Blog about English
Using this, that, these and those.
Demonstrative pronouns identify specific people, things or ideas in relation to the speaker.
The demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these and those.
This is my favorite coffee shop.
Это моя любимая кофейня.
"This" is a demonstrative pronoun referring to one thing that is near the speaker.
That is my brother over there.
Вон там мой брат.
"That" is a demonstrative pronoun referring to one person at a distance.
These are my new shoes.
Это мои новые туфли.
"These" is a demonstrative pronoun referring to several nearby things.
Those are the books I was looking for.
Вон те книги — те, которые я искал.
"Those" refers to several things that are relatively distant from the speaker.
This is delicious.
Это очень вкусно.
"This" can refer to food, an object, an idea, or something being experienced.
That looks expensive.
Выглядит дорого.
"That" refers to a specific thing that is being pointed out or discussed.
These are much better than the old ones.
Эти намного лучше старых.
"These" replaces a nearby plural noun phrase.
Those belong to my sister.
Вон те принадлежат моей сестре.
"Those" replaces a plural noun phrase referring to things at a distance.
This refers to a singular noun, while these refers to a plural noun that is near the speaker.
Nearness may be physical, temporal or conceptual.
This book is very interesting.
Эта книга очень интересная.
"This" is used with a singular noun that is near the speaker.
These books are very interesting.
Эти книги очень интересные.
"These" is the plural form of "this".
This chair is comfortable.
Этот стул удобный.
"This" refers to one nearby chair.
These chairs are comfortable.
Эти стулья удобные.
"These" refers to several nearby chairs.
This week is very busy.
Эта неделя очень загруженная.
"This" can refer to a period of time that includes the present.
These days, I work from home.
В наши дни я работаю из дома.
"These days" refers to the present period of time.
This is the restaurant I told you about.
Это тот ресторан, о котором я тебе рассказывал.
"This" is a pronoun because it stands alone rather than modifying a noun.
These are the files we need.
Это те файлы, которые нам нужны.
"These" replaces the plural noun phrase "the files we need".
That refers to a singular noun, while those refers to a plural noun that is distant from the speaker.
Distance may be physical, temporal or conceptual.
That car belongs to my neighbor.
Та машина принадлежит моему соседу.
"That" refers to one car that is relatively distant from the speaker.
Those cars belong to my neighbors.
Те машины принадлежат моим соседям.
"Those" is the plural form of "that".
That building is the city library.
То здание — городская библиотека.
"That" refers to one building at a distance.
Those buildings were built in the 1920s.
Те здания были построены в 1920-х годах.
"Those" refers to several buildings farther away.
That was a great movie.
Это был отличный фильм.
"That" can refer to something that has just been experienced or discussed.
Those were the best years of my life.
Это были лучшие годы моей жизни.
"Those" refers to a group of past years.
That is exactly what I meant.
Именно это я и имел в виду.
"That" refers to an idea or statement rather than a physical object.
Those are the people we met yesterday.
Вон те люди — те, кого мы встретили вчера.
"Those" identifies several people who are relatively distant or already identified in context.
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns, while demonstrative determiners modify nouns.
Compare This is expensive with This book is expensive.
This book is expensive.
Эта книга дорогая.
"This" is a determiner because it comes before the noun "book".
This is expensive.
Это дорого.
"This" is a pronoun because it stands alone.
Those shoes are mine.
Те туфли мои.
"Those" is a determiner because it modifies "shoes".
Those are mine.
Вон те мои.
"Those" is a pronoun because it replaces the noun phrase.
I like these cookies.
Мне нравятся эти печенья.
"These" modifies the noun "cookies".
I like these.
Мне нравятся эти.
"These" stands alone and functions as a pronoun.
That answer is correct.
Тот ответ правильный.
"That" modifies the noun "answer".
That is correct.
Это правильно.
"That" stands alone and functions as a demonstrative pronoun.
Demonstratives distinguish between things that are near and far.
The choice depends on the speaker's perspective rather than absolute distance.
This cup is mine.
Эта чашка моя.
"This" refers to something physically close to the speaker.
That cup on the other table is mine.
Вон та чашка на другом столе моя.
"That" refers to something farther away.
These boxes are heavy.
Эти коробки тяжелые.
