This, That, These, Those
I can identify nearby and more distant things in the singular and plural.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
Rina holds one cup: “This cup is mine.” She points to two cups across the table: “Those cups are yours.”
Read the situation transcript
Rina holds one cup: “This cup is mine.” She points to two cups across the table: “Those cups are yours.”
Which word shows more than one thing farther away?
Compare your idea
Those refers to plural things farther away in this scene.
How it works
Use this for one nearby thing and these for nearby things. Use that for one thing farther away and those for farther-away things.
Match both number and the situation: this cup / these cups. When the noun is clear, you can leave it out: This is mine. These are yours. The speaker’s position matters.
Near: this + singular; these + plural. Farther away: that + singular; those + plural.
Notice this
This book is in my hand.
One thing is near me.
Compare this
These books are in my bag.
Several things are near me.
Hear the examples
This book is in my hand.
One thing is near me.
These books are in my bag.
Several things are near me.
That chair is across the room.
One thing is farther away.
Those chairs are by the far window.
Several things are farther away.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: These book is mine.
Say: These books are mine.
These needs a plural noun and are.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Name one thing in your hand.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
This pen is blue.
Check yourself: Use this for one nearby thing.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Name two things beside you.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
These books are mine.
Check yourself: Use these and a plural noun.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Point to a thing across the room.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
That chair is empty.
Check yourself: Use that for one farther-away thing.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Make plural: This cup is clean.
Compare a model and explanation
These cups are clean.
Change this to these, cup to cups and is to are.
Self-check 2
Choose for one bag across the room: this or that?
Compare a model and explanation
That bag.
Use that for the stated distance.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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One pen in my hand: ___ pen.
this: This is singular and nearby.
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Two cups beside me: ___ cups.
these: These is plural and nearby.
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One coat across the room: ___ coat.
that: That is singular and farther away.
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Several shoes by the far door: ___ shoes.
those: Those is plural and farther away.
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Choose the correct sentence.
These bags are heavy.: These matches plural bags and are.
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Correct “Those is my keys.”
Those are my keys.: Those takes are and refers to plural keys.
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What changes this to these?
One nearby thing becomes several.: This and these differ in number, not near/far distance.
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Which objects are close to the speaker?
Two books: These two books here places the books near the speaker.
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Make plural: “That chair is new.”
Those chairs are new.: Use those to keep the farther-away meaning in the plural.
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What two things do these words help show?
Number and distance: In these physical scenes, choose by singular/plural and near/far.
Take it with you
I can identify nearby and more distant things in the singular and plural.