This or that?

[Rachel Adams]

When showing someone a picture of an object what is the correct way of asking your question: "What do you call this?" or "What do you call that"?

For example: what do you call this/that in English?

 

[5jj]

If you are holding the picture, you are far more likely to use this.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

And if you're pointing at something, you're more likely to say that.

In American English, we even have the redundant expressions this here and that there:

- Do like this here hat?
- Where did you get that there hat?

But those are bad English. Don't use them yourself!

 

[5jj]

In American English, we even have the redundant expressions this here and that there:

They are not unknown in BrE.

 

[Rachel Adams]

If you are holding the picture, you are far more likely to use this.

But if I am showing a picture on a social media website as in showing the picture in my first post and and asking: "what do you call this in English?" Should it be "this" or "that"?

 

[Rachel Adams]

And if you're pointing at something, you're more likely to say that.

Even if the object or the person is near?

 

[5jj]

Even if the object or the person is near?

If you are pointing at it/them, you'd be more likely to use that, as Charlie said.

 

[5jj]

But if I am showing a picture on a social media website as in showing the picture in my first post and and asking: "what do you call this in English?" Should it be "this" or "that"?

This.

 

[Rachel Adams]

If you are pointing at it/them, you'd be more likely to use that, as Charlie said.

I think I don't remember the exact example where I used "this" incorrectly, but it was a similar context. The idea was that native speakers use "that" even if the object they are poiting to is near them. For example: A friend of mine is standing near me, looks at my bracelet and asks "what's that?" not "this." Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[5jj]

When I was at school decades ago, the rule was that we used this for things one foot seven and three quarters inches away or less, and that for things farther away. We schoolboys used to carry a tape measure in our left-hand blazer pocket so that we could measure the distance if we were unsure. This was important, because we would be caned if we used the wrong word.

We are a little more flexible these days.

 

[Tdol]

But if I am showing a picture on a social media website as in showing the picture in my first post and and asking: "what do you call this in English?" Should it be "this" or "that"?

I'd use this in your first post.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I think I don't remember the exact example where I used "this" incorrectly, but it was a similar context. The idea was that native speakers use "that" even if the object they are poiting to is near them. For example: A friend of mine is standing near me, looks at my bracelet and asks "what's that?" not "this." Please correct me if I am wrong.

Your friend could have said "this" or "that." It makes no difference whatsoever. Both are natural and correct in that context.

In the context of near vesus far, it's hard to use either incorrectly. There's no right or wrong. We just tend to say "this" when something is nearer and "that" when it's farther. There's no particular distance that separates this from that. It's entirely up to you.

 

[jutfrank]

But if I am showing a picture on a social media website as in showing the picture in my first post and and asking: "what do you call this in English?" Should it be "this" or "that"?

In this case, use this. A general rule for you is this: when you're presenting something to someone, use this.

Even if the object or the person is near?

You seem to have the idea that this is for near things and that is for far things. That's not right.

If you're pointing at something, use that. It doesn't matter how near it is, as long as you're not actually touching it. If you are touching it, use this.

 

[Rachel Adams]

In this case, use this. A general rule for you is this: when you're presenting something to someone, use this.



You seem to have the idea that this is for near things and that is for far things. That's not right.

Yes, you are right. That's because this is how the difference is explained in books. I googled "this" and "that" the difference and found this:

 

[emsr2d2]

In the context of posts here, I'd use "this" when the question comes before the image and "that" if it comes after. Here are two ways of laying out such a post:

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

What do you call this in English?



********************************************************************************************************************************************************************



What do you call that in English?

 

[Rachel Adams]

In the context of posts here, I'd use "this" when the question comes before the image and "that" if it comes after. Here are two ways of laying out such a post:

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

What do you call this in English?

View attachment 3984

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

View attachment 3984

What do you call that in English?

Thank you! But why do most books explain the difference this way:
Use this is for near things and that is for far things?

 

[jutfrank]

I googled "this" and "that" the difference and found this:

View attachment 3983

Then you should be a lot more careful with how you do your googling, and which sources you select.

But why do most books explain the difference this way:
Use this is for near things and that is for far things?

It's not true that most books explain it that way. It may just be that you're using very poor books.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Then you should be a lot more careful with how you do your googling, and which sources you select.



It's not true that most books explain it that way. It may just be that you're using very poor books.

"Practical English Usage" by Michael Swan explains it in the same way: "We use this/these for people abd things which are close to the speaker. We use "that/those for people and things which are more distant from the speaker, or not present."

 

[emsr2d2]

In certain situations, that's true.

Let's say you're at party and you're standing with two people, one of whom you don't know. You might say to the person you do know "And who's this?", indicating the other person standing with you (maybe you don't want to ask him/her directly "Who are you?")
At the same party, you see someone standing on the other side of the room. You tap the person next to you on the shoulder, point at the unknown person and say "Who's that?"

 

[Glizdka]

Not a teacher
------
Sorry for the interruption. I'd just like to ask if my use of this that is correct.

A: What do you call this?
B: We call this an alligator.
A: Why do you call this that?
B: Because it was called el lagarto in Spanish.