Demonstratives
Demonstratives help us show where something is or which thing we are talking about.
1.Singular demonstratives
1.1This and that
This and that are demonstratives. We use them to point to one thing.
This = one thing near the speaker.
That = one thing far from the speaker.
| Word | When we use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| this | the thing is here, next to me | I like this apple. (The apple is in my hand.) |
| that | the thing is there, away from me | I need that box! (The box is on the other table.) |
| this | I can touch the thing | This book is new. (The book is on my desk.) |
| that | I can see the thing, but I cannot touch it | That car is very big. (The car is on the street.) |
| this | I show a near thing to a person | Look at this photo! (I am holding the photo.) |
| that | I point to a far thing | Do you see that bird? (The bird is in the sky.) |
Test yourself
2.Plural demonstratives
2.1These and those
These and those are demonstratives. We use them to point to many things.
These = many things near the speaker.
Those = many things far from the speaker.
| Word | When we use it | Example |
|---|---|---|
| these | the things are here, next to me | I like these books. (The books are on my table.) |
| those | the things are there, away from me | I need those boxes! (The boxes are on the other table.) |
| these | I can touch the things | These apples are red. (The apples are in my bag.) |
| those | I can see the things, but I cannot touch them | Those cars are new. (The cars are on the street.) |
| these | I show near things to a person | Look at these photos! (I am holding the photos.) |
| those | I point to far things | Do you see those birds? (The birds are in the sky.) |
Test yourself
3.Frequently asked questions
When do you use this, that, these and those in English?
Use this (one thing) and these (many things) for what is near you, and that (one) and those (many) for what is farther away. So you say "I like this apple" when the apple is in your hand, and "That car is very big" when the car is on the street. For more than one: "These books are new" (they are on your desk) and "Do you see those birds?" (they are in the sky).
This vs it: what's the difference in English?
Use this to point at something near you or to show something new; use it for something you have already mentioned. For example: "This is my new phone. It is very fast." The first sentence shows the phone, and it then refers back to the same phone. In the same way, you hold up a photo and say "Look at this!", then add "It is from my holiday."
Is it correct to say 'this books' or 'that apples'?
No, this and that go only with one thing, so with a plural noun use these or those: say "these books", not "this books". The same is true for things far away: say "those apples over there", not "that apples over there". It also works the other way round, because one thing never takes these or those: say "that bag", not "those bag".
This is or these are: which verb goes with this, that, these and those?
Use is after this and that, and are after these and those: "This is a book", but "These are books". When you change a sentence to the plural, change three words: the demonstrative, the verb and the noun. "That is a car" becomes "Those are cars", not "Those is cars" or "Those are car". In questions, the verb comes first: "Is this your bag?" and "Are those your keys?"
Do you say 'that scissors' or 'those scissors'?
Say "those scissors", or "these scissors" when they are near you, because scissors is a plural noun in English even though it is one object. Glasses, trousers, jeans and shorts work the same way: "These glasses are new" and "Those jeans are too big". To use this or that, add "pair of": "This pair of scissors is sharp".
