Quick Ans: This is used with singular nouns and things that are close to the speaker, while these is used with plural nouns that are also close to the speaker.
Have you ever stopped while writing a sentence and wondered whether you should use this or these? You’re certainly not alone. This is one of the most common grammar questions among English learners because both words point to people, objects, ideas, or situations that are nearby. Although they look similar, using the wrong one can make a sentence sound awkward or grammatically incorrect.
The good news is that the difference between this and these is actually very simple once you understand one basic grammar rule. The trick is knowing whether the noun is singular or plural.
In this complete guide, you’ll learn the difference between this or these, understand the grammar rules, discover common mistakes, compare both words side by side, and see dozens of real-life examples that make the concept easy to remember. By the end of this article, you’ll never confuse this and these again.
This or These: Which One Is Correct?
Both this and these are correct English words.
The correct choice depends on how many people or things you’re talking about.
- Use this for one person, one object, one idea, or one place that is close to you.
- Use these for two or more people, objects, ideas, or places that are close to you.
| Word | Use With | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular noun | One | This book is interesting. |
| These | Plural noun | More than one | These books are interesting. |
Understanding this simple rule will help you avoid one of the most common English grammar mistakes.
What Does “This” Mean?
This is a demonstrative determiner and demonstrative pronoun. It refers to one person, object, animal, place, or idea that is near the speaker.
Examples of “This”
- This phone belongs to me.
- This chair is comfortable.
- This cake tastes delicious.
- This lesson is easy.
- This movie is worth watching.
- This answer is correct.
- This road leads to the airport.
- This flower smells wonderful.
In every example above, only one thing is being discussed.
What Does “These” Mean?
These is the plural form of this.
It refers to two or more people, objects, places, or ideas that are near the speaker.
Examples of “These”
- These books are new.
- These shoes fit perfectly.
- These flowers smell amazing.
- These cookies are delicious.
- These students passed the exam.
- These laptops are expensive.
- These apples are fresh.
- These questions are important.
Each sentence refers to more than one item.
The Main Difference Between This and These
The easiest way to remember the difference is to focus on number.
| Feature | This | These |
| Number | Singular | Plural |
| Used For | One thing | More than one thing |
| Distance | Near | Near |
| Example | This car | These cars |
Remember:
- One = This
- More than one = These
Grammar Rule: When to Use This
Use this before a singular noun.
Correct Examples
- This pen is mine.
- This computer works perfectly.
- This sandwich tastes great.
- This room is clean.
- This child is very intelligent.
Incorrect Examples
❌ This books are expensive.
✅ These books are expensive.
❌ This shoes are dirty.
✅ These shoes are dirty.
The noun after this must always be singular.
Grammar Rule: When to Use These
Use these before plural nouns.
Correct Examples
- These chairs are comfortable.
- These phones are expensive.
- These birds are beautiful.
- These lessons are useful.
- These flowers are colorful.
Incorrect Examples
❌ These book is mine.
✅ This book is mine.
❌ These apple is fresh.
✅ This apple is fresh.
Why Do People Confuse This and These?
Many learners know the meanings but forget to check whether the noun is singular or plural.
For example:
❌ This shoes look nice.
The sentence is incorrect because shoes is plural.
Correct sentence:
✅ These shoes look nice.
Another example:
❌ These pencil is mine.
Correct version:
✅ This pencil is mine.
Simply checking the noun can prevent most mistakes.
Everyday Examples of This
Here are more examples using this naturally.
- This restaurant serves amazing food.
- This phone has a great camera.
- This assignment is difficult.
- This dress looks beautiful.
- This house was built recently.
- This cup is empty.
- This picture reminds me of my childhood.
- This machine saves time.
- This road is under construction.
- This opportunity should not be missed.
Everyday Examples of These
Here are examples using these correctly.
- These restaurants are always busy.
- These phones have excellent cameras.
- These assignments are challenging.
- These dresses are beautiful.
- These houses were built last year.
- These cups are clean.
- These pictures tell a story.
- These machines improve productivity.
- These roads need repairs.
- These opportunities don’t come often.
Common Mistakes with This and These
Many writers accidentally mix singular and plural nouns.
Mistake 1
❌ This apples are sweet.
✅ These apples are sweet.
Mistake 2
❌ These orange is fresh.
✅ This orange is fresh.
Mistake 3
❌ This people are friendly.
✅ These people are friendly.
Mistake 4
❌ These car belongs to me.
✅ This car belongs to me.
This vs These in Questions
You can also use these words while asking questions.
This
- Is this your bag?
- Is this seat available?
- Is this your phone?
These
- Are these your keys?
- Are these your glasses?
- Are these your documents?
Notice that this usually goes with is, while these usually goes with are.
This vs These in Everyday Conversation
Native English speakers use these words constantly.
Examples:
Person A: Is this your laptop?
Person B: Yes, this is mine.
Person A: Are these your notebooks?
Person B: Yes, these are my notebooks.
Learning these natural patterns makes speaking English much easier.
Easy Trick to Remember the Difference
Here’s a simple memory trick:
This = One
These = Many
Think about the last letter.
This ends with “s”, but it still refers to one thing.
These has an extra “e”, making it longer—just like it refers to more than one item.
Even easier:
One Thing = This ✅
Many Things = These ✅
Quick Comparison
| Situation | Correct Word |
| One book | This |
| Two books | These |
| One child | This |
| Five children | These |
| One apple | This |
| Several apples | These |
| One computer | This |
| Multiple computers | These |
Remember: If you’re choosing between this or these, first ask yourself one question: Am I talking about one thing or more than one? Your answer will immediately tell you which word to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it this or these books?
The correct phrase is these books because books is plural.
Is it this or these car?
The correct phrase is this car because car is singular.
Can this and these both be correct?
Yes. Both words are correct, but they are used in different situations depending on whether the noun is singular or plural.
Is “this people” correct?
No. The correct phrase is these people because people is a plural noun.
Is “these information” correct?
No. Information is an uncountable noun, so you should say this information.
Conclusion
Choosing between this or these becomes easy once you remember one simple grammar rule. Use this with singular nouns and these with plural nouns. Both words refer to things that are close to the speaker, but the number of nouns determines which one is correct.
Whenever you’re unsure, look at the noun first. If it’s one person or one object, use this. If it’s two or more, use these. Following this simple rule will make your English writing and speaking more accurate, natural, and professional.
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Grace Morgan is a professional content writer and researcher with a passion for creating clear, engaging, and informative content. She specializes in technology, business, lifestyle, and digital trends, helping readers understand complex topics through well-researched and easy-to-read articles.
