1. First the group, then the distance
These and those refer to more than one thing: these means “these” (near), and those means “those” (far). In a spatial scene, these usually identifies people or things near the speaker, while those identifies things farther away.
First check the number. One nearby thing is this; one distant thing is that. Then choose the nearby or distant perspective for the plural group.
this → these; that → those
These cups in my hands are clean.
These cups in my hands are clean.
Plurality and closeness are shown by cups and in my hands.
Those boats over there are small.
Those boats over there are small.
Over there makes the distant perspective clear.
2. Name the things after these or those
The main pattern in this lesson is these/those + a plural noun. An adjective can go between them: these blue bags. An English adjective does not change for the plural.
In a simple phrase, do not add a/an or the between the demonstrative and the noun: these bags already identifies a particular group.
these/those + (adjective) + plural noun
- noun —
- A word naming a person, thing or idea: student, book, happiness.
- adjective —
- A word describing what someone or something is like: happy, tired, interesting.
I need these blue bags.
I need these blue bags.
These and bags match in number; blue describes the group.
Look at those old houses over there.
Look at those old houses over there.
Those old houses together name a distant group.
3. The plural does not always have -s
For bags, books, and rooms, the plural is visible in -s; for boxes, it is visible in -es. But number matters, not the final letter of the word.
Familiar irregular forms also combine with these/those: child → children. Sheep has the same form in the singular and plural; these sheep clearly shows several animals. You do not need to learn the entire list of exceptions here.
Those children across the yard are in my class.
Those children across the yard are in my class.
Children is already plural: not childs and not childrens.
These sheep here are small.
These sheep here are small.
The unchanged form sheep still refers to a plural group with these and are.
4. Are is not needed in every sentence
If the group is the subject of a present-tense sentence with be, it takes are: these seats are free. In a question, are comes before the whole subject, and in a negative sentence, add not.
But this group can be the object after another verb: I like those books. Or it can be the subject with an ordinary verb: These books help me. Do not automatically insert are after these/those.
Are these seats free?
Are these seats free?
We are asking about the state of a plural subject: Are + these seats.
I like those books on the far shelf.
I like those books on the far shelf.
Here those books are what is liked; the verb is like.
These books here help me.
These books here help me.
The plural subject has the ordinary verb help, not are help.
5. Distance depends on who is speaking
“Near” and “far” are the speaker’s perspective, not a fixed number of meters. In exercises, this perspective is shown by phrases such as “in my hand,” “right in front of me,” and “far away on another shelf.”
Two people can point to the same group in different ways. Things near one person may be far from another. When the speaker changes, check the point of reference again.
Anna, holding two bags: These bags are heavy.
Anna, holding two bags: These bags are heavy.
For Anna, the bags are near—in her hands.
Ben, far from Anna: Those bags look heavy.
Ben, far from Anna: Those bags look heavy.
Ben refers to the same group from another location; the weight of the bags has not changed.
6. Location, ownership, and properties are different facts
If you pick up distant things, you can switch from those to these. This does not mean they have become yours. Ownership is expressed by other words: my, your, mine, yours.
Fresh apples can be either near or far. Fresh, red, and expensive do not determine the choice between these/those. Without spatial context, both demonstratives may be grammatically possible.
Those apples over there are fresh.
Those apples over there are fresh.
Distance is determined by over there, not fresh.
These apples in my hands are fresh.
These apples in my hands are fresh.
The same property is compatible with a nearby group.
Those keys in your hand are mine.
Those keys in your hand are mine.
In this scene, the listener is far from the speaker; the speaker owns the keys even though the listener is holding them.
7. The boundary: you can also use them without a noun
These/those can independently replace a noun that is understood: These are ready. This is a correct pronoun use, not an omitted noun that is required.
Here we mainly name the things: these tickets, those boxes. This makes it easier to distinguish groups. The separate use without a noun is covered in the next rule; figurative distances in time or attitude are not practiced here.
These tickets are ready.
These tickets are ready.
The noun tickets is included in the subject—the main pattern of this lesson.
These are ready.
These are ready.
This is correct if the listener already understands which things are meant; it is a different structure.
8. How to make your own pointing clear
Identify the speaker, choose the required plural group, and then name it with these/those + a noun. Add a feature or location if there is another similar group nearby.
Next, express the real purpose: to describe, ask, request, choose, or refuse. Not every sentence needs to contain are; the important thing is to preserve the group, number, agent, and negation.
Please use these pens here, not those pens over there.
Please use these pens here, not those pens over there.
The utterance separates two groups and clearly conveys the required action.
How much do those bags in the far window cost?
How much do those bags in the far window cost?
The question about price uses cost; those bags remains a plural group.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:This books are useful.
Correct:These books are useful.
Books is plural, so these—not this—is needed for a nearby group.
Incorrect:Those chair is free.
Correct:That chair is free.
Chair is singular here. The minimal correction is that; for several chairs, you would also have to change chair to chairs and is to are.
Incorrect:These seats is not free.
Correct:These seats are not free.
In a sentence with be, the plural subject these seats agrees with are; not is retained.
Incorrect:I like those books are.
Correct:I like those books.
Those books is the object of like. Are is not needed.
Incorrect:These maps helps me.
Correct:These maps help me.
Maps is a plural subject, so the ordinary verb has the form help.
Incorrect:I want these a bags.
Correct:I want these bags.
These already identifies a plural group; the article a in front of the noun is unnecessary and incompatible with bags.