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.
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. |
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.)
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