Cool MateIT vs That vs This
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
IT
FormalTop 1,000 (very common)A1pronoun
That
High-frequency chunkA1determiner
This
High-frequency chunkA1
Most formal: IT
| IT | That | This | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðæt/","/ðəʊz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðæt/","/ðəʊz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ðɪs/","/ðiːz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ðɪs/","/ðiːz/"]/ |
| Meaning | Information Technology, the use of computers and technology to manage information. | used to refer to a specific thing or person | Used to refer to something nearby or just mentioned. |
| Example | I found a book. It was really interesting! | Look at that man over there. | This is my favorite book. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | High-frequency chunk | High-frequency chunk |
| CEFR level | A1 | A1 | A1 |
| Part of speech | pronoun | determiner | |
| Collocations | IT department, IT support, IT services, IT infrastructure | that is, that way, that means, not that, that much | this time, this week, this way |
| Antonyms | you, we | this | that |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'its' or 'it's', Used in informal contexts where a specific technology term is more appropriate, Assuming 'IT' refers only to hardware, not software or services | Confusing 'that' with 'which' in restrictive vs non-restrictive clauses., Using 'that' when the antecedent is a person (use 'who')., Overusing 'that' in sentences, which can make them awkward. | Using 'this' for objects that are not close., Confusing 'this' with 'these' (plural)., Using 'this' as a standalone response without context. |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in business and academic contexts; not typically used in casual conversations. Avoid using 'IT' when referring to something else without context. | Used to refer to something already mentioned or known. In spoken English, it's often used informally. Be careful not to use it in overly formal writing where specificity is needed. | Used in both spoken and written English. When referring to something far away, use 'that' instead of 'this'. |
Frequently asked questions: IT vs That vs This
What's the difference between IT, That, and This?
IT: Information Technology, the use of computers and technology to manage information. That: used to refer to a specific thing or person This: Used to refer to something nearby or just mentioned.
Which is more formal: IT, That, and This?
IT is the most formal of these.
Are IT, That, and This the same CEFR level?
IT: A1, That: A1, This: A1 on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
IT: I found a book. It was really interesting! That: Look at that man over there. This: This is my favorite book.
Can I use IT, That, and This interchangeably?
Not always. IT, That, and This are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.