|
|
#2 (permalink) Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:24 am "This way" vs "That way" |
|
|
Hi Tom
The difference is sometimes only a matter of perspective with no change in the basic meaning.
One thing I can say about my German ESL students, however, is that they generally use this much too often.
So, tell me, what do you already know about the difference between this and that in terms of the speaker's perspective?
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
|
Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
|
|
#3 (permalink) Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:44 am "This way" vs "That way" |
|
|
Hi Tom,
'This' and 'that' often equate to 'here and 'there'. In other words 'this' is here and 'that' is there. In your sentence 'that' refers to what has been said previously in the other sentence. 'This' might suggest not what I have just said but what I'm going to say. Look at the two (these) sentence:
That sounded interesting (what you have just said). This will surprise you (what I am gouing to say now).
A _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
|
Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
|
 |
#4 (permalink) Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:55 am "This way" vs "That way" |
|
|
Tom, if you're using these expressions to talk about physical direction, see if you can find an English-Urdu dictionary that has really archaic English in it. (This should not be hard. A dictionary people use for studying English literature will probably work.) Look up the English words "hither" and "thither". I'll bet there's an exact Urdu equivalent for each of them. If you find the translations, then know that "hither" means something very close to "this way", and "thither" means something like "that way".
Sometimes "walk this way" can mean "follow me". However, in old movies there's frequently a gag where a maitre d' in an elegant hotel, or a butler, has a very funny way of walking. He'll tell guests, "Please, walk this way," meaning, "Please, follow me." The guests misunderstand it as meaning, "Please, walk in the same strange manner I do," and they all follow him with the same funny walk. |
|
Jamie (K) I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 6552 Location: Detroit, Michigan, USA
|
 |
|
| "Subconscious mind" vs "Subconscious" | Confused: Literary historians cannot help but admit that they do not know... |