"These" refers to several things near the speaker.
Those boxes by the door are heavy.
Вон те коробки у двери тяжелые.
"Those" refers to several things farther from the speaker.
Can you pass me this pen?
Можешь передать мне эту ручку?
"This" is used because the pen is within the speaker's immediate area.
Can you pass me that pen?
Можешь передать мне ту ручку?
"That" can refer to something farther away, even if it is still reachable.
This is the seat I want.
Вот это место я хочу.
"This" can identify something close to the speaker.
That is the house across the street.
Вон тот дом через дорогу.
"That" reflects the speaker's perspective of distance.
Demonstratives may refer to time as well as location.
Compare this week with that day and these days with those years.
This week has been very busy.
Эта неделя была очень загруженной.
"This week" refers to the current week.
I was in New York that week.
Я был в Нью-Йорке на той неделе.
"That week" refers to a specific week in the past or otherwise distant from the current time.
These days, I exercise every morning.
В наши дни я каждое утро занимаюсь спортом.
"These days" refers to the present period.
Those days were much simpler.
Те времена были намного проще.
"Those days" refers to a past period.
This morning I went for a walk.
Сегодня утром я пошел гулять.
"This morning" refers to the morning associated with the current day.
I remember that summer very well.
Я очень хорошо помню то лето.
"That summer" refers to a past summer already identified in the context.
This year, the company hired more people.
В этом году компания наняла больше людей.
"This year" refers to the current year.
Those years taught me a lot.
Те годы многому меня научили.
"Those years" refers to a period viewed as distant in time.
Demonstratives may refer backward or forward to information in a conversation or text.
This often introduces a new idea, while that frequently refers to something already mentioned.
This is the problem: we do not have enough time.
Вот в чем проблема: у нас недостаточно времени.
"This" introduces and points forward to the explanation that follows.
I have a great idea. This could save us a lot of money.
У меня отличная идея. Это может сэкономить нам много денег.
"This" refers to the idea that has just been introduced.
He missed the deadline. That caused a serious problem.
Он пропустил крайний срок. Это вызвало серьезную проблему.
"That" refers back to the previous situation.
Listen to this: the company is closing its office.
Послушай вот что: компания закрывает свой офис.
"This" introduces information that is about to follow.
She forgot her passport. That was a big mistake.
Она забыла паспорт. Это была большая ошибка.
"That" refers back to the event just mentioned.
There was a power outage last night. That affected the whole neighborhood.
Прошлой ночью отключили электричество. Это затронуло весь район.
"That" refers to the previously mentioned event.
This is what I want you to remember.
Вот что я хочу, чтобы ты запомнил.
"This" points forward to the information that follows.
The plan sounded simple, but that turned out not to be true.
План казался простым, но оказалось, что это не так.
"That" refers back to the previously described idea or situation.
Speakers sometimes choose demonstratives to express emotional involvement or detachment.
Compare this wonderful idea with that ridiculous excuse.
This is a wonderful idea.
Это замечательная идея.
"This" can suggest that the speaker feels positively connected to the idea.
That is a ridiculous excuse.
Это нелепое оправдание.
"That" can create emotional or rhetorical distance from the idea.
This little dog is adorable.
Эта маленькая собачка просто очаровательна.
"This" expresses emotional closeness as well as physical reference.
That guy is always complaining.
Этот парень постоянно жалуется.
"That guy" may signal annoyance, distance, or a negative attitude.
Look at this beautiful view!
Посмотри на этот прекрасный вид!
"This" expresses the speaker's immediate involvement with what they are seeing.
I cannot believe that nonsense.
Не могу поверить в эту чушь.
"That" helps create emotional distance from the thing being criticized.
This is exactly what I wanted.
Это именно то, чего я хотел.
"This" emphasizes the speaker's positive connection to the present situation.
Who gave you that terrible advice?
Кто дал тебе этот ужасный совет?
"That" can combine with negative language to create rhetorical distance.
Those may replace a previously mentioned plural noun phrase.
Example: The red apples are sweeter than those on the table.
The red apples are sweeter than those on the table.
Красные яблоки слаще тех, что лежат на столе.
"Those" replaces the plural noun phrase "the apples on the table".
My shoes are newer than those.
Мои туфли новее тех.
