In this chapter
Imagine you are in a shop. You point at a jacket and say How much is this? Your friend points at some shoes across the room and says I love those! Words like this and those help us point at things with language.
English has four of these words, called demonstratives: this , that , these and those . To choose the right one, ask two questions: Is it near or far? and Is it one thing or more than one?
Learning objectives
By the end of this chapter
- I can choose this, that, these or those for things near or far.
- I can use these words before a noun: this book, those shoes.
- I can ask What's this? and answer with it or they.
- I can introduce people with This is…
Near and far, one and many
This and these are for things near you — here. That and those are for things far from you — there. This and that are singular; these and those are plural.
| Near (here) | Far (there) | |
|---|---|---|
| one thing | this | that |
| more than one | these | those |
-
This ( subject ) is ( verb ) my phone. ( complement )
One thing, near.
-
That ( subject ) is ( verb ) your bag. ( complement )
One thing, far.
-
These ( subject ) are ( verb ) my keys. ( complement )
More than one, near.
-
Those ( subject ) are ( verb ) her shoes. ( complement )
More than one, far.
Quick check___ are my keys, here in my hand.
Before a noun
These words can also go before a noun, in the same place as a or the. The noun must agree: one thing takes this / that , more than one takes these / those .
The pattern
this / that + singular noun · these / those + plural noun
this book, that man, these books, those men
-
I ( subject ) like ( verb ) this ( determiner ) song. ( noun )
-
Those houses ( subject ) are ( verb ) old. ( complement )
-
Can you pass me that book?
One book, over there.
-
These apples are sweet.
More than one apple, here.
Quick checkI like ___ shoes over there.
Asking with this and that
Ask What's this / that? about things and Who's this / that? about people. In the answer, use it for one thing and they for more than one.
-
What ( question word ) is ( verb ) that? ( subject )
-
Who ( question word ) is ( verb ) this? ( subject )
-
It's a museum.
The answer uses it, not that.
-
Are these your glasses? — Yes, they are.
For a plural, answer with they.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What's this? | It's a pen. |
| What are those? | They're birds. |
| Who's that? | That's my teacher. |
| Is this your coat? | Yes, it is. |
Quick check“What are those?” — “___ are birds.”
This for people and on the phone
Use this to introduce a person, and on the phone to say who you are. That is common in short replies to what someone has just said: That's great! That's right.
-
This ( subject ) is ( verb ) my friend Kenji. ( complement )
Introducing a person.
-
Hello, this is Anna. Is Tom there?
On the phone: this is + your name.
-
That's great!
A reply to good news.
-
That's right.
A fixed phrase: yes, correct.
Quick checkPut the words in order.
Errors to avoid
These are the mistakes learners make most often with this grammar. Read the wrong sentence, then the right one, and notice the change.
-
Incorrect: This are my books.
Correct: These are my books.
Use these for plural things near you.
-
Incorrect: I like that shoes.
Correct: I like those shoes.
Shoes is plural, so use those.
-
Incorrect: These is my brother.
Correct: This is my brother.
One person: this is.
-
Incorrect: Is this your bag? — Yes, this is.
Correct: Is this your bag? — Yes, it is.
Short answers use it, not this.
Hear it in use
Listen to the whole conversation first. Then play one line at a time and say it after the speaker. The words in colour are this chapter’s grammar.
Conversation
The new flat
Priya shows her friend Tom around her new flat.
- Priya
Come in! This is my new flat.
- Tom
Wow, it's great. Is this the living room?
- Priya
Yes, it is. And that door over there is the kitchen.
that — one thing, far from you.
- Tom
What are these boxes?
- Priya
These are my books. I haven't got any shelves yet!
these — plural, near.
- Tom
And who's that in the photo?
- Priya
That's my grandmother. And this is her old ring.
- Tom
It's beautiful. What about those plants by the window?
those — plural, far.
- Priya
Those are from my mum. She loves plants.
- Tom
That's lovely. This is a really nice place, Priya.
That's lovely — a reply to what someone just said.
What to remember
- 1 This (one) and these (more) are for things near you; that (one) and those (more) are for things far away.
- 2 They can stand alone (This is my phone) or go before a noun (this phone).
- 3 Match the noun: this book, these books; that man, those men.
- 4 Answer with it or they: What's that? — It's a museum.
- 5 Use This is… to introduce people and to say who you are on the phone.
| Near | Far | |
|---|---|---|
| singular | this book | that book |
| plural | these books | those books |
Test yourself
Knowledge check
22 questions on This / That / These / Those
One question at a time, with an explanation after every answer. Score 18 or more (80%) and the chapter is marked complete.