this/that - these/those
Level One
Lesson 10
demonstrative pronouns
To ask simple questions or talk about the existence of things or people, you can use demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those.
After you complete this lesson, take Quiz #10 – this these that those
10a. this / these ✍️
Use “this” and “these” when referring to things or people that are close to you in space or time.
close / near
singular
- This sandwich is delicious.
- We learn a lot in this class.
- Do you like this book?
plural
- These sandwiches are delicious.
- We learn a lot in these classes.
- Do you like these books?
close
- This is a sunflower.
- This sunflower is very beautiful.
- I am grateful for this day.
- These are leaves.
- These leaves fell from a tree.
- These are beautiful fall colors.
10b. that / those ✍️
Use “that” and “those” when referring to things or people that are far in both space or time.
not close / far
singular
- That was a delicious sandwich.
- We learned a lot in that class.
- Did you like that book?
plural
- Those sandwiches were delicious.
- We learned a lot in those classes.
- Did you like those books?
far
- Someone is under that tree.
- That tree doesn’t have any leaves.
- Those trees over there look beautiful!
- There’s a creek between those trees.
10c. this / that 
Use “this” or “that” when referring to people or things that are singular.
this = close
that = far
- This is a big problem. We have to take care of it immediately. (close)
- Do you remember the name of that restaurant we ate at two weeks ago? (far or distant in time)
- Do you want this one or that one? (Make a choice between two things.)
- I’ll see you this evening. (tonight = close)
- That car over there is on fire! (distant)
10d. these / those
Use “these” or “those” when referring to people or things that are plural.
these = close
those = far
- These are big problems. We have to take care of them immediately. (close)
- Do you remember the names of any of those restaurants we ate at last year? (far or distant in time)
- Do you want these or those? (Make a choice between two things.)
- I’ve been very busy these days. (current time)
- Those cars over there are on fire! (distant)
Choose the correct pronouns in the following exercises:
Part A. Choose between “this” or “these.”
1. _________ are very good crackers.
2. Is __________ a good movie?
3. Whose coat is ___________?
4. ________ tastes terrible!
5. _________ students are doing great work!
6. Are __________ pants too long?
7. _________ lemonade is too sweet.
8. The battery in _________ phone is dead.
9. Were __________ chips any good?
10. Whose shoes are ___________?
Part B. Choose between “this” or “that.”
1. _________ movie we saw last week was good.
2. __________ water has a funny smell. (I’m holding a glass in my hand.)
3. Was _________ pizza you ordered any good?
4. Do you want _________ one or ________ one?
5. Look at __________ over there!
Part C. Choose between “that” or “those.”
1. _________ cars are very expensive.
2. Is __________ car on sale?
3. __________ were the good old days.
4. Are __________ the mittens you wanted?
5. What is _________ over there?
6. Please hand me ___________ towels.
7. Whose are ____________?
8. __________ humus is nice and creamy.
9. How much are ___________ bananas?
10. Where is ___________ spatula?
Part D. Choose between “these” or “those.”
1. How much are __________ chairs over there?
2. Why are ___________ clothes still wet?
3. __________ peanuts are very salty.
4.Where are _________ socks you bought yesterday?
5. _________ onions were not very good.
Click on the link for the PDF: this that these those
Congratulations! You have finished the first ten lessons.
Learn about the present tense in Lesson Eleven.