"Those" replaces a previously understood plural noun.
The houses on this street are older than those across town.
Дома на этой улице старше тех, что в другом конце города.
"Those" replaces "the houses across town".
I prefer these cookies to those with chocolate.
Я предпочитаю это печенье тому, что с шоколадом.
"Those" replaces "the cookies with chocolate".
The new employees work faster than those in the old department.
Новые сотрудники работают быстрее тех, кто работает в старом отделе.
"Those" refers to the previously understood plural noun "employees".
The results from this year are better than those from last year.
Результаты этого года лучше тех, что были в прошлом году.
"Those" replaces "the results from last year".
The shoes in the window are similar to those I bought last month.
Туфли в витрине похожи на те, что я купил в прошлом месяце.
"Those" replaces "the shoes I bought last month".
The opinions of the younger employees differ from those of the managers.
Мнения молодых сотрудников отличаются от мнений менеджеров.
"Those of the managers" replaces "the opinions of the managers".
Formal writing often uses demonstratives to connect ideas and improve cohesion.
Clear reference helps readers identify the intended antecedent.
This approach offers several advantages.
Этот подход дает несколько преимуществ.
"This" clearly identifies the approach being discussed.
That result is consistent with earlier research.
Этот результат согласуется с более ранними исследованиями.
"That" refers to a result already established in the discussion.
These findings suggest that the policy should be revised.
Эти результаты показывают, что политику следует пересмотреть.
"These findings" clearly links the sentence to recently presented evidence.
Those results were not included in the final analysis.
Те результаты не были включены в окончательный анализ.
"Those results" refers to previously mentioned results.
This distinction is important when interpreting the data.
Это различие важно при интерпретации данных.
"This" helps establish a clear connection to the immediately discussed distinction.
That assumption cannot be supported by the available evidence.
Это предположение не может быть подтверждено имеющимися доказательствами.
"That assumption" refers to an assumption already identified in the text.
This illustrates the importance of clear documentation.
Это иллюстрирует важность четкой документации.
"This" refers back to the example or result immediately preceding it.
These differences are particularly important in international research.
Эти различия особенно важны в международных исследованиях.
"These" provides a clear link to multiple previously identified differences.
This commonly introduces explanations, examples and summaries.
Examples include This is because..., Consider this... and This illustrates that....
This is because the server is offline.
Это потому, что сервер не в сети.
"This" introduces an explanation for something already under discussion.
This is what I mean.
Вот что я имею в виду.
"This" points forward to the explanation that follows.
Consider this: we have only two options.
Учтите следующее: у нас всего два варианта.
"This" introduces information that follows immediately.
This illustrates how the system handles errors.
Это показывает, как система обрабатывает ошибки.
"This" refers to an example or event just discussed.
This means that we need to change the schedule.
Это означает, что нам нужно изменить расписание.
"This" refers to a fact or conclusion already established.
This raises an important question.
Это поднимает важный вопрос.
"This" refers to the preceding fact, action, or situation.
This suggests that the original estimate was too low.
Это говорит о том, что первоначальная оценка была слишком низкой.
"This" refers to previously presented evidence or results.
This is why the project was delayed.
Вот почему проект задержали.
"This" introduces a conclusion or explanation connected to the preceding context.
Choose demonstratives according to number, distance and grammatical function.
Common mistakes include confusing this and these, using demonstrative pronouns instead of determiners and unclear demonstrative reference.
This book is mine.
Эта книга моя.
Use singular "this" with the singular noun "book".
These books are mine.
Эти книги мои.
Use plural "these", not singular "this", with "books".
That car is expensive.
Та машина дорогая.
Use "that" with a singular noun at a distance.
Those cars are expensive.
Те машины дорогие.
Use plural "those" with "cars".
This is expensive.
Это дорого.
Use the demonstrative pronoun "this" when it stands alone.
This car is expensive.
Эта машина дорогая.
Use "this" as a determiner when a noun follows it.
The red shoes are nicer than those on the shelf.
Красные туфли лучше тех, что стоят на полке.
"Those" can replace a previously mentioned plural noun phrase.
This is the problem we need to solve.
Вот проблема, которую нам нужно решить.
Use "this" for a clear reference; avoid an unclear demonstrative whose meaning the reader cannot identify.