Demonstratives

Demonstratives are pointing words. They help you show which thing you are talking about and whether it is near you or far from you.

What You'll Learn

• How to use this and that for one thing (near or far)
• How to use these and those for more than one thing (near or far)

When to Use

1. Pointing to something near you: "This is my pencil." (The pencil is in your hand.)
2. Pointing to something far from you: "That is my school." (The school is over there.)
3. Pointing to many things near or far: "These are my books." / "Those are your shoes."

How to Form

Key Rules

1. Near = this / these: Use this or these when the thing is close to you. "This apple is red." (You are holding it.)
2. Far = that / those: Use that or those when the thing is far from you. "That bird is big." (The bird is in the sky.)
3. One or many: Use this or that for one thing. Use these or those for more than one thing.

Common Mistakes

Clue Words

Use "this" or "these" when you see:

here, near, close, next to me

Use "that" or "those" when you see:

there, over there, far, far away

Tip: Think of your hand pointing. If you can touch it, use this or these. If you need to point far away, use that or those.

Practice Tips

1. Touch or point: Look at something close to you and say "This is a ___." Then point to something far away and say "That is a ___."
2. Count first: Before you pick a word, ask "Is it one thing or many things?" One thing = this / that. Many things = these / those.

Quick Reference