Demonstratives

Before a single countable item, use this or that and keep the noun singular: this cup, that ticket. This has the same form regardless of the noun's grammatical gender in another language.

An added description goes between the demonstrative and the noun: this small cup. Several items require these / those and a plural noun. That is a neighbouring topic; here it helps mark the boundary of the singular pattern.

This and that already specify which item is meant. In an ordinary phrase with one noun, do not add a, an or the alongside them: this book, not this a book; that old bag, not that the old bag.

Compare two different structures: This book is new. and This is a new book. In the first, this precedes book; in the second, this stands alone and a belongs to another part of the sentence, a new book. The second structure is correct, but this is being used as a pronoun.

If this book or that door is the subject and we describe it with present be, use is: This book is new. For a question, put is before the whole subject; for a negative, add not.

This / that do not require is in every sentence. You can say I need this pen or Please open that door. In the first sentence, I is the subject and this pen is the thing needed; the second is a request. Do not insert is between this and the noun.

Distance is judged from the speaker, not automatically from the reader or listener. If two people are at opposite ends of a room, the same object can be here for one and there for the other.

Replacing this with that can change what we point to, but it does not by itself make a sentence ungrammatical. If location or intention is unspecified, both may sometimes be possible. Exercises requiring one correct choice will identify the reference point.

This and that can also precede uncountable nouns: this water, that bread. Before a singular noun is the lesson's main topic, not a ban on uncountables. Do not turn water into waters when it has its ordinary substance meaning.

In This is nice, this appears without a noun; this is a correct pronoun use. We only distinguish it from this cup here rather than practising it separately. Similarly, this morning and the response That's great relate to the situation in other ways.

For your own response, first identify the item and your position, then choose this / that and name the item. Next say what you need to report or ask about it. You may use invented objects and situations; no personal details are required.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

Compare this phone with this in This is my phone. In the first case, this directly determines the noun phone. In the second, this independently takes the place of the object’s name.

A noun appearing later in the sentence does not stop the demonstrative being a pronoun. In This is a book, a book comes after is and identifies the object. In This book is new, this is directly connected to book.

Number and pronoun function are separate properties. This can be both singular and a pronoun; these can be a plural pronoun.

For one thing near us, we normally use this; for several, these. For one thing farther away, use that; for several, those. Judge closeness from the position of the person currently speaking.

In a simple scene, distance and number help choose the form. In real communication, closeness can also be conceptual: we highlight an object or refer back to what has just been said. It is not a measurement in metres.

Is indicates singular and are plural, but neither determines distance: both This is… and That is… are possible. Without a scene, a gap before are does not determine whether to choose these or those.

When a demonstrative pronoun is the subject with be, match the number: this/that is, these/those are. In a question, be precedes the pronoun: Is that…? Are these…? In a negative, add not after be.

A pronoun can also be an object, the target of an action: I need this. I like those. Do not insert is or are before such a pronoun after like, need or want.

To ask what an object is, use What is this/that? or What are these/those? In the answer, you can name the object after be.

To introduce someone nearby, naturally say This is… followed by their name. To introduce a group, say These are my friends… or introduce each person separately.

At the start of a telephone conversation, This is… is a usual way to identify yourself. It works without a physical gesture. It’s… can also sound natural in conversation. If an exercise specifically requests a demonstrative pronoun, It’s… uses a different construction; it is not a grammatical error.

Do not use this/that for every later statement about someone. After an introduction, he, she or they is often appropriate for an ordinary description of the person.

That can refer to a previous remark rather than a physical object: an idea, news or advice. The content of the previous remark makes the reference clear.

It and they often provide a neutral answer about an already identified object. After What are those?, you can answer They are keys. There is no need to repeat those in every sentence.

These/those highlight particular things more strongly; it/they can simply continue talking about them. Both choices can be grammatical. In an exercise, check the specific instruction: does it ask you to point something out using a demonstrative or simply to answer?