That is used as a pronoun to talk about something that has just happened. This use is explained in paragraphs 1.124 to 1.127.
using those instead of the
1.192 In more formal English, those can be used instead of the in front of a plural noun when the plural noun is followed by a relative clause. In this use, the relative clause specifies exactly which group of people or things are being referred to.
…those workers who are employed in large enterprises.
The parents are not afraid to be firm about those matters that seem important to them.
informal use of this and these
1.193
And then this woman came up to me and she said, I believe you have a goddaughter called Celia Ravenscroft.
At school we had to wear these awful white cotton hats.
Possessive determiners: my, your, their, etc.
1.194 You often want to show that a thing belongs to someone or that it is connected in some way with someone.
One way of doing this is to use a word like my, your, and their, which tells you who something belongs to. These words are called possessive determiners.
Are your children bilingual?
I remember his name now.
They would be welcome to use our library.
I’d been waiting a long time to park my car.
table of possessive determiners
1.195 There are seven possessive determiners in English, and each one is associated with a particular personal pronoun:
singular plural 1st person my our 2nd person your 3rd person his
her
its their
Personal pronouns are explained in paragraphs 1.95 to 1.106.
1.196 You do not spell the possessive its with an apostrophe. It’s is short for it is.
position
1.197 Possessive determiners, like other determiners, come after any words like all or some of (called predeterminers), and before any numbers or adjectives.
…all his letters. …their next message. …my little finger. …our two lifeboats.
See paragraph 1.251 for more information about predeterminers.
1.198 In English, you do not use more than one definite determiner before a noun. Therefore, possessive determiners must be used on their own. You cannot say I took off the my shoes. You have to choose whether to say I took off my shoes, or I took off the shoes.
agreement with noun
1.199 You choose which possessive determiner to use according to the identity of the person or thing that owns something. For example, if you want to identify something as belonging to or relating to a particular woman, you always use her. The following noun does not affect the choice.
I took off my shoes.
Her husband remained standing. He had his hands in his pockets.
She had to give up her job.
The group held its first meeting last week.
The creature lifted its head.
…the two dark men, glasses in their hands, waiting silently.
…the car companies and their workers.
use of own
1.200 When you want to draw attention to the fact that something belongs or relates to a particular person or thing, you can use the word own after the possessive determiner.
I helped him to some more water but left my own glass untouched.
Residents are allowed to bring their own furniture with them if they wish to do so.
Make your own decisions.
I heard it with my own ears.
She felt in charge of her own affairs.
If you use a number or adjective in this structure, you put the number or adjective after own.
…their own three children.
The players provided their own white shorts.
uses of possessives
1.201 Possessive determiners do not always show that what follows them is actually possessed (or owned) by someone. Sometimes they just show that what follows is connected or associated with someone in some way.
They then turned their attention to other things.
…the vitality of our music and our culture.
In summer, hay fever interfered with all her activities.
It’s his brother who has the workshop.
1.202 You can use a possessive determiner in front of a noun that refers to an action, in order to show who or what is doing the action.
…not long after our arrival.
…his criticism of the Government.
…their fight for survival.
I’m waiting for your explanation.
Most of their claims were worthy.
In the last example, their claims refers to the claims that they have made.
1.203 You can also use a possessive determiner to say who or what is affected by an action.
My appointment as the first woman chairman symbolizes change.
…the redistribution of wealth, rather than its creation.
They expressed their horror at her dismissal.
In the last example, her dismissal refers to the fact that she was dismissed by someone or by a company.
In the first of the following examples, his supporters means the people who support him.
…Birch and his supporters.
She returned the ring to its owner.
1.204 Sometimes in English the determiner the is used where there is an obvious possessive meaning. In these cases the possession is already made clear by a preceding noun or pronoun. The following paragraphs explain the situations in which you use the rather than a possessive determiner.