1 this
Pronounced:
/ˈðɪs, ðəs/
Function:
pronounInflected forms:
plural these /ˈði:z/ Meaning:
1 [count] : the person, thing, or idea that is present or near in place, time, or thought or that has just been mentioned ▪ This is my favorite T-shirt. ▪ These are my friends. ▪ Anything would be better than this. ▪ “What's this right/over here?” “It's a very rare gold coin.” ▪ Would you take a look at this, please? ▪ All of this is mine. ▪ This is the most fun I've had in years! ▪ “It will be difficult.” “This is true.” ▪ What is the meaning of this?
2 [count] : the thing that is closest to you or that is being shown to you ▪ This is silver and that is gold. ▪ This is my jacket and that's yours. ▪ Those sunglasses are nice, but I like these better. ▪ This is how you're supposed to do it.
3 [singular] : the present time ▪ We expected you to return before this. ▪ This is your last chance to ask questions before the test.
4 [singular] : the following idea : what is stated in the following sentence or phrase ▪ I can only say this: it wasn't here yesterday. ▪ How about this: you stay here while I go to the store? ▪ It's as easy as this: turn left at the first intersection and go straight. ▪ If you think that's funny, wait until you hear this! [=I will tell you another thing that is even funnier] ▪ What's this I hear about you getting engaged? [=I heard that you got engaged. Is it true?] ▪ What's all this about the Earth getting warmer?
usage When asking who you are speaking to on the phone, you use the pronouns this in U.S. English and that in British English. ▪ (US) Hello. Is this John? = (Brit) Hello. Is that John?
2 [count] : the thing that is closest to you or that is being shown to you ▪ This is silver and that is gold. ▪ This is my jacket and that's yours. ▪ Those sunglasses are nice, but I like these better. ▪ This is how you're supposed to do it.
3 [singular] : the present time ▪ We expected you to return before this. ▪ This is your last chance to ask questions before the test.
4 [singular] : the following idea : what is stated in the following sentence or phrase ▪ I can only say this: it wasn't here yesterday. ▪ How about this: you stay here while I go to the store? ▪ It's as easy as this: turn left at the first intersection and go straight. ▪ If you think that's funny, wait until you hear this! [=I will tell you another thing that is even funnier] ▪ What's this I hear about you getting engaged? [=I heard that you got engaged. Is it true?] ▪ What's all this about the Earth getting warmer?
like this —see 3like
this and that also chiefly Brit this, that, and the other
informal : several different things ▪ We started talking about this and that, and before we knew it, it had gotten late. ▪ “What have you been doing all day?” “Oh, a little bit of this and that.”
this is it
—used to say that a very important thing is about to be done, a very important event is about to happen, etc. ▪ This is it, men. Let's take home the championship! ▪ As the car skidded out of control, I thought, “This is it. I'm going to die.”