I did a parachute jump a few months ago. This event was a lot more frightening than I had anticipated.
Note that this and that are not very often used as pronouns to refer to people. When they are used like this, they are only used in front of the verb be.
‘A kind young man helped me to my seat.’ – ‘That was John.’
10.8 When you use this or these, you are linking yourself with the thing you are referring to.
After you’ve decided on your goals, make a list. Anything that is worth doing should go on this list.
Only small trees are left. Many of these are twisted and stunted.
Over 2 million animals were destroyed. The vast majority of these animals did not need to die.
In contrast, when you use that or those, you are distancing yourself slightly from the thing you are referring to.
There’s a lot of material there. You can use some of that.
There’s one boss and that boss is in France.
There were only strangers around to observe him, and not many of those.
10.9 Although this and that are singular pronouns, you can use them to refer back to a number of things or facts that have just been mentioned, instead of using a plural pronoun.
He’s got a terrible temper, but despite all this he’s very popular.
He had played rugby at school, and had briefly been a professional footballer. That was to his favour when the job came up later.
demonstratives referring to sentences
10.10 Demonstratives can also be pronouns or determiners that refer back to a whole sentence or a number of sentences.
‘You’re the new doctor, aren’t you?’ – ‘That’s right.’
‘I’ll think about it,’ said Mum. That statement was the end of most of their discussions.
I accept neither of these arguments.
Note that when these and those are pronouns referring back to a whole statement they are only used in front of the verb be.
It was hard for me to believe these were his real reasons for wanting to get rid of me.
She put her arms around him. Thanks, Ollie. Those were her last words.
previous
10.11 You can also use the adjective previous before a noun to refer back to a section of text.
As explained in the previous paragraph, the bottle needs only to be washed in cold water.
I think we can now answer the question posed at the end of the previous chapter.
above
10.12 In written English you can also refer to what you have just mentioned by using above. You can put above before or after the noun.
I have not been able to validate the above statement.
…the figures discussed in the paragraph above.
You can also use the above without a noun phrase after it.
Keep supplies of rice and spaghetti. Also, to go with the above, Parmesan cheese and tins of tomatoes.
former and latter
10.13 When you have just referred separately to two things or groups of things, you can refer to the first one as the former and the second one as the latter. These expressions are used mainly in formal written English.
It used to be said that the oil exporting countries depended on the oil importing countries just as much as the latter depended on the former.
I could do one of two things–obey him, or get my own protection. I chose the latter.
Former and latter can also be adjectives. They always go before a noun.
You have the option of one or two bedrooms. The former choice allows room for a small bathroom.
Guy had studied Greek and philosophy at Oxford and had continued to have an interest in the latter subject.
10.14 When you want to refer generally to a whole class of things like the one that has been mentioned, you can say things of this kind or things of that kind. Alternatively you can say this kind of thing or that kind of thing.
We’ll need a special new application to deal with payments, invoices, and things of that kind.
Most of us would attach a great deal of importance to considerations of this kind.
I don’t see many advantages in that kind of education.
All arts theatres have that type of problem.
If you are referring to things of two or more kinds, you use these and those in front of kinds, sorts, or types, followed by of and a noun.
Both these countries want to reduce the production of these kinds of weapons.
There are specific regulations governing these types of machines.
Outsiders aren’t supposed to make those kinds of jokes.
You can also use such to refer back to things of a type that has just been mentioned. This is explained in paragraphs 10.28 to 10.32.
time
10.15 The adverb then is used to refer back to the time that has just been mentioned or discussed.
In ancient times poetry was a real force in the world. Of course the world was different then.
place
10.16 The adverb there is used to refer back to the place that has just been mentioned.
I decided to try Newmarket. I soon found a job there.
I hurried back into the kitchen. There was nothing there.
manner
10.17 After describing a way of doing something or a way in which something happens, you can refer back to it using the adverb thus. Thus is a formal word.
Joanna was pouring the drinks. While she was thus engaged, Charles took the guests’ coats.
It not only pleased him to work with them, but the money thus earned gave him an enormous sense of importance.