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Demonstrative Pronouns - This and That

We use "This" and "That" when we talk about certain people or things and quite often we point towards them. We use them for singular item only (one thing or person). 

We use this when we talk about something that is close to us. 

We use that when we talk about something that is further away from us. 

You use them together with the verb "to be" - this is and that is

Positive sentences:

• This is a car.
• That is my book.

Questions.

We form questions by inversion, i.e. changing the position of the verb.

• Is this a postbox?
• Is that my dress?

Negative sentences:

We form negative sentences by adding "not" to the verb "to be"

• This is not my house.     or       This isn't my house.
• That is not a TV set.      or       That isn't a TV set.

When you answer you can either reply with full sentence:

• Yes, this is my dog.
• No, this isn't a rocket.
• Yes, that is my shoe.
• No, that isn't his cat.

or in a short form using a pronoun it: 

• "Is this a wardrobe?" "Yes, it is" or "No, it isn't."
• "Is that a castle?" "Yes, it is" or "No, it isn't"

We use  this and that with pronouns Who and What:

• "Who is this?"     "This is Tom Smith"
• "Who is that?"     " That's Lucy Davies"
• "What is this?"     " This is a flower"
• "What's that?"      "That's a car."

that - something that has happened:

• "I'm sorry, I forgot to phone you".    "That's all right"
• That was a really nice meal. Thank you very much."

that - what somebody has just said:

• "You're a teacher, aren't you?"   "Yes, that's right."
• "Martin has got a new job".   "Has he? I didn't know that."

We use this is.... and is that.... ?  on the phone:

• Hi Sarah, this is David.  (this = the speaker)
• Is that Sarah? (that = the other person)

We use this is... to introduce people:

• Brian, this is Chris.
• Hello, Chris - nice to meet you.

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EXERCISES:

1. Write positive sentences:

1. this / a book / that / a newspaper _____________________________
2. that / a dog / that / a cat _____________________________
3. this / a plane / that / a ship ____________________________
4. that / a table / this / a chair _____________________________
5. this / an apple / that / a pear ______________________________

2. Write questions and full answers:

1. (this / a car) __________  Yes, _______________
2. (that / a dog) ____________ No, 
3. (that / a knife) ______________ Yes, ______________
4. (this / a bridge) ________________ No, ____________
5. (that / a doll) ________________ Yes, _______________

3. Write questions and answers:

1. Who / that  ___________________?   (Mr Jones) ___________________
2. What / this ___________________?   (a watch) _____________________
3. Who / this ____________________?  (Bill) ______________________
4. What / that ____________________? (a lizard) _____________________
5. Who / that ____________________? (my neighbour) ___________________

4. Write short answers to the questions:

1. "Is this a carpet?"          Yes, ____________     No, _______________
2. "Is that an envelope?"   Yes, ____________     No, _______________
3. "Is this Harry?"               Yes, ____________     No, _______________
4. "Is this your seat"           Yes, ____________     No, _______________
5. "Is that a teddy bear?"  Yes, ____________     No, _______________

1. 

1. This is a book and that is a newspaper
2. That is a dog and that is a cat.
3. This is a plane and that is a ship
4. That is a table and this is a chair.
5. This is an apple and that is a pear.

2. 

1. Is this a car? Yes, this is a car.
2. Is that a dog? No, that isn't a dog.
3. Is that a knife? Yes, that is a knife.
4. Is this a bridge? No, this isn't a bridge.
5. Is that a doll? Yes, that is a doll

3.

1. Who is that? That's Mr Jones.
2. What is this? This is a watch.
3. Who is this? This is Bill.
4. What is that? That is a lizard.
5. Who is that? That is my neighbour.

4.

1. Yes, it is.       No, it isn't.
2. Yes, it is.       No, it isn't.
3. Yes, it is.       No, it isn't.
4. Yes, it is.       No, it isn't.
5. Yes, it is.       No, it isn't.

Sources: 
Gramatyka dla gimnazjum i liceum by Maciej Matasek
Essential Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy