Choosing between “this” and “these” can occasionally cause hesitation, especially when you are pointing out objects or talking about ideas in a hurry. Many English learners accidentally mix up singular and plural forms because both words look and sound very similar at first glance.
You are definitely not alone if you have ever paused while writing a sentence to decide whether to use this or these. This common mix-up usually happens when transitioning from talking about a single item to multiple items within the same conversation.
By the end of this guide, you will master the exact difference between these terms, understand the simple grammar rules governing them, and never have to second-guess your choice again.
This or These Quick Answer
The choice between “this” and “these” depends entirely on whether you are talking about one item or more than one item. Use this for a single object that is near you, and use these for multiple objects that are near you. For example, say “This book is heavy” for one book, but say “These books are heavy” for multiple books.
Which One Should You Use?
Directly choosing the correct word comes down to counting the nouns in your sentence. If you are holding one pen, looking at one problem, or describing a single event happening right now, you should use this.
If you are holding multiple pens, solving multiple problems, or talking about several events happening right now, you should switch to these. Both words point to things that are close to you in time or space, but quantity is the ultimate deciding factor.
Remember this simple rule: singular items take “this,” while plural items take “these.”
Difference Table
| Feature | This | These |
| Meaning | Refers to a single, nearby object or idea | Refers to multiple, nearby objects or ideas |
| Usage | Modifying or replacing a singular noun | Modifying or replacing a plural noun |
| Grammar | Singular demonstrative determiner/pronoun | Plural demonstrative determiner/pronoun |
| Context | Physical, temporal, or conceptual closeness (singular) | Physical, temporal, or conceptual closeness (plural) |
| Frequency | Extremely high in daily spoken and written English | Extremely high in daily spoken and written English |
| Everyday Use | “Look at this painting on the wall.” | “Look at these paintings on the wall.” |
Meaning of Word 1
Definition and Grammar Role
The word this acts as a singular demonstrative pronoun and determiner. It points out a specific person, place, thing, or idea that is close to the speaker in terms of physical distance, time, or mental focus.
Common Uses and Everyday Situations
You use this word constantly when introducing someone, showing a phone screen, or pointing to an object right in front of you. It anchors the listener’s attention to one specific focal point.
Natural Examples
- This coffee is warm and delicious.
- Can you help me carry this box upstairs?
- This is the best movie I have seen all year.
Meaning of Word 2
Definition and Grammar Role
The word these serves as the plural demonstrative pronoun and determiner. It performs the exact same pointing function as its singular counterpart, but it applies strictly to two or more items located near the speaker.
Where It Is Used
You will find this word used whenever a group of items is presented together, such as displaying a collection of items on a table or listing multiple ideas in an email.
Examples
- These apples look fresh and ready to eat.
- Please sign these documents before you leave the office.
- Are these seats taken by anyone?
Why Do People Confuse These Words?
The confusion between these two terms usually stems from fast speech and mental translation from a native language. When speaking quickly, vowels can blur together, making the distinction between the short “i” sound in “this” and the long “e” sound in “these” less distinct to a listener’s ear.
Additionally, when people think about a group of related items as a single concept, they might accidentally grab the singular form out of habit. Learning to check the noun that follows the word helps eliminate this error entirely.
Grammar Rule
Demonstrative words must always agree in number with the nouns they modify or replace. If the noun is singular, the demonstrative must be singular. If the noun is plural, the demonstrative must be plural.
| Noun Count | Demonstrative Word | Correct Example | Incorrect Example |
| Singular | This | This chair is broken. | These chair is broken. |
| Plural | These | These chairs are broken. | This chairs are broken. |
This agreement rule also applies to verbs within the sentence, shifting from “is” for singular nouns to “are” for plural nouns.
Real-Life Examples
People
- This student earned top marks on the exam.
- These students are working together on a group project.
Technology
- This smartphone has an incredible camera lens.
- These smartphones require a software update today.
Business
- This proposal outlines our marketing strategy for next quarter.
- These proposals need approval from the finance department.
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: This shoes are too tight for my feet.
✅ Correct: These shoes are too tight for my feet.
Explanation: “Shoes” is a plural noun, so it requires the plural demonstrative “these” instead of “this.”
❌ Incorrect: Can you hand me these pen on the desk?
✅ Correct: Can you hand me this pen on the desk?
Explanation: “Pen” is a singular noun, so it requires the singular demonstrative “this” instead of “these.”
Easy Memory Trick
Think of the extra letter e at the end of these as standing for “extra” items. If you have an extra item (making it two or more), you need the extra letter to use these. If you only have one item, you use the shorter word, this.
Mini Quiz
Question 1: Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- A) This flowers smell wonderful.
- B) These flowers smell wonderful.
- C) This flowers smells wonderful.
Answer: B. “Flowers” is plural, so it requires the plural word “these” and a plural verb form “smell.”
Question 2: What is the correct word to fill in the blank: “Look at _____ cute puppy running in the yard”?
- A) This
- B) These
- C) Theirs
Answer: A. “Puppy” is a single noun, so the singular word “this” is correct.
Question 3: Which option correctly matches a plural noun with its demonstrative?
- A) This computers
- B) These computer
- C) These computers
Answer: C. “These computers” correctly matches the plural demonstrative with the plural noun.
Question 4: True or False: You can use “this” when talking about multiple items if they are close to you.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B. False. “This” is strictly reserved for singular items or concepts.
Summary Table
| Situation | Correct Word | Incorrect Word |
| Pointing to one car | This car | These car |
| Pointing to multiple cars | These cars | This cars |
| Referring to a single idea | This idea | These idea |
| Referring to multiple ideas | These ideas | This ideas |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the main difference between this and these?
The primary difference is quantity. “This” refers to a single nearby item, while “these” refers to multiple nearby items.
Can “this” and “these” be used for time as well as physical objects?
Yes. You can say “this week” for the current week and “these days” to talk about the current modern period.
Do British and American English treat these words differently?
No. Both American and British English follow the exact same rules for singular and plural demonstrative pronouns.
How do “this” and “these” relate to “that” and “those”?
“This” and “these” refer to items that are close to you, whereas “that” and “those” refer to items that are farther away.
What kind of verbs follow these words?
“This” usually pairs with singular verbs like “is” or “was,” while “these” pairs with plural verbs like “are” or “were.”
Is it correct to say “these kind of things”?
In casual speech, people often say “these kind of things,” but strictly speaking, it should be “this kind of thing” or “these kinds of things” for grammatical consistency.
Conclusion
Understanding the boundary between “this” and “these” relies entirely on checking whether your noun is singular or plural. By matching the quantity of your items to the correct demonstrative word, your sentences will instantly become clearer and more accurate.
Always remember the golden rule: use “this” for one item and “these” for two or more items. Keeping this simple principle in mind will ensure your English writing stays polished and professional.
I’m Nathaniel Brooks, a writer interested in education, academic success, and lifelong learning. I enjoy researching and writing about effective study methods, student productivity, learning strategies, and ways to stay motivated during challenging academic periods. I believe students do not need complicated systems to improve; they need clear guidance, consistency, and strategies that match their goals. I write to help learners develop habits that can support them both inside and outside the classroom.
Books:
- Mastering Your Study Routine
- The Focused Learner