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Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

Demonstratives are special words we use to point to or show things!

Use this for one thing that is near you.

Examples:

  • This is my pencil (pointing to pencil in your hand)
  • This book is interesting (book you’re holding)
  • This apple tastes sweet (apple you’re eating)
  • This chair is comfortable (chair you’re sitting on)

Use that for one thing that is far away from you.

Examples:

  • That is a bird (bird flying in the sky)
  • That car is red (car across the street)
  • That tree is very tall (tree in the distance)
  • That house is big (house you can see far away)

Use these for more than one thing that is near you.

Examples:

  • These are my crayons (crayons in front of you)
  • These cookies are delicious (cookies on your plate)
  • These toys belong to me (toys around you)
  • These shoes are new (shoes you’re wearing)

Use those for more than one thing that is far away from you.

Examples:

  • Those are beautiful flowers (flowers in the garden)
  • Those children are playing (children in the playground)
  • Those clouds look like animals (clouds in the sky)
  • Those books are on the shelf (books across the room)
  • THIS and THESE = CLOSE (near you) 🔄
  • THAT and THOSE = FAR (away from you) ↗️
  • THIS and THAT = ONE thing (singular) 1️⃣
  • THESE and THOSE = MANY things (plural) 🔢

Look around your room and practice:

  • Point to something close: “This is my…”
  • Point to something far: “That is a…”
  • Point to many things close: “These are my…”
  • Point to many things far: “Those are…”
  1. _____ is my favorite toy. (This/That - if toy is in your hands)
  2. _____ birds are singing. (These/Those - if birds are in a tree)
  3. _____ pencils are sharp. (These/Those - if pencils are on your desk)
  4. _____ car is moving fast. (This/That - if car is on the road)
  • This ball is round, but that ball is flat.
  • These apples are red, but those apples are green.
  • This cat is sleeping, and that dog is running.

Treasure Hunt:

  • Find something close and say: “This is…”
  • Find many things close and say: “These are…”
  • Point to something far and say: “That is…”
  • Point to many things far and say: “Those are…”

Demonstratives help us point to exactly what we mean! 🎯