1. that和those可替代前面出现的名词以避免重复,而this和these不能。如:
The weather of Guangzhou is better than that of Beijing.广州的天气比北京的天气好。
The books here are more interesting than those on the desk.这边的这些书比桌上的那些书更有趣。
2. that和those可作定语从句的先行词,但this和 these不能;其中those可指人,但that不能。如:
He admired that which looked beautiful.他赞赏那件外表漂亮的东西。
He admired those which looked beautiful.他赞赏那些外表漂亮的东西。
He admired those who looked beautiful他赞赏那些外表漂亮的人。
3. this, these是时间或空间上的“近指”,可与here连用;that, those是时间或空间上的“远指”,可与there连用。
4. 指上文提到的事一般用that,有时也用this,指下文的事只能用this。如:
How to deal with it, that/this is the question.如何处理此事,这就是问题所在。
This is the question, how to deal with it.这是个问题:如何处理此事。(不能用that)
5. 打电话时,用this来介绍自己,用that来问对方是谁,不用I或you。如:
-Who’s that?-This is Mary speaking.―你是哪位?―我是玛丽。