English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ALL THIS or ALL THESE?
Who’s responsible for ~all these~ (nonstandard)?
Who’s responsible for *all this* (standard)?
“All this” is used as an idiom in standard English.
However, “all these” can be used as modifying elements before a plural noun:
~All this persons~ will be involved (nonstandard).
*All these persons* will be involved (standard).
Similarly, “all that” is used as a fixed expression in English. You use “all that” in statements with negative meaning when you want to weaken the force of what you are saying:
It shouldn’t be *all that* difficult to see him. ✔️
GAB
