Which one is correct?
"This is my teacher" or "That is my teacher"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"This is my teacher" or "That is my teacher"?

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This phrase is used to identify or introduce someone who is near the speaker. It implies a close proximity between the speaker and the teacher.

Examples:

This is my teacher, Mr. Smith, who will be teaching us this semester.
This is my teacher, standing right next to me.
This is my teacher, the one who helped me with my project.
This is my teacher, who lives in the same building as me.
This is my teacher, sitting at the desk.

Alternatives:

This person is my teacher.
The one next to me is my teacher.
The individual standing beside me is my teacher.
The person right here is my teacher.
The one in front of me is my teacher.

This phrase is used to identify or introduce someone who is not near the speaker. It implies a certain distance between the speaker and the teacher.

Examples:

That is my teacher standing at the front of the classroom.
I saw my teacher at the school gate. That is my teacher.
The person over there, that is my teacher.
That is my teacher's office down the hall.
That is my teacher's car parked outside.

Alternatives:

That person is my teacher.
The one over there is my teacher.
The individual standing at the front is my teacher.
The person in the distance is my teacher.
The one in the corner is my teacher.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'That is my teacher' is used when referring to someone who is not physically close to you, while 'This is my teacher' is used when the person is physically close to you. The choice between 'that' and 'this' depends on the proximity of the teacher to the speaker.

Last Updated: March 28, 2024