Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those (A1)
- #A1
- #Grammar
- #Rules
- #Quiz
- #Examples
Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) point to things that are near or far, singular or plural. This lesson makes the difference clear so you can talk about objects and places with confidence.
This, that, these and those are called demonstratives. They point at things — physically in the room, or figuratively in a conversation — and they encode two pieces of information at once: how many things there are, and how far away they are from the speaker. No other small word in English carries both jobs, which is why beginners meet them so early.
The system is beautifully regular. Near the speaker gives you this for one thing and these for several. Far from the speaker gives you that for one thing and those for several. That is the whole grammar. The only thing to watch is that these and those are plural, so they need a plural noun and a plural verb.
Distance in English is not only about metres. Speakers use this and these for what is close in time, in relevance or in emotional connection, and that and those for what is distant, finished or slightly disowned. This is why This is delicious sounds warm while That was strange sounds detached — a nuance worth noticing from the very beginning.
How to form Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those
| Word | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | singular | near the speaker | This book is mine. |
| that | singular | far from the speaker | That building is very old. |
| these | plural | near the speaker | These shoes are comfortable. |
| those | plural | far from the speaker | Those mountains are beautiful. |
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those: the key rules
-
This (singular) and these (plural) point to things near you.
This phone in my hand is new. These keys are mine.
-
That (singular) and those (plural) point to things far from you.
That building across the street is a museum. Those birds are loud.
-
Demonstratives can stand alone or come before a noun.
This is delicious. / This soup is delicious.
-
Use that to refer back to something someone just said.
‘I passed my exam!’ — ‘That's wonderful!’
When to use Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those
-
Pointing at objects around you
The original and most literal use — identifying things by where they are in relation to you.
This chair is broken, but those chairs are fine.
-
Introducing people and answering the phone
English uses this to introduce someone standing with you, and on the telephone to identify yourself — a fixed expression worth memorising.
Marta, this is my colleague Peter. — Hello, this is Anna speaking.
-
Referring to time
This points to the current or upcoming period; that points to a finished one.
I am busy this week. That summer was the hottest on record.
-
Referring back to an idea just mentioned
That commonly stands for a whole statement someone has just made, not just a physical object.
The train is cancelled. — That is a problem.
this/these vs. that/those
If you can reach it, or it is happening now, choose the this family. If it is across the room, or already over, choose the that family.
this / these — near
Close in space, close in time, or currently relevant to the speaker.
This coffee is hot. These are my keys. I am free this evening.
that / those — far
Distant in space, finished in time, or emotionally set apart.
That was a great film. Those were different times.
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those in example sentences
- This is my sister, Ana.Fixed pattern for introducing someone next to you.
- Are these your gloves?these + plural noun + plural verb are.
- That car outside belongs to my neighbour.that for one thing at a distance.
- Those apples look better than these ones.Both plurals in one sentence, contrasting far and near.
- This morning I got up at six.this for the current day's time period.
- I did not enjoy that meeting at all.that for something already finished.
- These days, everyone works from home.these days is a set phrase meaning nowadays.
- Hello, this is Daniel from the clinic.Standard telephone self-identification — never I am Daniel.
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those in a real conversation
Follow how the speakers switch between near and far as they move around the shop.
Assistant:Can I help you?
Lena:Yes. How much is this jacket?
Assistant:That one is forty euros. These over here are cheaper.
Lena:And those boots by the window?
Assistant:Those are in the sale — half price this week.
Lena:That's good news. I'll try this jacket and those boots.
Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
-
Look at this shoes.
Look at these shoes.
Shoes is plural, so the near demonstrative must be these.
-
I want that apples over there.
I want those apples over there.
Plural + far = those.
-
This is my friends, Ana and Leo.
These are my friends, Ana and Leo.
Introducing more than one person needs the plural these are.
Check yourself: 10 Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those questions
Answer these and see the reason for each one. They are 10 of the 60 exercises in the full Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those practice set.
-
___ book in my hand is very interesting.
- Those
- That
- This
- These
Show answer
This — One book, and it is in your hand, so it is near and singular: this.
-
Hello, ___ is Marta speaking.
- those
- that
- these
- this
Show answer
this — On the telephone English speakers identify themselves with this is, never I am.
-
___ was the best holiday of my life.
- That
- These
- Those
- This here
Show answer
That — A finished event in the past is distant in time, so English uses that.
-
I don't like ___ weather at all. (it is raining now)
- these
- this
- those
- that
Show answer
this — Weather happening right now is near in time, so this is the natural demonstrative.
-
Which question is correct?
- What is these?
- What are this?
- What are these?
- What this are?
Show answer
What are these? — These is plural, so it takes are, and the question word comes first.
-
___ oranges smell wonderful — I'll take a kilo.
- This
- That
- It
- These
Show answer
These — Oranges is plural and the speaker is standing at the stall, so these.
-
___ is my new phone. Do you like it?
Show answer
This — One object being held out to somebody is near and singular.
-
Could you hand me ___ scissors, please? (near the listener)
Show answer
those — Scissors is always plural in English, and near the listener means the far form.
-
___ shoes are killing me — I should have worn trainers.
Show answer
These — Shoes on the speaker's own feet are near and plural.
-
Is ___ seat free, or is somebody sitting there?
Show answer
this — This for the chair beside you; that for one further away.
Practise Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those today
Demonstratives are best learned standing up and pointing.
- Stand in a room and describe eight objects, choosing the right word for each distance.
- Complete these: ___ shoes are dirty. ___ is my passport. ___ trees over there are old.
- Practise the phone opening five times: Hello, this is [your name].
- Write four sentences about time using this week, this morning, that year and those days.
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those: frequently asked questions
Can this and that be used without a noun after them?
Yes. They work both as determiners before a noun — this book, those cars — and as standalone pronouns replacing the noun entirely: This is mine. I like those. Beginners sometimes think a noun is compulsory, but sentences like That is expensive are perfectly complete. The same is true of these and those.
Why do English speakers say this is Anna on the phone rather than I am Anna?
It is a fixed idiom rather than a logical rule. The convention treats the voice as something presented to the listener, so this points to it. I am Anna is grammatically correct English but sounds odd on a call and marks you instantly as a learner. Simply memorise the pattern: This is [name] to identify yourself, and Is that [name]? to ask who you are speaking to.
What is the difference between these ones and these?
These alone is the standard and cleaner form: I prefer these. Adding ones is very common in spoken British English — I prefer these ones — and no one will misunderstand you, but some teachers and style guides consider it redundant because these is already a pronoun. In writing and exams, drop the ones.
How do I know whether something is near or far?
It is the speaker's perspective that decides, not any fixed measurement. If you can touch it or it is in your immediate space, use this or these. If it is across the room, outside, or belongs to someone else's space, use that or those. The same object can switch: a cup in your hand is this cup, and the moment you put it on a distant table it becomes that cup.