(1)this常常用来指在时间、地点上更接近讲话人的人和事,these是this的复数形式。that常常用来指在时间、地点上离讲话人更远一点的人和事,those时that的复数形式。例如:You look in this box and I’ll look in that one over there.你看看这个盒子,我去看那边的那个盒子。
I want this car, not that car. 我想要这辆小汽车,不是那一辆。
Take these books to his room, please. 请把这些书拿到他房间去。
This is mine; that’s yours. 这个是我的,那个是你的。
These are apples; those are oranges. 这些是苹果,那些是橘子。
(2)在打电话的用语中,this常常指的是我,that常常指的是对方。例如:
This is Mary speaking. Who’s that? 我是玛丽。你是谁?