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this, that, these, those
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Pointing at things
- Outcome: choose a demonstrative from the speaker’s viewpoint and the number of objects, then build a clear phrase or sentence. Start with am, is and are and pronouns and possessives.
- Here we practise physical pointing at countable objects. These words can also introduce people or refer to ideas; physical distance is not a rule for every use.
- Near or far? One thing or many?
- This pen is mine. Those cars are fast.
This is my pen. That is your pen. Please do not take this one.
this and that (one thing)
- In the physical-pointing examples here, this refers to one thing near the speaker.
- That refers to one thing far from the speaker in this pattern. A different speaker can describe the same object from a different position.
- This is my phone. That is your car.
Use the simple physical-pointing pattern here. You are the speaker holding one pen. Choose your statement.
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For this near, singular physical reference, “This is a pen.” fits the requested pattern. Other contexts can use demonstratives for more than physical distance.
The speaker holds one orange. Use the near, singular pattern.
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“This” has singular reference; “is” agrees. The other choices change the number or use mismatched agreement.
these and those (many things)
- these = things near me. those = things far away.
- These are my books. Those are her friends.
- Before a noun, these/those take a plural noun: these books. They can also stand alone: These are mine. Use plural agreement when they are the subject.
this, that, these or those?
For these physical-pointing scenes, choose the form from the speaker’s near/far viewpoint and singular/plural reference.
Complete (far + plural): ___ are my shoes over there.
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Far + plural → those: “Those are my shoes.”
Is this correct? “These book are new.”
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Before a noun, “these” takes a plural noun here: “These books are new.” It can also stand without a following noun: “These are new.”
Translate into English: 那些是我的书。
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Far + plural → those + are + plural noun: “Those are my books.”
Two pens are beside the speaker. Use the near, plural pattern.
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“These” is plural and near in this scene; “are” agrees. “This” is singular.
with nouns
- They can come before a noun too: this book, those people.
- I like this song. Look at those birds.
- This book is mine. These books are mine. The noun and be verb agree with the intended number.
- “These are mine” is complete when the books are already clear. No noun needs to follow “these”. Compare “those people” (a noun phrase) with “Those are my friends” (a complete sentence with standalone “Those”).
The speaker points to two nearby books. Which sentence can stand without naming the books again?
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“These” stands alone as the plural subject of “are”. A noun does not have to follow it.
Choose the noun phrase for more than one bag, far from the speaker.
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“Those bags” keeps plural reference and a plural noun. Compare standalone “Those are mine”, with no noun after “those”.
this and that for time
- this is the time you are in now: this morning, this week, this year.
- that is a time you look back at: that day, that summer. That was a great party — the party is over.
Match the situation to the right word.
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Near → this / these. Far → that / those. One → this / that. Many → these / those.
Use the singular demonstrative for a common self-introduction on the phone: Hello, ___ is Anna.
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“This is Anna” is a common phone introduction. This question requests that demonstrative pattern; “I am Anna” is also grammatical for identifying yourself.
Which statement about phone introductions is accurate?
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The phone phrase introduces the speaker; it is not a physical-distance test or a ban on another grammatical way to identify yourself.
Last summer you went to the beach. Which sentence fits?
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The summer is over, so it is far in time: that summer. This summer is the one you are in now.
Common mistakes
- ❌ these book → ✓ these books — a plural noun after these / those.
- ❌ This books are mine. → ✓ These books are mine.
- “This is Tom” is a common phone introduction. “I am Tom” can also identify the speaker. The phone phrase is not a claim that Tom is a nearby object.
Look around the room. Write one sentence using “this”, “that”, “these” or “those”.
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Example: “These are my pens.” or “That is a window.”
- Near: this (one) / these (many).
- Far: that (one) / those (many).
- Before a noun, these / those introduce a plural noun. Standing alone, they can be plural subjects: “These are new”.
The speaker holds one orange. Use the near singular form: ___ orange is fresh.
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“This orange” keeps one orange near the speaker. The adjective does not change the number.
One bus is right beside the speaker. Choose the near, singular noun phrase.
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“This bus” keeps both the singular noun and the near viewpoint. The other options change number or mismatch forms.
The speaker points to one umbrella beside their chair. Choose the near pattern.
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The scene supplies one nearby umbrella: “This is an umbrella.” The other choices change number or break agreement.
One book is in the speaker’s hand. Which sentence keeps that reference?
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“This is my book” is singular and near. The two plural statements would refer to several books.
Use the demonstrative self-introduction, not an ordinary I-am sentence: Hello, ___ is Dev speaking.
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“This is Dev speaking” is the requested phone pattern. The prompt asks for that form without declaring other introductions ungrammatical.
