Mastering Demonstratives: This, That, These, and Those Made Easy!
Have you ever looked at an object and asked yourself, “Is it this or that?” or “Are they these or those?” If so, you’re not alone! Demonstratives—this, that, these, and those—are small words with a big job in English. They help us point to things and explain where they are and how many there are.
What Are Demonstratives?
Demonstratives are words we use to refer to people or things. They tell us whether the item is near or far, and whether it’s singular or plural.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Word | Distance | Number | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Near | Singular | This is my phone. |
| That | Far | Singular | That is a nice car. |
| These | Near | Plural | These are fresh strawberries. |
| Those | Far | Plural | Those are my old shoes. |
Real-Life Examples
Is this your pencil on the teacher’s desk?
(You’re pointing to one pencil close to you.)Are these your books on the floor?
(You’re talking about multiple books near you.)Is that your brother over there?
(There’s one person farther away.)Are those the kids from next door?
(A group of children far from you.)
Tips for Teaching Demonstratives
If you’re a teacher or a parent, make it fun and interactive! Try activities like:
- Pointing games – “What’s this?” (hold up an item)
- Classroom scavenger hunts – “Find something that is that.”
- Matching worksheets – Match pictures to demonstrative labels
- Role-play – Practice sentences using classroom objects
