this

this

1. Though a less complex word than that (it is not a conjunction or a relative pronoun, to begin with), this has three distinct roles:

demonstrative pronoun

: This is what I mean

demonstrative adjective

: Would you like a glass of this wine?

demonstrative adverb

: The show is not usually this good

2. As a demonstrative pronoun and adjective, this normally refers to something or someone either present or being thought of at the time of speaking: What had I done to deserve this? / Did you leave this book behind? It can also refer back to an immediately preceding statement when no single word can be identified as the antecedent: Should governments do more, or ought this to be left to the private sector? When contrasted with that, this refers to the one immediately in mind, whereas that refers to the one mentioned before or known previously.

3. In conversation, this is used informally to identify a person or thing even though they have not been previously mentioned:

• He was this friendly guy, sorta cute, affable as the day is long —weblog, BrE 2003 [OEC].

Although frowned on by some language purists, this use is idiomatic in more casual discourse.

4. When used informally as a demonstrative adverb, this has a more specific reference to immediate experience than does the corresponding use of that:

• Keep in mind, however, that no existing property is this typical —Real Estate Review, 1972.