The difference between That and This
When used as determiners, that means the (thing, person, idea, etc) indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote physically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "", or if expressing distinction, whereas this means the (thing) here .
When used as nouns, that means something being indicated that is there, whereas this means something being indicated that is here.
When used as pronouns, that means the thing, person, idea, quality, event, action or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "", or if expressing distinction, whereas this means the thing, item, etc. being indicated.
When used as adverbs, that means to a given extent or degree, whereas this means to the degree or extent indicated.
check bellow for the other definitions of That and This
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That as a pronoun (demonstrative):
The thing, person, idea, quality, event, action or time indicated or understood from context, especially if more remote geographically, temporally or mentally than one designated as "", or if expressing distinction.
Examples:
"He went home, and after that I never saw him again."
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That as a pronoun:
The known (thing); .
Examples:
"They're getting divorced. What do you think about ''that''?"
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That as a pronoun (demonstrative):
The aforementioned quality; .
Examples:
"The water is so cold! — That it is."
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That as a pronoun (relative):
(plural that) Which, who; .
Examples:
"The CPR course that she took really came in handy."
"The house that he lived in was old and dilapidated."
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That as a pronoun (colloquial):
Examples:
"the place that [= where or to which] I went last year"
"the last time that [= when] I went to Europe"
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That as an adverb (degree):
To a given extent or degree.
Examples:
"The ribbon was that thin." "I disagree, I say it was not that thin, it was thicker... or maybe thinner..."
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That as an adverb (degree):
To a great extent or degree; very, particularly .
Examples:
"I'm just not that sick."
"I did the run last year, and it wasn't that difficult."
"synonyms: so"
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That as an adverb (obsolete, outside, dialects):
To such an extent; so. .
Examples:
"Ooh, I was that happy I nearly kissed her."
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That as a noun (philosophy):
Something being indicated that is there; one of those.
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This as an adverb:
To the degree or extent indicated.
Examples:
"I need this much water."
"Do we need this many recommendations?"
"We've already come this far, we can't turn back now."
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This as a pronoun:
The thing, item, etc. being indicated.
Examples:
"This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune,—often the surfeit of our own behaviour,—we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon, and the stars...'' — Shakespeare, ''King Lear'', [http://en.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=The_Tragedy_of_King_Lear&action=edit§ion=4 Act 1. Scene 2.]"
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This as a noun (philosophy):
Something being indicated that is here; one of these.