One clock is far from the speaker. Use the far singular form: ___ clock is old.
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“That clock” has singular reference in the far-pointing pattern. “Those” would need plural reference.
One bus is far away across the field. Choose the speaker’s far, singular statement.
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“That is a bus” matches the given distance and number. The question asks about one bus, not several.
There is one box far from the speaker. Which noun phrase fits that scene?
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“That box” is far and singular. The other phrases change the number or mismatch the noun.
One bicycle is far from the speaker. Complete the question with a far singular form: Is ___ your bike over there?
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“Is that your bike over there?” keeps the singular subject. In this question, “is” comes before it.
The speaker points to one teacher far away. Choose the far singular pattern.
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“That is my teacher” keeps one person and the supplied far viewpoint. Demonstratives can refer to people as well as objects.
Keep the speaker’s position
- The next examples describe fresh physical scenes. Choose for the person speaking, not automatically for the listener or the person holding an object.
- Keep the named object and its number. An adjective or an item inside a box does not change whether the named box is singular.
Two keys are in the speaker’s hand. Which sentence keeps the near plural reference?
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“These” and “are” keep plural reference. “This is” cannot introduce these two keys in the requested pattern.
Three bags are beside the speaker. Use the near plural form: ___ bags are heavy.
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“These bags” is near and plural. The weight does not determine the demonstrative; the stated reference does.
Two children are standing beside the speaker. Choose the near plural noun phrase; children is already plural.
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“These children” uses the supplied plural noun. No extra plural ending is needed on “children”.
The speaker points to two nearby pens already identified in the conversation. Choose a complete sentence without repeating the noun.
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“These are mine” is a complete statement with a standalone demonstrative. There is no missing noun after “these”.
Two pictures are here beside the speaker. Use the near plural form: Are ___ pictures yours?
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“Are these pictures yours?” keeps a plural subject in a question. The verb comes first here.
The speaker points to several mountains far away. Use the far plural form: ___ mountains look beautiful.
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“Those mountains” has the supplied far, plural reference. This statement uses “look” rather than a be verb.
Four windows are far from the speaker. Choose the far plural sentence.
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“Those windows are closed” keeps the distance, plural noun and plural agreement. The alternatives mismatch forms.
The speaker points to two bicycles far away. Which complete sentence keeps that far plural reference without repeating bicycles?
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“Those are mine” has a standalone plural subject and plural agreement. A following noun is not compulsory.
Several people are far from the speaker. Choose the far plural noun phrase; people is plural here.
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“Those people” keeps the plural reference. The last option changes the group to one person.
Three apples are far from the speaker. Use the far plural form: Are ___ apples yours?
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“Are those apples yours?” keeps the far plural reference in a question; “are” agrees with the plural subject.
Keep the sentence complete
- Use the English noun or the reference already supplied. A demonstrative can introduce a noun phrase or stand without the noun when its reference is clear.
- Check agreement in statements and questions. The next tasks mix both forms; read the complete sentence before choosing.
Ari holds two keys. Bea is far from Ari and the keys. Bea speaks to Ari. For the physical-pointing pattern, choose Bea’s sentence.
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The viewpoint belongs to Bea, who is far from the two keys. “Those are your keys” keeps both plural reference and the addressee as owner.
The speaker holds one box containing three cups. Complete the statement about the box: ___ box is mine.
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The named object is one nearby box, not the three cups inside it. “This box” agrees with the singular head noun.
Write two English sentences: identify one pen in your hand and two bags far from you. Use this and those with suitable be forms.
Compare the reference, number and sentence form. Revise a real mismatch; the model is one possible response, not automatic grading.
Transfer: one scene, two viewpoints
- A change of speaker can change near and far. A group inside one container does not change the number of the container named in a sentence.
- Try the new scenes, then write two English sentences before revealing the model. Compare the reference and agreement; equivalent wording can also work. This is supported writing, not a speaking or proficiency result.
The speaker points to two birds far away. Choose the complete far plural question.
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“Are those your birds?” keeps plural reference and plural be agreement. In a question, the be verb precedes the subject.
You mean two books here and two shoes far away. Repair these two English sentences: These book is mine. That shoes are yours.
Compare the reference, number and sentence form. Revise a real mismatch; the model is one possible response, not automatic grading.
Return with a new example
- Tomorrow, choose one nearby object and two distant objects. Write one English sentence for each before checking the forms. Try the standalone recall questions without reopening the worked example.
- Repair the final two-sentence contrast and compare the model. Next: articles and plurals. Study can be split across sessions; planning estimates are provisional until learner timing is observed.