Those Moments vs. These Moments – Which is Correct?
Both “those moments” and “these moments” are correct, but they point to different experiences. Use “these moments” for situations happening now or nearby in time, and “those moments” for past, distant, or emotionally separate experiences. The surrounding context determines which demonstrative phrase sounds natural in each sentence and everyday conversation.
Because demonstratives can already be confusing, Moment vs. Momment clarifies another common spelling distinction.
Those Moments or These Moments – Which is Correct?
Both “those moments” and “these moments” are correct American English phrases. The difference is distance, either physical, temporal, emotional, or conversational.
Use “these moments” for moments that are happening now, have just happened, or feel close to the speaker. Use “those moments” for moments that happened earlier, feel distant, or have already been mentioned.
For example, someone discussing a stressful week might say, “These moments are difficult,” because the experience is happening now. Someone remembering a childhood experience might say, “Those moments shaped my personality,” because the experience belongs to the past.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the “here and there” test: these goes with “here,” while those goes with “there.” If the moments feel close in time, place, or emotion, choose “these moments.” If they feel farther away, choose “those moments.”
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| These moments | Demonstrative determiner and plural noun | Moments that are current, nearby, or emotionally close | These moments are important to me. |
| Those moments | Demonstrative determiner and plural noun | Moments that are past, distant, or emotionally separate | Those moments taught me a valuable lesson. |
How to Use Those Moments
Use “those moments” when referring to experiences that are distant from the speaker. The distance may be physical, as when pointing to an event in a video, or temporal, as when remembering something from the past. It may also be emotional: a speaker can use “those moments” to create separation from an unpleasant or difficult experience.
The phrase is common in both casual and formal English. It often appears in storytelling, personal reflections, biographies, speeches, and essays.
Example 1: Those moments from my childhood still make me smile.
Example 2: The team remembered those moments when everything seemed impossible.
Example 3: Looking back, she realized that those moments had changed her career.
Etymology of the Phrase Those Moments
“Those” comes from the Old English demonstrative system and developed as the plural form associated with distance. “Moment” comes through Middle English and Old French from the Latin momentum, meaning “movement,” “force,” or a brief period of time. Together, “those moments” literally identifies multiple moments viewed as distant or separate.
How to Use These Moments
Use “these moments” when referring to experiences that are happening now, have just occurred, or feel close to the speaker. The phrase can describe a current period, a group of recent events, or emotionally meaningful experiences that still feel immediate.
“These moments” is natural in casual conversation and formal writing. It is especially common when discussing current challenges, recent achievements, personal growth, or a developing situation.
Example 1: These moments of uncertainty will not last forever.
Example 2: I want to remember these moments with my family.
Example 3: These moments are helping us understand the importance of patience.
Etymology of the Phrase These Moments
“These” developed from Old English demonstrative forms used to indicate multiple nearby things. “Moment” derives from Latin momentum, which entered English through French and came to mean a brief period of time. The phrase “these moments” therefore combines a word for nearby plural objects with a noun describing brief periods of time.
Related Concepts
Understanding demonstratives and grammatical number makes the difference between “those moments” and “these moments” easier to recognize.
- Demonstratives: Demonstrative words point to people, objects, events, or ideas. “This” and “these” usually indicate closeness, while “that” and “those” usually indicate distance.
- Singular and plural agreement: “This” and “that” pair with singular nouns, while “these” and “those” pair with plural nouns. Because “moments” is plural, the correct choices are “these moments” and “those moments.”
- Temporal distance: Demonstratives can describe time as well as physical location. “These moments” often refers to the present, whereas “those moments” commonly refers to the past.
- Emotional distance: A speaker may use “those moments” to create psychological distance from an experience, even if the experience is being discussed in the present.
Examples from Media and Literature
Writers and speakers choose between these phrases according to the relationship between the narrator and the events being described.
- In a memoir: “Those moments in my childhood taught me how important kindness can be.” The phrase refers to distant events in the writer’s past.
- In a news report: “These moments are being closely watched by investors.” The phrase refers to a current situation.
- In a sports documentary: “Those moments changed the course of the championship.” The phrase points back to earlier events shown or discussed in the documentary.
- In a romantic film: “I want to hold on to these moments with you.” The speaker views the shared experiences as present and emotionally close.
- In a historical novel: “Those moments marked the beginning of a new era.” The events are distant in time from the narrator or reader.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence: those moments or these moments.
- I will always treasure ______ we spend together today.
- ______ from my first year at college helped me become more independent.
- We need to remain calm during ______ of uncertainty.
- When she watched the old recording, ______ brought back many memories.
- ______ are difficult, but the situation should improve soon.
Answer Key
- These moments
- Those moments
- These moments
- Those moments
- These moments
Those Moments Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Those times | Refers to periods or occasions in the past or at a distance. |
| Those occasions | Refers to specific events that are already known or remembered. |
| Past experiences | Describes events that happened previously. |
| Former days | A more literary expression for earlier times. |
These Moments Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| These times | Refers to the current period or circumstances. |
| Right now | Indicates the present moment or current situation. |
| At present | A formal expression meaning currently. |
| Current experiences | Describes events or situations happening now. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “those moments” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Those moments” is grammatically correct and refers to moments that are distant in time, place, or emotional perspective.
Question 2: Is “these moments” grammatically correct?
Yes. “These moments” is correct when referring to moments that are current, recent, nearby, or emotionally close.
Question 3: Should I say “those moments” when talking about the past?
Usually, yes. “Those moments” is often the natural choice for past experiences, especially when the speaker is looking back on them. However, “these moments” can also refer to past events if the speaker feels emotionally close to them or is presenting them as immediate in a story.
Conclusion
Both “those moments” and “these moments” are correct. Choose “these moments” for experiences that feel present, recent, nearby, or emotionally close. Choose “those moments” for experiences that feel past, distant, or separate. Pro tip: Using the correct demonstrative in professional writing makes your meaning clearer and strengthens your credibility.
