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1.5.2. Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)
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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!
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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!
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Create a free accountLet’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.
Overview
Short Summary
Demonstratives are essential words used to indicate specific nouns in relation to proximity, categorized as singular or plural.
Medium Summary
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.
Detailed Summary
Detailed Summary of Demonstratives
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.
Audio Book
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Create a free accountDemonstratives (This, That, These, Those): Point out specific nouns. 'This' and 'these' refer to items close by, 'that' and 'those' refer to items further away.
Detailed Explanation
Demonstratives are words we use to indicate specific items or people in relation to the distance from the speaker. 'This' is used for singular nouns that are close, while 'These' is for plural nouns that are also nearby. On the other hand, 'That' is used for singular nouns that are farther away, and 'Those' refers to plural nouns that are at a distance. Understanding this helps us communicate more clearly about our surroundings.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you are in a classroom. If you see a book in your hand, you would say, 'This book is interesting.' If your friend sits next to you with a stack of papers, you might say, 'These papers need to be graded.' However, if you see a book across the room on the shelf, you would say, 'That book looks old.' And if there is a group of students sitting far away, you could say, 'Those students are working on their projects.'
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Create a free account● This book (singular, near) ● These flowers (plural, near)
Detailed Explanation
'This' is used to talk about a singular noun that is close in distance to the speaker. For example, holding a book in your hand, you say, 'This book is mine.' On the other hand, 'these' is used when referring to plural nouns that are also near. For instance, if there are several flowers in front of you, you would say, 'These flowers are beautiful.' The key is to remember that 'this' is singular and 'these' is plural, and both refer to things that are nearby.
Examples & Analogies
Think of a person holding their favorite toy in their hand. They would say, 'This toy is my favorite.' Now, if they have several toys around them, they might say, 'These toys are all new.' This simple distinction of nearby singular and plural helps clarify communication.
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Create a free account● That house (singular, far) ● Those birds (plural, far)
Detailed Explanation
'That' is used to refer to a singular noun that is further away from you. For example, if you point to a house in the distance, you might say, 'That house looks beautiful.' In contrast, 'those' refers to plural nouns that are also at a distance. If you see a group of birds in the sky, you would say, 'Those birds are flying south.' Remember, 'that' indicates a single distant item, while 'those' points out multiple distant items.
Examples & Analogies
Imagine you are with your friend in a park, and you see a large house far away. You might say, 'That house is big.' Now, if you notice a flock of birds sitting on a fence farther down the path, you could tell your friend, 'Those birds are singing beautifully.' This way, demonstratives help us specify what we are talking about, depending on how close or far things are.
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Key Concepts
Core takeaways and short definitions to help you quickly recall the key ideas from this section.
Demonstratives: Words used to indicate specific nouns based on proximity.
'This' vs. 'That': 'This' is singular and refers to nearby items, whereas 'that' refers to distant items.
'These' vs. 'Those': 'These' is plural and refers to nearby items, while 'those' refers to distant plural items.
Examples
Memory Aids
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