Loading the lesson
Loading the lesson
Search AllRounder.ai
Search the courses, subjects, tracks, games and features, or jump straight to a page.
Search the courses, subjects, tracks, games and features, or jump straight to a page.
Learn it your way
A short class with Sarah and her students. The other ways are under More.
Sign up free to listen. Transcripts are free to read.
Today, we are going to learn about demonstratives. Can anyone tell me what 'this' refers to?
'This' refers to something that is close to me.
Exactly! You would say, 'This pen is mine.' Now, what about 'that'?
'That' is for something that is further away.
Correct! For instance, 'That tree is tall.' Remember, for this, think of items you can reach easily, like 'this book,' and for that, think of items that you can't easily touch, like 'that building.' Can anyone summarize this?
'This' is for us, and 'that' is for far away!
Excellent summary!
Now let’s shift our focus to the plural forms: 'these' and 'those.' When would you use 'these'?
'These' is for things that are near us, in plural!
Great! For example: 'These apples are fresh.' What about 'those'?
'Those' are for things that are further away and plural.
Right you are! Like, 'Those mountains are beautiful.' Can anyone give me an example with 'these'?
These shoes are new!
Perfect! You all are doing wonderfully!
Let’s practice. Can someone use 'this' in a sentence?
This is my favorite shirt.
Excellent! How about using 'that'?
That was a great movie.
Good job! Now, who can use 'these' and 'those'?
These cookies look delicious.
Those mountains are my favorite!
Outstanding! Can someone summarize the difference between 'these' and 'those'?
'These' are close and plural, and 'those' are far and plural!
Spot on! You've all grasped demonstratives very well.
Words used to indicate specific nouns based on proximity.
'This' is singular and refers to nearby items, whereas 'that' refers to distant items.
'These' is plural and refers to nearby items, while 'those' refers to distant plural items.
'This is for what’s near to me, that’s for what I do not see.'
Imagine a family picnic where the father points to a sandwich in his hand and says, 'This is delicious!' while also indicating a distant tree saying, 'That is beautiful over there.'
Think of the phrase: 'This is near, that is far.'
Remember 'DT' for 'Distance Type': 'D' for 'This' and 'These' - nearby; 'T' for 'That' and 'Those' - away.
Term
'This' usage
Click to flip
Term
'That' usage
Click to flip
Term
'These' usage
Click to flip
Term
'Those' usage
Click to flip
Demonstratives are essential words used to indicate specific nouns in relation to proximity, categorized as singular or plural.
In this section, we explore demonstratives—'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those'—which are crucial for referring to specific items based on their distance from the speaker. 'This' and 'these' denote proximity, while 'that' and 'those' indicate items further away, with singular and plural forms influencing their usage.
Demonstratives are critical parts of speech that point to specific nouns, and they can be categorized based on proximity and number. 'This' refers to a singular noun that is near the speaker (e.g., This book is interesting), while 'that' refers to a singular noun that is further away (e.g., That house is beautiful). In plural form, 'these' indicates items that are close (e.g., These flowers are lovely), and 'those' indicates items that are further away (e.g., Those birds are flying high). Understanding and using demonstratives correctly is essential for clear communication, as they help specify which nouns are being referenced in conversation.