Pre-A1 Starter Plurals, demonstratives and possessive adjectives
Demonstratives
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can point at something and choose this, that, these, those correctly for distance and number.
When to use it
- Introducing someone or something right here: This is my friend Nam.
- Pointing at something further away: That is my school.
- Talking about several things: These are my books. Those are your shoes.
Form
| Near | Far | |
|---|---|---|
| One thing | this + is | that + is |
| Several things | these + are | those + are |
Step by step
- Ask: is it near you or far from you?
- Then ask: one or more than one?
- Near + one → this is · near + many → these are.
- Far + one → that is · far + many → those are.
Which verb goes with it
| Word | Verb | Noun after it |
|---|---|---|
| this · that | is | singular: a book, my friend |
| these · those | are | plural: books, my friends |
Examples
This is my new phone.
That is your bag over there.
These are my classmates.
Those are the mountains near my village.
This book is very interesting.
Those flowers are beautiful.
Common mistakes
This is my books. → These are my books.
this only goes with a singular noun. With plural books you need these are.
These is my pens. → These are my pens.
these is plural, so the verb must be are.
That are my parents. → Those are my parents.
The far plural is those, not that.
Memory tip
Remember by shape: this and that are short — for one. these and those are longer — for many.
Summary
- Near: this (one) · these (many). Far: that (one) · those (many).
- this / that take is; these / those take are.
- The noun must match: this book ↔ these books.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.