What Does “This” Mean? A Simple Guide to Understanding “This”

The word “this” is one of the most common words in English, but its meaning can change depending on the sentence and situation. “This” usually refers to a person, thing, idea, place, event, or situation that is close to the speaker or is currently being discussed. For example, in “What does this mean?” the word “this” points to something the speaker wants the listener to identify or explain.

Understanding how “this” works can make everyday English much easier. It is commonly used in conversations, questions, writing, instructions, and explanations.

Quick Answer: What Does “This” Mean?

“This” means a particular person, thing, idea, or situation that is close to the speaker, close in time, or currently being discussed.

Examples:

• What does this mean? → What does this word, sentence, sign, or idea mean?
• This is my book. → The book near me or the book I am identifying is mine.
• I like this. → I like the thing, idea, or situation being referred to.
• This morning was busy. → The morning happening today is being discussed.

“This” is also a demonstrative word. It helps us identify exactly what we are talking about.

What Is the Basic Meaning of “This”?

“This” is used when someone wants to point to or identify something.

The thing being identified can be physical:

This phone is new.

Here, “this” identifies a particular phone, usually one that is close to the speaker.

However, “this” does not always refer to a physical object. It can also refer to an idea, experience, statement, or situation.

This is a good idea.

In this sentence, “this” refers to the idea that was just mentioned or shown.

That is why the meaning of “this” depends heavily on context.

Is “This” Singular or Plural?

“This” is normally used with singular nouns or uncountable nouns.

Singular	Plural
this book	these books
this car	these cars
this idea	these ideas
this problem	these problems
this student	these students

For example:

• This book is interesting.
• These books are interesting.

The plural form of “this” is “these.”

Similarly, “that” becomes “those” when referring to plural things.

What Is the Difference Between “This” and “That”?

The main difference is often based on distance or context.

This generally points to something closer to the speaker.

That generally points to something farther away or less immediate.

For example:

This bag is mine.

You may be holding the bag or have it beside you.

That bag is yours.

The bag may be farther away.

However, English speakers also use “this” and “that” for ideas and situations, so physical distance is not always involved.

This vs. That

Word	Common meaning	Example
This	Something close or immediate	This chair is comfortable.
That	Something farther away or less immediate	That chair looks comfortable.
These	Multiple things close or immediate	These shoes are new.
Those	Multiple things farther away	Those shoes are expensive.

What Does “This” Mean in “What Does This Mean?”

The phrase “What does this mean?” is a very common English question.

In this expression, “this” refers to something that the speaker wants explained.

It could be:

• A word
• A sentence
• A message
• A symbol
• A gesture
• A situation
• A rule
• A sign
• A phrase
• An unfamiliar expression

For example, if someone sees the word “curious” and asks:

What does this mean?

They are asking for the meaning of “curious.”

Similarly, if someone receives a confusing text message and asks:

What does this mean?

They may be asking for an explanation of the sender’s message or intention.

What Does “This” Mean in a Sentence?

“This” can perform different grammatical roles.

1. “This” as a Determiner

“This” can come before a noun.

This car is fast.

Here, “this” tells us which car is being discussed.

More examples:

• This house is beautiful.
• This question is difficult.
• This problem needs attention.
• This movie is funny.

2. “This” as a Pronoun

“This” can stand alone without a noun.

What is this?

Here, “this” replaces the name of the thing being identified.

Other examples:

• This is delicious.
• This belongs to me.
• This looks interesting.
• This is what I wanted.

3. “This” for an Idea or Situation

“This” can refer to something that is not a physical object.

This is difficult.

“This” could refer to a task, situation, problem, or experience.

Another example:

I can’t believe this!

Here, “this” might refer to an unexpected event or situation.

What Does “This” Mean in Everyday Conversation?

In conversation, “this” is extremely flexible.

Someone might say:

Listen to this.

The speaker is about to share information, a story, joke, message, or piece of news.

Another person might say:

Look at this!

Here, “this” could refer to something visible, such as a picture, object, screen, or document.

Someone might also say:

I don’t understand this.

In this case, “this” could refer to a lesson, problem, instruction, conversation, or idea.

So, when you hear “this,” you should look at the surrounding context to understand exactly what it refers to.

What Does “This” Mean in Text Messages?

In texting and online conversations, “this” often refers to something that has just been sent or mentioned.

For example:

Friend: Sends a screenshot.
You: What does this mean?

Here, “this” means the screenshot or the information shown in it.

Another example:

I don’t understand this message.

“This” refers to the message.

On social media, people may also use:

This!

This can mean “I strongly agree with this” or “This expresses exactly what I think.”

For example:

“We all need more sleep.”
“This!”

The second person is strongly agreeing with the statement.

