Hello! This week on Ask a Teacher, we answer a question about the use of “this, that, these, those.”

大家好! 本周《名师答疑》，我们回答关于this, that, these, those用法的问题,BS(_%)W)[mH7。

Hello, please, how should I use the pronouns “this, that, these, those” beyond the notion of near or far?

你好，请问，除了表示近处或远处的事物，this, that, these, those还可以怎么用？

Thanks a lot, Odilon.

非常感谢，奥迪伦1FQvsdCmP%V8B6ECuD-。

Thank you for writing, Odilon.

谢谢你的来信，奥迪伦r&&gIW8^jd。

This is an excellent question!

这是一个很好的问题！

We know that the words “this, that, these, those” have many meanings and uses in English.

我们知道this, that, these, those在英语中有很多含义和用法kTuQ2H9oc+1ku7Z*Ai。

One meaning of “this/these” is to note someone or something is near in physical distance.

this/these的一个意思是表示某人或某物在物理距离上离说话人很近CKOo!d2(,l2WFV7bWN。

“That/those” can note someone or something that is far in physical distance.

that/those表示距离说话人较远的人或物1~d22H8~vH.d。

Here are two examples: You can say, “This book is mine” while holding it in your hand.

这里有两个例子：当你手中拿着一本书时，你可以说“这本书是我的”J!or-qf+LhP8_VjPoDQ6。

And you can say, “That book is yours” while pointing at one on the table across the room.

你也可以指着房间另一头的桌子上的一本书，说“那本书是你的”R7eY&Jl&WlvEKXz[_。

Near and far can also demonstrate time.

近和远也可以指时间概念上的远近B0,I3T!R,ln4]。

"This” can mean now or current, and “that” can mean before or earlier.

this可以指“现在”或“当下”，that可以指“以前”或“早些时候”06S|P-@sge&~]mQ%P9+N。

For example: The solar eclipse will not happen again this year.

例如：今年不会再发生日食=nyMmU[qL%zRDwmxf。

The last supermoon came in September. At that time, the moon’s orbit brought it closer than usual to Earth.

上一次的超级月亮出现在9月份OtBulY26t0.|~-kf。那时，月球的轨道使月球与地球的距离比往常更近G)y*Ain9VTv0(1X。

In the first sentence, “this” notes the current year.

在第一句话中，this表示当下的年份B9Df0JJiIG.D。

In the second sentence, “that” refers to a time in the past.

在第二句中，that指的是过去的某个时间e2n4zaERxMt8;D=;he。

We can also use “this/that” to show preference or a desirable choice.

我们也可以用this/that来表示偏好或想要的选择pRPzgeSZURiB^j。

“This” can demonstrate a more desirable choice, and “that” can demonstrate a less desirable choice.

this可以用来指一个更理想的选择，而that可以表示一个不太理想的选择)S)tqn=Uu+dq[uEqUc。

Here are two examples:

这里有两个例子：

This is my favorite restaurant.

这是我最喜欢的餐厅0ta@9%zrmlK2aj]DJezj。

That doesn’t sound very fun.

这听起来不是很有趣sx[j@vJCHFM]Pu1A。

In the first sentence, “this” shows the restaurant is the best choice, and “that” in the second sentence demonstrates the idea is not a desirable one.

在第一句中，this表明这家餐馆是最好的选择，而第二句中的that表明这个想法并不可取rW6]YfaPSU%9-tArjT。

“This/these” also has an additional use.

this/these还有一个用法OjMcZe5uJ5^。

We can use “this/these” for focus, or attention, to establish new information.

我们可以用this/these来引起听者的注意力，从而给出新的信息vHynmNx]m9Vu3。

Using “this/these” can direct the reader’s or listener’s attention to important information.

使用this/these可以将读者或听众的注意力引向重要的信息^uoFE+Z77E。

Here is an example.

这里有一个例子a)%eUdKiL*Ef。

And this is one major concern about the use of artificial intelligence: ownership.

这是对使用人工智能的一个主要担忧：所有权vCt8*wbT!Ael。

“This” directs the reader to pay attention to the new information that is coming in the sentence.

“这”引导读者关注句子中即将出现的新信息+sAxNLny~;Lqfd。

The important information in the sentence is a major concern. Ownership is the major concern.

句子中的重要信息是“主要担忧”，而这个担忧是所有权Utz7&#dTfps。

Please let us know if this explanation has helped you, Odilon.

请让我们知道这些解释是否对你有帮助，奥迪伦ZHiaALL(fcbN_0ejpsx.。

And that’s Ask a Teacher.

以上就是《名师答疑》*6IQji^IK#o92yIN.。

I’m Gena Bennett.

我是吉娜·班尼特@bIv5RKo|_W|PJ。