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Rules›This, That, These, Those

This, That, These, Those

A1

Use this/these for things near you and that/those for things farther away. This/that are singular; these/those are plural.

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What you'll learn

  • Choose this for one thing near you.
  • Choose that for one thing farther away.
  • Choose these for things near you.
  • Choose those for things farther away.
  • Match singular and plural nouns with the correct word.
  • Say this is / that is and these are / those are.

Structure

this + singular noun

Use this for one person or thing near you.

that + singular noun

Use that for one person or thing farther away.

these + plural noun

Use these for more than one person or thing near you.

those + plural noun

Use those for more than one person or thing farther away.

this/that + is | these/those + are

Singular forms take is; plural forms take are.

Build a sentence

Distance
Number
thisbook

This book is on my desk.

Use this for one thing near you.

When to use

Things near you

Use this or these for objects in your hand, on your desk, or right next to you: this cup, these keys.

Things farther away

Use that or those for things across the room, across the street, or pointed at from a distance: that sign, those cars.

Pointing and showing

Use them to identify people and things: This is Anna. Those are my shoes. They help you point and name.

Markers

herein my handon my deskright next to meover thereacross the roomacross the street

Common mistakes

Wrong
This shoes are new.
Correct
These shoes are new.
Shoes is plural, so use these, not this.
Wrong
That houses are old.
Correct
Those houses are old.
Houses is plural, so use those, not that.
Wrong
These bag is heavy.
Correct
This bag is heavy.
Bag is singular, so use this for one near thing.
Wrong
These is my keys.
Correct
These are my keys.
These is plural, so the be verb must be are.
Wrong
This are my seat.
Correct
This is my seat.
This is singular, so the be verb must be is.

Common misconceptions

❝ Near and far only matter in real physical space. ❞

Speakers also use this and that for things they are presenting in speech: This is my friend Anna. That was a great idea.

❝ I can use this or that with plural nouns if the meaning is clear. ❞

This and that only go with singular nouns. Plural nouns need these or those.

Skills in this rule (7)

THIS_FOR_ONE_NEARw5

Use this for one thing near the speaker

Choose this with one singular noun when the person or thing is close: this book, this chair, this idea.

THAT_FOR_ONE_FARw5

Use that for one thing farther away

Choose that with one singular noun when the person or thing is not near: that car, that building, that man over there.

THESE_FOR_PLURAL_NEARw5

Use these for things near the speaker

Choose these with plural nouns when they are close: these keys, these shoes, these photos on my desk.

THOSE_FOR_PLURAL_FARw5

Use those for things farther away

Choose those with plural nouns when they are not near: those houses, those people, those lights across the street.

MATCH_SINGULAR_OR_PLURALw5

Match this and that with singular nouns, these and those with plural nouns

The word changes with number: this/that for one, these/those for more than one. Check the noun first, then choose near or far.

USE_WITH_BEw4

Use is with this and that, and are with these and those

When the demonstrative is the subject, the be verb follows number: this is, that is, these are, those are.

PICK_NEAR_FAR_MARKERSw3

Use distance clues to choose the right word

Words and situations like here, in my hand, over there, across the street help you choose near or far.

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