Common Expressions Using “This”

“This” appears in many everyday expressions.

“What is this?”

Used when asking what something is.

What is this? I’ve never seen it before.

“What does this mean?”

Used when asking for an explanation.

What does this word mean?

“This is it.”

Can mean that something is the correct thing, final result, or desired choice.

This is it! We finally found the answer.

“This is why…”

Used to explain a reason.

This is why I called you.

“This is how…”

Used to explain a method.

This is how you open the door.

“Listen to this.”

Used before sharing information or a story.

Listen to this. You won’t believe what happened.

“Look at this.”

Used to direct someone’s attention.

Look at this picture.

“This” Can Refer to Time

“This” is also commonly used with time expressions.

Examples include:

• This morning
• This afternoon
• This evening
• This week
• This month
• This year
• This weekend

For example:

I have an appointment this afternoon.

Here, “this” refers to the current or relevant afternoon.

Similarly:

I started my job this year.

“This year” means the year that includes the current date.

“This” Can Refer to Something Already Mentioned

“This” can point backward to information that has already been discussed.

For example:

Sarah missed the bus and arrived late. This caused a problem at work.

Here, “this” refers to the situation of Sarah missing the bus and arriving late.

“This” can therefore help connect ideas and make writing smoother.

“This” Can Also Introduce Something New

Interestingly, “this” can sometimes point forward to information that has not yet been explained.

For example:

Remember this: always check your work before submitting it.

The word “this” introduces the advice that follows.

Another example:

I have one important thing to tell you: this is your final opportunity.

Here, “this” helps focus attention on the information that follows.

Common Mistakes With “This”

Although “this” is simple, learners sometimes use it incorrectly.

Mistake 1: Using “This” With a Plural Noun

Incorrect:

This books are expensive.

Correct:

These books are expensive.

Use “this” with singular nouns and “these” with plural nouns.

Mistake 2: Confusing “This” and “That”

Incorrect usage is not always grammatically wrong, but the intended distance or context can become unclear.

Compare:

This house is beautiful.

and

That house is beautiful.

The first generally suggests a closer or more immediate house, while the second suggests a house farther away or less immediate.

Mistake 3: Forgetting Context

If someone says:

I don’t like this.

You may not know what “this” means without seeing the situation.

“This” depends on context. It can refer to an object, idea, action, message, or situation.

Practical Tips for Understanding “This”

When you see or hear “this,” ask yourself three simple questions:

1. What Is the Speaker Pointing To?

Is “this” referring to an object, person, picture, message, or document?

2. What Was Just Mentioned?

Sometimes “this” refers to the previous sentence or idea.

3. What Comes Next?

In some sentences, “this” introduces information that appears afterward.

These three questions can usually help you understand the intended meaning.

Examples of “This” in Different Situations

Situation	Example	Meaning of “This”
Object	This phone is expensive.	A particular nearby phone
Question	What does this mean?	Something needing explanation
Idea	This is a great idea.	The idea being discussed
Time	This week is busy.	The current week
Situation	I can’t handle this.	The current situation
Message	What does this text mean?	The text message
Agreement	This is exactly right.	The statement or idea
Instruction	This is how you do it.	The method being explained

FAQs:

What does “this” mean in English?

“This” is used to identify a particular person, thing, idea, or situation that is close, immediate, or currently being discussed.

Is “this” a pronoun?

Yes. “This” can function as a pronoun when it stands alone, as in “This is mine.” It can also function as a determiner before a noun, as in “This book is mine.”

What is the plural of “this”?

The plural form of “this” is “these.” For example, “this book” becomes “these books.”

What is the difference between “this” and “that”?

“This” generally refers to something closer or more immediate, while “that” often refers to something farther away or less immediate. Context can affect the distinction.

What does “this” mean in “What does this mean?”

It means the particular word, phrase, sentence, object, message, idea, or situation that the speaker wants explained.

Can “this” refer to an idea?

Yes. “This” frequently refers to abstract ideas, opinions, events, or situations. For example, “This is a serious problem.”

Can “this” refer to time?

Yes. Expressions such as “this morning,” “this week,” “this month,” and “this year” refer to the current or relevant period.

Why does “this” have different meanings?

“This” is a context-dependent word. Its basic function is to identify something, but the specific thing it identifies changes according to the conversation or sentence.

Conclusion

The word “this” is a versatile English word used to identify something close, immediate, current, or already being discussed. It can refer to physical objects, ideas, situations, messages, events, and periods of time. Understanding the surrounding context is the key to knowing exactly what “this” refers to.

Remember that “this” is generally singular, while “these” is plural. Once you understand how “this” works with nouns, pronouns, questions, conversations, and time expressions, phrases such as “What does this mean?” and “This is my book” become much easier to understand and use correctly.