โTheseโ and โthoseโ are two plural words that are commonly used by English speakers all over the world. Both pronouns cannot be interchanged for one other but must be used differently.
Therefore, it is important to be able to distinguish between the two so that mistakes can be avoided.
Key Takeaways
- These refer to items that are near the speaker or the subject being discussed, while those refer to items that are farther away.
- โTheseโ is a demonstrative pronoun used as a substitute for a noun, while โthoseโ is a demonstrative adjective that modifies a noun.
- These can also refer to a group of people or things, while those are generally used to refer to a specific set of people or things that have already been mentioned.
These vs Those
Theseโ is used to refer to objects or people close to the speaker, either physically or conceptually. These are the books I need to return to the libraryโ is used when the speaker is close to the speaker. โThoseโ is used to refer to objects or people that are further away from the speaker, either physically or conceptually.

The term โtheseโ is a demonstrative adjective. This means it is used to indicate something or someone being spoken about. By doing so, they can be distinguished from others.
The word โtheseโ is used to refer to something in the first or second person. The object that is being spoken about is either near the speaker or near the addressee.
The term โthoseโ is a demonstrative adjective as well. However, it differs from โtheseโ because it is spoken in the third person.
This means that the object in question is placed far from the speaker as well as the addressee. Unlike โthese,โ which is a proximal demonstrative, โthoseโ is a distal demonstrative.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | These | Those |
---|---|---|
Plural | โTheseโ is the plural form of โThis.โ | โThoseโ is the plural form of โThose.โ |
Distance | The word is used to refer to something nearby in terms of space and time. | The word is used to refer to something that is far in terms of space and time. |
Type of Demonstrative | โTheseโ is a proximal demonstrative. | โThoseโ is a distal demonstrative. |
Perspective | โTheseโ is spoken in the first person (near the speaker) or in the second person (near the addressee). | โThoseโ is spoken in the third person (far from the speaker and the addressee). |
Intuition | โTheseโ is generally used when the speaker feels positive about the entity. | โThoseโ is generally used when the speaker feels negative about the entity. |
Usage | โTheseโ can be used to introduce someone. | โThoseโ cannot be used to introduce someone. |
What is โTheseโ?
The term โTheseโ is a proximal demonstrative that is used to refer to an entity in the first or second person. The entity in question is placed near the speaker or the addressee who are conversing.
The โnearnessโ of the entity can be in terms of space as well as time. This means that โtheseโ can be used when someone or something is placed nearby in the present.
It can also be used to refer to someone or something that was just being spoken about.
Along with being a demonstrative adjective, the term โtheseโ is also a pronoun. This means that it is used to replace a noun. It can be used in a sentence when the speaker is introducing someone or something to the addressee.
The term is generally used when the speaker has a positive feeling about the entity in question.
Some examples of โtheseโ when used in a sentence are โ
โThese pictures are very beautiful, arenโt they?โ
โMistakes like these will not be overlooked from next time onwards.โ
โIt is a miracle that he woke up from a coma after all these years.โ
โI wonder if he knows where these people came from.โ
โPut these flowers in the vase before they spoil.โ
What is Those?
The term โthoseโ is a distal demonstrative that is used to refer to an entity in the third person. The entity in question is placed far from the speaker as well as the addressee.
The distance of the entity can be in terms of space or time. This means that โthoseโ can be used to refer to a person or thing that is placed at a considerable distance in the present.
It can also be used to refer to someone or something that was being spoken about previously.ย
โThoseโ is also a pronoun that replaces nouns in a sentence. It is the plural form of the word โthat.โ However, unlike โthese,โ โthoseโ cannot be used in a sentence when the speaker is introducing someone to the addressee.
The term โthoseโ is generally used when the speaker refers to something he does not approve of or has a negative feeling about it.
Examples of โthoseโ when used in a sentence are โ
โThose flowers need to be kept in a vase before they spoil.โ
โThose people standing at the bus stop seemed very impatient.โ
โThose orders that I had made have not been delivered yet.โ
โThose boys are always up to something.โ
Main Differences Between These and Those
- โTheseโ is the plural form of โthisโ whereas โthoseโ is the plural form of โthat.โ
- โTheseโ refers to an entity that is nearby in terms of space and time, whereas โthoseโ refers to an entity that is far.
- โTheseโ is a proximal demonstrative, whereas โthoseโ is a distal demonstrative.
- โTheseโ is spoken in the first or second person, whereas โthoseโ is spoken in the third person.
- โTheseโ is generally used with a positive connotation, whereas โthoseโ is generally used with a negative connotation.
- โTheseโ can be used to introduce someone, whereas โthoseโ cannot.


Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.