EXPRESSING - THIS / THAT/ and the OTHER - Learn English with Mr Duncan #englishaddictwithmrduncan

Today I'm going to talk about three parts of daily speech that we all use

when describing or showing the position or state of something.

Today I will tell you all  about this, that and the other.

Although this subject might sound complicated and difficult to understand,

it is in fact quite easy to explain the definitions of this and that.

First of all, the word this refers to something that has recently been mentioned.

A familiar thing or a popular topic that will often be referred to as this.

It is a thing that most people are aware of or something that is easily recognizable.

Something that is nearby or close at hand is often referred to as this.

It is the nearest thing or the most obvious object that can be seen.

The nearest thing to you that is being pointed out

will often be referred to as this.

Something that you are holding or have in your hand

will normally be referred to as this.

For example, this pen, this watch, this hat.

These objects are nearby and can clearly be seen.

This can also be used to  identify a specific person 

or thing that is being indicated or experienced.

You might refer to a person as this.

"Don't listen to this person, he doesn't know what he's talking about."

"This town has really changed over the years."

Something recently mentioned might be referred to,

especially if it is something that many people are talking about.

"This new law they are introducing will really change the way we live our lives."

The word this is a pronoun, which means it can be 

used as a way of identifying  something in a specific way.

This is the definition of this.

Then we have the word that,

which is a slightly more complex word.

Despite its seeming simplicity,

'that' is a very common word in both writing and speaking.

We use it as a determinator, (determiner) a demonstrated pronoun, and a relative pronoun.

We also use it as a conjunction to introduce 

clauses referring to that as  a determinator and pronoun.

We often use that to point to a thing or person.

We use it with singular nouns.

The single person is often  distant from the speaker 

and sometimes closer to the listener,

or not visible to either  the speaker or the listener.

"What was that?" "Did you hear that noise?"

"Don't touch that bike. It belongs to me."

A thing being pointed out or referred to at a distance is often referred to as that.

As a relative pronoun, we use that to introduce defining relative clauses.

We can use that instead of who, whom or which to refer to people, animals, and things.

It is often seen as an informal way of pointing out a living creature or a person.

It is worth noting that we are more likely to use that when referring to an animal or an object.

In many situations, it might  be seen as insulting or rude 

to describe a person as that.

"Who is that at the door?" "That is my friend."

"I really don't want to be  seen in public with that."

If we are discussing two things that are at different distances from us,

we will often refer to the nearest thing as this and the object furthest away as that.

For example, this tree and that field.

The field is much further away, so I will refer to it as that.

Quite often the distance  and location of objects will 

decide whether we describe it as this or that.

The situation you are currently in will always be described as this,

This moment, this situation, this time it is now, It is the moment being discussed.

If you want to describe the use or function of a certain thing,

we will often use the word that.

"A wheelbarrow is a very useful thing that helps you move heavy objects around the garden."

You are pointing out the use  of that particular thing.

In this case, the thing is a wheelbarrow.

Finally we have the word which is often used

when we are talking about a third thing that might be introduced,

or a second thing that is also being described or offered.

The word is other but simply  this word refers to something

that is next to, or beside the  main thing being discussed.

You might talk about the  other night or the other day.

We are not referring to now or today.

We are talking about the other day.

In this sense, it is always  a past event or moment.

"I saw you the other day in town."

Perhaps you see someone from a distance with a person you don't recognise.

You know who your friend is, but who is the other person?

The other person is there  but cannot be identified.

Other is always something else or another thing.

Something unknown is often  referred to as the other.

We often refer to the state of no longer being alive as being on the other side.

That thing is mysterious and unknown.

It is the other thing when being offered a choice of two things.

You might be asked to choose one or the other.

You can't have both.

You can only have one or the other.

So to clarify and make extra clear what I have talked about today.

This is the thing being discussed or observed closely.

That is the thing which is seen from a distance,

or from a point where it  can't be seen or observed.

And the other is whatever is added to it.

The extra thing is unknown.

It is an unknown event, something mysterious that remains in the shadow.

It is the other.