctract for a paper. In Portuguese we write esse trabalho (that paper) to indicate that the paper is near the person that we are adressing. We use este trabalho (this paper) to ...
GarouDan's user avatar
  • 233
9 votes
2 answers
8k views

"that" or "this"

I know a trivial difference of "that" and "this" uses. Such as the difference between "this chair" and "that chair". But I don't understand one case. When one person is coming into a room and another ...
itun's user avatar
  • 289
7 votes
2 answers
135k views

"In that case" vs "in this case" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using “that” and “this” interchangeably Imagine a dialog: Me: Can I have a Guinness, please? Bartender: We run out of Guinness, mate. Me: In that case, I'll have a pint of Fursty ...
quant_dev's user avatar
  • 195
14 votes
1 answer
160k views

"This" vs "that" [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Using “that” and “this” interchangeably I wanted to know the differences between this and that. When do you use one or the other? For example: Too ...
Prabhanjan Naib's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
88k views

"At this time" vs "At that time"

Is it acceptable to use "at this time" when referring to a specific point in time in the past? While in the process of telling a story, for example, that happens completely in the past? To me it just ...
Sergei's user avatar
  • 33
5 votes
1 answer
4k views

In non-spatial contexts, when should I use "this" versus "that"?

I'm always quite confused to choose which word should I put in the sentence like this/that :) That/This is not a problem at all. To be or not to be, this/that is the question. I know which one I ...
Fedor Skrynnikov's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
455 views

Should I write "calling himself in this/that way" here?

In my text I am trying to say, that it is not clear what intentions the person had, by calling themselves in a certain way (let's say Foobar). My question is should I use "calling himself this way" ...
Andriy Drozdyuk's user avatar
46 votes
5 answers
55k views

Using "that" and "this" interchangeably

Learning and using English I'm always confused about what word to use for referring to things that have been described by me a few sentences earlier: "that" or "this". Confusion comes from the fact ...
rem's user avatar
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