Nouns and determiners A1

Demonstratives: this, that, these, those

Point to near or distant people, things, and ideas with this, that, these, and those.

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Visuelle Übersicht

Demonstratives: distance + number

Pointing word = distance + number

        my attention circle
        ┌─────────────────┐
        │  NEAR / here    │
        │  one  → this    │
        │  many → these   │
        └─────────────────┘

        outside the circle
        ┌─────────────────┐
        │  FAR / there    │
        │  one  → that    │
        │  many → those   │
        └─────────────────┘

This is my bag.        = near + one
Those houses are old.  = far + many

Choose this/these for what feels near, and that/those for what feels farther away; then match one or many.

Introduction

Point to the thing you mean

Demonstratives are pointing words. Use this, that, these, and those to show exactly which person, thing, or idea you mean. They can come before a noun, or they can stand alone when the noun is obvious from the situation. For example, “This is my bag” works when the speaker is holding or touching the bag. Demonstratives are practical in shops, classrooms, homes, travel, and messages because they let you identify something quickly.

Core Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

This is my bag.

This can stand alone as the subject when the thing is clear from context.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

This

pointing subject

points to one thing near the speaker or current focus

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is my bag

be + noun phrase

identifies the thing

Core logic

Near or far, one or many

Choose a demonstrative with two simple decisions: distance and number. This means one thing near the speaker or current focus. That means one thing farther away. These means more than one thing near the speaker or current focus. Those means more than one thing farther away. The four basic choices are: “This chair is free,” “That chair is taken,” “These keys are mine,” and “Those houses are old.” In simple sentences, this and that usually go with singular nouns; these and those go with plural nouns.

Core Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

This chair is free.

Use this for one nearby thing.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

This chair

demonstrative + noun

one chair near the speaker or current focus

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is free

description

gives information about the chair

Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

That chair is taken.

Use that for one more distant thing.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

That chair

demonstrative + noun

one chair farther away or outside the speaker's current focus

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is taken

description

gives information about the chair

Core Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

These keys are mine.

Use these for nearby plural things.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

These keys

demonstrative + plural noun

more than one thing near the speaker or current focus

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are mine

ownership phrase

uses plural are with a plural subject

Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Those houses are old.

Use those for distant plural things.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Those houses

demonstrative + plural noun

more than one thing farther away or outside the current focus

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are old

description

uses plural are with a plural subject

Cognitive metaphor

The attention circle

Think of the speaker’s attention as a small circle. This and these point inside the circle: in my hand, next to me, on this page, or active in my mind now. That and those point outside the circle: over there, with you, earlier, or in another person’s words. This is why that can point to a whole idea, not only a physical object: “That sounds good.” The distance can be physical, but it can also be distance in time, attention, or conversation.

Spoken Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Informal

That sounds good.

That can point to a whole idea, not only a physical object.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

That sounds good

reaction to an idea

that points back to an idea just mentioned

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Core pattern

Two useful patterns

Demonstratives have two main patterns. Pattern 1: demonstrative + noun + rest of sentence. Use it when you name the thing: “This phone is new,” “That phone is new,” “These shoes are too small,” and “Those shoes are too small.” Pattern 2: demonstrative + be + noun/adjective. Use it when the thing is clear from context: this is, that is, these are, those are. The demonstrative carries the pointing information; the noun and verb must match the number.

Core Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

This phone is new.

This works before a singular noun.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

This phone

demonstrative + noun

one near phone

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is new

description

singular be plus adjective

Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

That phone is new.

That also works before a singular noun, but with distance.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

That phone

demonstrative + noun

one farther phone

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is new

description

singular be plus adjective

Core Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

These shoes are too small.

These works before a plural noun and takes are in simple be sentences.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

These shoes

demonstrative + plural noun

near plural noun phrase

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are too small

description

plural be plus adjective phrase

Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Those shoes are too small.

