The choice between 'this' and 'that' or 'these' and 'those' can often leave us tongue-tied, but with a clear understanding of their functions, it's a cinch to navigate this linguistic labyrinth. These demonstratives play a crucial role in our everyday communication, helping us to point out people, places, or things we're talking about. So, let's delve into the world of demonstratives and master the art of 'this' or 'that'.
Before we proceed, it's vital to understand the difference between 'this' and 'that', and 'these' and 'those'. Demonstratives, essentially, refer to distance and proximity. While 'this' and 'these' point to objects that are close or nearby, 'that' and 'those' indicate things that are farther away. So, 'this' is physically closer to the speaker than 'that', and vice versa. Let's explore these concepts in depth.
'This' or 'That': Singular Demonstratives
'This' and 'that' are singular demonstratives, used when referring to a single object, person, or concept. Understanding their usage is pivotal in maintaining fluency and accuracy in your communication.
Let's differentiate between these two. 'This' is used to indicate that the object or person referred to is close to the speaker. For example, “This is my new laptop.” Here, the laptop is right in front of you. On the contrary, 'that' is used to refer to something or someone that is not near us. For instance, “I see that being a teacher is indeed a rewarding career, but it's not for me.” In this case, the option of being a teacher is not close to the speaker's current plans.
'This'
'This' is a versatile demonstrative that can be used in simple noun phrases, existential clauses, and indefinite pronouns. It's also used to draw attention to specific text or information in a conversation. For example, “This sentence contains an erotic innuendo.” 'This' here draws the listener's attention to the sentence in question.
'This' also serves as a determiner, a word that specifies the noun it precedes. For instance, “This house has been empty for months.” Here, 'this' specifies which house the speaker is talking about.
'That'
'That', as a singular demonstrative, is primarily used to point to something across a notable distance. For example, “That’s the Eiffel Tower silhouetted against the dusk.” Here, the Eiffel Tower is quite far. However, 'that' can also have a somewhat different meaning when used in a negated sentence. “I wouldn’t do that for all the tea in China” doesn’t refer to something far away but implies that the action mentioned is something the speaker would not do under any circumstances.
'That' is also used to introduce or highlight a complement clause. For instance, “That he would do such a thing surprises me.” Here, 'that' is introducing the embedded clause 'he would do such a thing'.
'These' or 'Those': Plural Demonstratives
'These' and 'those' are plural demonstratives that Lindblom (2000) categorizes as 'groupers' because they group individuals or entities together. They function similarly to 'this' and 'that', but with an added layer of complexity: 'these' and 'those' can also refer to things that are unseen but will be seen in the near future, or have been seen in the past.
Their usage primarily hinges on the distance, just like 'this' and 'that'. 'These' refers to things close to us, while 'those' refers to things farther away. But remember, proximity here isn't just physical; it can also be chronological. For example, “These are the people who helped me with the project last week.” Here, even though the people are not physically close, the recent completion of the project brings them into proximity.
'These'
'These' is used to refer to objects, people, or concepts near or present to the speaker. For instance, “These are the books I've been telling you about.” Here, the books are right in front of the speaker. 'These' can also be used for past or future actions/people/things SabineTim (2013) notes. For example, “These are the workers who built this bridge.” Even though the workers might not be close in time, their association with the bridge brings them into proximity.
'These' has the ability to draw attention to a specific category or class. For instance, “Remember these words: liberty, justice, equality.” Here, 'these' is emphasizing the importance of the words it follows, drawing the listener's attention to them.
'Those'
'Those' is used to refer to objects, people, or concepts that are not near the speaker in time or space. For example, “Those were the days, all right.” Here, the speaker is reflecting on a past time, making 'those' a temporal demonstrative. As well as an indication of distance, 'those' can also denote habits, generalizations, and hypothetical situations. For instance, “Those who live by the sword, die by the sword.” In this case, 'those' implies a group of people in general, rather than a specific group.
'Those' is also used in listing enumerations. For example, “Take these and those over there.” Here, 'those' is identifying a separate group of items from 'these', functioning as a classifier.
Understanding 'this' and 'that', and 'these' and 'those', is crucial for clear communication and accurate expression. Each demonstrative plays a vital role in pinpointing exactly what we want to convey, making our language more precise, more vivid, and more engaging. So, go ahead, use these demonstratives shamelessly - after all, by defining, indicating, and specifying, they only enhance our communication. Just remember, the key lies in their context and the distance they convey.