FluencyLab
GrammarHub
Use this when you introduce, identify, show, or point to one thing or person. Use it when you refer back to something already known.
Overview
Use this when you introduce, identify, show, or point to one thing or person. Use it when you refer back to something already known.
Form and rules
Use this to identify or introduce a nearby thing: This is my bag.
Use this when introducing a person: This is my friend Rosa.
Use it to refer back to a singular thing already mentioned: I bought a phone. It is new.
On the phone, use This is + name to identify yourself: Hi, this is Marco.
Do not normally use it to introduce a person face-to-face: say This is Ana, not It is Ana.
A closer look
Use this when you point to, present, or introduce a person or thing. Use it when you refer back to something already identified.
On the phone, This is + name is a standard way to identify yourself. After the introduction, use normal pronouns such as he, she, or it.
Examples
This is my new laptop. It's very light.
What's this?
This is our new teacher, Mr Lee.
Hi, this is Paula calling.
I found a wallet. It was under the table.
Common mistakes
Use this when introducing a person.
Use it to refer back to a thing already mentioned.
Ready to practise?
The test combines multiple choice, gap completion, error correction, and sentence building so students have to recognise and produce the grammar, not simply reread the rule.