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AndyOrban Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
This or That
Hi.
I saw some recent and related threads on this topic and I have a question of my own. I learned long ago that 'this' is for things that are close and 'that' for things far away, as a general rule, et cetera. But it's not always so easy to determine.
For example, I am sitting in Budapest with my friend and we two look at a photo of Eiffel Tower on computer. She says 'what's this?' The picture is close to us both, so 'this' is okay. But I see that native speakers also say 'what's that?' in such a situation. I explain it: the computer is close to them, but Eiffel Tower is far in their minds, so it's that.
Or we are doing a presentation in the office. We all sit in one end of the room and watching a presentation on a large screen in the other end of the room. Logically, I say 'That person on the screen' because his image is far away. But here I notice that English speakers also say 'This person' on this screen'. I explain it: distance doesn't matter, what matters is this person we are discussing now.
I think I am analyzing this too much. It seems English speaking people just say 'this' or 'that' in such situations depending on which word comes first to their lips.
Am I right?
Thank you for your attention and help.
AO
I saw some recent and related threads on this topic and I have a question of my own. I learned long ago that 'this' is for things that are close and 'that' for things far away, as a general rule, et cetera. But it's not always so easy to determine.
For example, I am sitting in Budapest with my friend and we two look at a photo of Eiffel Tower on computer. She says 'what's this?' The picture is close to us both, so 'this' is okay. But I see that native speakers also say 'what's that?' in such a situation. I explain it: the computer is close to them, but Eiffel Tower is far in their minds, so it's that.
Or we are doing a presentation in the office. We all sit in one end of the room and watching a presentation on a large screen in the other end of the room. Logically, I say 'That person on the screen' because his image is far away. But here I notice that English speakers also say 'This person' on this screen'. I explain it: distance doesn't matter, what matters is this person we are discussing now.
I think I am analyzing this too much. It seems English speaking people just say 'this' or 'that' in such situations depending on which word comes first to their lips.
Am I right?
Thank you for your attention and help.
AO
Top answer
I think the distance is relatively unimportant. Two cyclists compare each other's bicycles: “That’s a nice bike you are riding. "
- I think the distance is relatively unimportant.
- Two cyclists compare each other's bicycles: “That’s a nice bike you are riding.
- "
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5 Answers
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I think the distance is relatively unimportant. Two cyclists compare each other's bicycles: “That’s a nice bike you are riding. It is sportier than this one.”
This sometimes implies ownership or possession: “This book I am holding was left here overnight.”
“That is a nice suit you are wearing!” "This jacket I'm wearing belonged to my father."
This sometimes implies ownership or possession: “This book I am holding was left here overnight.”
“That is a nice suit you are wearing!” "This jacket I'm wearing belonged to my father."
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Mr. Wilpeter, thank you for this reply. So in my examples (two people sitting near a computer screen and asking "What's this/that in the picture on the screen"?) or an office sitting across the room from a large screen and the presenter saying 'this/that (peson on the screen) man is the founder of the company'
- the speaker can use either 'this' or 'that' without being afraid of making a
- the speaker can use either 'this' or 'that' without being afraid of making a
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Yes, grammatically either is acceptable. Some people prefer always using "that".
"That man on the left is the manager and that lady on the right is a teller."
"That man on the left is the manager and that lady on the right is a teller."
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AndyOrban,
Just to add a few things. As Wilpeter has pointed out, geography is not the main determining factor in many situations in which you use this/that (and these/those if plural). Sure, you say "this is a beautiful house" when you enter someone's house and "that is an ugly house" when you point to the house across the street from your (delighted!) host, but spatial dim
Just to add a few things. As Wilpeter has pointed out, geography is not the main determining factor in many situations in which you use this/that (and these/those if plural). Sure, you say "this is a beautiful house" when you enter someone's house and "that is an ugly house" when you point to the house across the street from your (delighted!) host, but spatial dim
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Thank you to Mr. Wilpeter and Mr. Xerxes for such detailed responses. Thank you.
Have a great day.
AO
Have a great day.
AO
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