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DorisPao Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

This or That

Hi!

I am talking to my office colleague about the house I live in right now. I say:

I've been living in that house for two years!

Is "that" better? I think so. I think I should say "this" if I am inside the house and "that" if I am in the office, as in the example above.

Thank you!

Doris
  

Top answer

Both 'this' and 'that' have need of a prior reference to something. Your current location is not important in many cases. I live at 25 Main Street with my family.

— Wilpeter

  • Both 'this' and 'that' have need of a prior reference to something.
  • Your current location is not important in many cases.
  • I live at 25 Main Street with my family.
  • I’ve owned this house for four years.
  • Prior to that, I lived in an apartment in the west end of town.
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10 Answers
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Both 'this' and 'that' have need of a prior reference to something. Your current location is not important in many cases.
I live at 25 Main Street with my family. I’ve owned this house for four years. Prior to that, I lived in an apartment in the west end of town. I lived in that apartment nine years.
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But if I said "that house" in my office conversation, would it be necessarily incorrect?
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No, if you have either already identified it; or you have a picture of it.
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Wilpeter, thank you for your answer! I am sorry, I didn't understand you (it's my fault, not yours).

Colleague: "Where do you live?"
Me: "I live near the Botanic Gardens in a house. It's a rather pretty house. I've been living in that house for several years."

If I understood you correctly, "that" is acceptable, right?
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Yes. Both 'this' and 'that' could be applied in your example.
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More natural is this. We usually avoid repetition.


Colleague: "Where do you live?"
Me: "I live near the Botanic Gardens in a house. It's a rather pretty one. I've been living there for several years."
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DorisPaoI am talking to my office colleague at the office about the house I live in right now
that house

If you were talking to the same office colleague in your house, it would be "this house".
DorisPaoI think I should say "this" if I am inside the house and "that" if I am in the office
Exactly.
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DorisPaoI am talking to my office colleague at the office about the house I live in right now
that house

If you were talking to the same office colleague in your house, it would be "this house".
DorisPaoI think I should say "this" if I am inside the house and "that" if I am in the office
Exactly.
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