Those works before a plural noun and marks distance.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Those shoes

demonstrative + plural noun

far plural noun phrase

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are too small

description

plural be plus adjective phrase

Sentence xray

Sentence X-ray: what each part does

Look at the sentence “These shoes are too small.” These tells us two things before the noun arrives: the speaker means more than one item, and the items are near or in the current focus. Shoes is a plural noun, so the verb is are. Too small describes the shoes. In the question “Are those your shoes?” the be verb moves to the front because it is a yes/no question. Those still carries the meaning “more than one” plus “farther away or not in my current focus.”

Question Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Are those your shoes?

In a be question, put are before those/these.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Are those your shoes

question frame

yes/no question with are before the demonstrative subject

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Usage rules

Questions, negatives, and choosing

With be, questions and negatives are easy. For a question, put is or are first: “Is this your ticket?” For a negative, put not after be: “This isn’t my coat” and “Those aren’t our bags.” When the noun is obvious, you do not need to repeat it. For one item, use one: “I like this one.” For several items, these or those can often stand alone: “I like those.” These short patterns are common when choosing, shopping, pointing, or checking ownership.

Question Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Is this your ticket?

In a be question with this/that, put is before the demonstrative.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Is this your ticket

question frame

yes/no question with is before the demonstrative subject

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Negative Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

This isn't my coat.

Use isn't after this/that for a simple negative identification.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

This isn't my coat

negative frame

this + negative be + noun phrase

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Negative Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Those aren't our bags.

Use aren't after these/those in simple negative sentences.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Those aren't our bags

negative frame

those + negative plural be + noun phrase

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Spoken Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

I like this one.

Use this one to avoid repeating a singular noun.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

this one

choice phrase

one near item when the noun is already clear

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I like

preference frame

introduces a preference

Spoken Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

I like those.

These and those can stand alone when the plural noun is clear.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

those

plural object

far plural things used without repeating the noun

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I like

preference frame

introduces a preference

Contrast

This/that vs. it/they

The closest confusion is with it and they. Use this, that, these, and those to identify, choose, introduce, or point. Use it and they after the listener already knows which thing you mean. Start with a demonstrative: “What is this?” Then continue with a pronoun: “It is a charger.” For plural things, start with “Are those your glasses?” and answer “Yes, they are.” Do not use it or they when you still need to point out which thing you mean.

Question Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

What is this?

Use this when you are pointing to or introducing the thing.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

What is this

identifying question

asks the listener to identify the near thing

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Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

It is a charger.

After the listener knows the thing, use it instead of repeating this.

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Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

It is a charger

later reference

uses it after the thing has been identified

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Question Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Are those your glasses?

Use those to point to several things before they are fully established in the conversation.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Are those your glasses

identifying question

asks about plural things being pointed out

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Contrast Grammatik A1 Wortschatz A1 Neutral

Yes, they are.

After the plural things are known, use they in a short answer.

Satzbausteine

Lies den Satz in Sinneinheiten, nicht Wort für Wort.

Yes, they are

short answer

uses they after the plural things are known

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Danger zone

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is mixing singular and plural. Do not say “This shoes are too small”; say “These shoes are too small.” Do not say “Those phone is new”; say “That phone is new.” Also, do not put the before a noun after a demonstrative: say this book, not this the book. When a demonstrative stands alone before a description, English usually needs be: this is, that is, these are, those are. Always check number first, then distance.

Summary

Quick summary

Choose in two steps: one or many, then near/current or far/not-current. One near is this. One far is that. Many near is these. Many far is those. Use demonstratives before nouns or alone when the noun is clear. Make be questions with is or are at the front, and make negatives with isn’t or aren’t. After the thing is identified, switch to it or they. If the noun is obvious, this one and the demonstratives alone help you avoid repetition.

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Demonstratives: this, that, these, those

Demonstratives: distance + number

Point to the thing you mean

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Near or far, one or many

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The attention circle

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Two useful patterns

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Sentence X-ray: what each part does

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Questions, negatives, and choosing

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This/that vs. it/they

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Common mistakes to avoid

Quick summary

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