The Difference between THAT and IT Hi everyone! I'm a beginner English teacher and one mistake I noticed happening repeatedly was the incorrect use of the words "it's" and "that's." So I've decided to write this notebook entry for your future reference and to gather thoughts from other English teachers on this topic. This is the gist of what I said to the student: I notice you are sometimes using IT'S when you should be using THAT'S, for example, when you say "Yes it's right" or "Its very nice of you..." The reason you say THAT is because the word THAT refers to something specific. So when I say "Yes THAT'S right" what I'm actually saying is "yes THAT STATEMENT YOU MADE IS right." Again, when you say "It's so kind of you..." what you should say is "that's very nice of you..." or in other words "WHAT YOU'RE DOING (helping) IS very nice of you..." On the other hand if you look at one of my sentences I said, "Yes it's the little words that will make you sound fluent." I said "IT'S the little words..." because I'm not referring to any specific small words, I'm referring to small words in general.... Here's something I found that someone posted on this topic. It's a great example of how to use this, that, these and those. ------------------- THIS is used to indicate something near (as opposed to that): this pumpkin is smaller than that one. THESE is the plural of 'this': these pumpkins will be carved for Halloween. THAT is used to indicate something further away (as opposed to 'this'): that pumpkin over there is enormous. THOSE is the plural of 'that': those pumpkins are used for decoration. ------- Do you have anything to add to this topic? Let me know in the comments.