The Word This
Introduction to 'This'
Pointing with Words
In English, we have special words for pointing things out. Instead of using your finger, you can use a word. One of the most common pointing words is 'this'. It tells your listener you're talking about one specific thing that's close to you.
Think about standing in a bakery. If you want the croissant directly in front of you, you'd say, "I would like this croissant." The word 'this' does the pointing for you. It singles out the specific croissant you mean from all the others.
Using 'this' makes your language clear and specific. It answers the question, "Which one?"
The grammatical term for a pointing word like 'this' is a 'demonstrative determiner'. It demonstrates, or points out, which noun you're talking about.
Near and Far
The main job of 'this' is to show proximity, or nearness. We use 'this' for people or things that are close to us in space or time. If something is farther away, we use a different word: 'that'.
The choice between 'this' and 'that' depends entirely on your perspective as the speaker.
- This pen in my hand is blue.
- That pen on the table is red.
Imagine you are at a park. You might say:
- "This bench feels comfortable." (You're sitting on it or touching it.)
- "That tree across the field is huge." (The tree is a long way from you.)
As demonstrative determiners, “this” and “that” can be used with singular countable or uncountable nouns.
This rule of proximity is simple but powerful. It helps listeners create a mental map of the scene you're describing, just by your choice of words.
Ready to check your understanding?
The main job of the word 'this' is to show:
Complete the sentence: You are sitting at your desk, and you pick up a pen. You would say, "____ pen is my favorite."
Using 'this' correctly is a fundamental part of making your English sound natural and clear. It's a small word that does a lot of work.