This, That, These, Those

 

Singular:           Plural:

this tree             these trees

that picture        those pictures      

 

- For things that are near to us we use this and these

For things that are far from us we use that and those

When the meaning is obvious, we use this, that, these, those without a noun:

  Example: A student just finished his math exam, and he says to his mother: That was not easy! (That = the exam)

Things that are happening now are to us in time, so we use this and these:

  Example: Maria (at a concert): I really love some of these songs.

- Things that are finished are not near to us in time, so we use those or that:

  ExampleJohn (after leaving the concert): I really loved some of those songs.

 

Put that, this, these or those in the gaps in the following dialogue:

Lisa: I like sitting here on 1)____ terrace in the middle of 2)______ mountains.

Marc: Yes, and the fruits are great. 3)_____ oranges are delicious.

Lisa: Delicious, yes, but 4)____ one has gone bad. What are 5)_____ girls over there having for dinner?

Marc: I think 6) _____ is raclette. We can try 7) ____ if we come again.

____________________________________________________________

Answers:

Lisa: I like sitting here on 1) this terrace in the middle of 2) these mountains.

Marc: Yes, and the fruits are great. 3) These oranges are delicious.

Lisa: Delicious, yes, but 4) that one has gone bad. What are 5) these girls over there having for dinner?

Marc: I think 6) that is raclette. We can try 7) that if we come again.