What is This?
This is a pronoun that is used to refer to a specific thing or idea that has been previously mentioned or is immediately present, and it can be used to suggest that something is close by or nearby. For example, “Can you pass me this book?” or “I’m going to wear this shirt today.”
This can also be used to introduce a new topic or idea, especially in written or spoken discourse. It can be used to indicate that the speaker or writer is about to discuss something that has not yet been mentioned. For example, “This issue has been causing a lot of controversies lately.”
In addition to its use as a pronoun, this can also function as an adjective when modifying a noun. For example, “This project has taken up all of my time.” In this sentence, “this” is modifying the noun “project” and indicating that it is the specific project that has been previously mentioned or is under discussion.
What is These?
When referring to a group of items or a single item that is nearby or has already been mentioned, the pronoun “these” is used. It is used in place of a noun or noun phrase and can be used to refer to people, places, or things. For example, “These shoes are new” or “These are my friends.”
“These” is used in contrast to “those,” which refers to items or people that are farther away or have not yet been mentioned. For example, “These shoes are new, but those are old.” In this sentence, “these” refers to the new shoes, and “those” refers to the old shoes.
“These” can also be used as an adjective to modify a noun. For example, “These apples are delicious” or “I like these colors better.” In these sentences, “these” modifies the noun “apples” and “colors,” respectively. Overall, “these” is a useful word that helps us refer to specific items or groups of items in a sentence.
Difference Between This and These
- “This” is a singular pronoun used to refer to a single item or person that is nearby or has already been mentioned, whereas “These” is a plural pronoun used to refer to multiple items or people that are nearby or have already been mentioned.
- “This” is used to refer to singular things, such as “this book,” “this person,” or “this thing,” whereas “These” is used to refer to things that are plural, such as “these books,” “these people,” or “these things.”
- “This” is used to signify things and objects present or nearby, whereas “These” is also used to refer to things that are present or nearby, but it refers to multiple items.
- “This” can be used as an adjective to modify a noun, such as “this apple” or “this color,” whereas “These” can also be used as an adjective to modify a noun, such as “these apples” or “these colors.”
- “This” is used in contrast to “that,” which refers to a single item or person that is farther away or has not yet been mentioned, whereas “These” is used in contrast to “those,” which refers to multiple items or people that are farther away or have not yet been mentioned.
Comparison Table Between This and These
| Parameters of Comparison | This | These |
| Pronoun Type | Singular Pronoun | Plural Pronoun |
| Signified | Singular Object | Plural Objects |
| Proximity | Near | Far |
| Modifying Function | As Adjective to Modify Noun | Can Modify a Noun |
| Contrastive Word | That | Those |