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English grammar

What this, that and such are pointing at

B2 · Upper intermediate Referring to people and things Questions 10

The rule

A text holds together because each sentence points back at the one before. This and that can refer to a whole clause, not just a noun: They cancelled without telling anybody. This is what people object to. Such refers back to a kind: such a delay, no such letter exists. The former and the latter pick out the first and second of two. One and ones avoid repeating a countable noun. Used well these are invisible; used badly they leave the reader asking this what?, which is the most common fault in B2 writing.

Pattern

this / that + clause reference · such (a) + noun · the former / the latter · one / ones · do so / do it

Examples

  1. They changed the date twice. This is why nobody came.

  2. No such clause appears in the copy I was sent.

  3. We were offered two flats; the latter had a garden.

  4. The old boiler was noisy; the new one is silent.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: They cancelled twice. It is what people object to.

    Right: They cancelled twice. This is what people object to.

    this can refer back to a whole clause; a bare it here is vague.

  • Wrong: I have never seen such a delays before.

    Right: I have never seen such delays before.

    such a takes a singular noun; a plural takes such alone.

  • Wrong: I need a pen. Do you have a one?

    Right: I need a pen. Do you have one?

    one replaces the noun and takes no article here.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. The letter arrived three weeks late. This is the whole problem.
    2. The letter arrived three weeks late. These is the whole problem.
    3. The letter arrived three weeks late. Those is the whole problem.
    4. The letter arrived late. This are the whole problem.
    Show answer

    Answer: A The letter arrived three weeks late. This is the whole problem.

    This refers back to the whole situation.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. There is not such thing as a free survey.
    2. There is no such things as a free survey.
    3. There is no such a thing as a free survey.
    4. There is no such thing as a free survey.
    Show answer

    Answer: D There is no such thing as a free survey.

    no such thing is the fixed phrase.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. We looked at a flat and a house; former was cheaper.
    2. We looked at a flat and a house; the first was cheaper one.
    3. We looked at a flat and a house; the former one was cheaper than.
    4. We looked at a flat and a house; the former was cheaper.
    Show answer

    Answer: D We looked at a flat and a house; the former was cheaper.

    the former is the first of two.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    The blue folders are current; the red _____ are archived.

    1. one
    2. ones
    3. those one
    4. them
    Show answer

    Answer: B The blue folders are current; the red ones are archived.

    ones replaces a plural countable noun.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    She asked me to sign it and I _____ .

    1. did it so
    2. did so
    3. did such
    4. made so
    Show answer

    Answer: B She asked me to sign it and I did so .

    do so replaces a whole verb phrase.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    I have never had _____ trouble with a delivery.

    1. such
    2. so a
    3. so
    4. such a
    Show answer

    Answer: A I have never had such trouble with a delivery.

    such before an uncountable noun.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    Two firms quoted; _____ was considerably cheaper.

    1. the later
    2. later
    3. the latter
    4. the last
    Show answer

    Answer: C Two firms quoted; the latter was considerably cheaper.

    the latter is the second of two.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    They refused, and _____ was the end of it.

    1. it was
    2. these
    3. those
    4. that
    Show answer

    Answer: D They refused, and that was the end of it.

    that points back at the whole event.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I read both reports. The latter was clearer.
    2. Of the two reports, the latter was clearer.
    3. I read both reports. The second was clearer.
    4. I read both reports. The latter one of the two were clearer.
    Show answer

    Answer: D I read both reports. The latter one of the two were clearer.

    the latter is already singular and definite.

  10. 10This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. It was such a heavy rain that the drains failed.
    2. It was such heavy rain that the drains failed.
    3. The rain was so heavy that the drains failed.
    4. There was such heavy rain that the drains failed.
    Show answer

    Answer: A It was such a heavy rain that the drains failed.

    rain is uncountable, so no a.

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