Gramatika
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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Vaizdinė schema

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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

This is my bag.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

This

pointing subject
points to one thing near the speaker or current focus
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

This chair is free.

Use this for one nearby thing.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

This chair

demonstrative + noun
one chair near the speaker or current focus
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
is free

description
gives information about the chair
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

That chair is taken.

Use that for one more distant thing.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

That chair

demonstrative + noun
one chair farther away or outside the speaker's current focus
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
is taken

description
gives information about the chair
Core Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

These keys are mine.

Use these for nearby plural things.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

These keys

demonstrative + plural noun
more than one thing near the speaker or current focus
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
are mine

ownership phrase
uses plural are with a plural subject
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Those houses are old.

Use those for distant plural things.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Those houses

demonstrative + plural noun
more than one thing farther away or outside the current focus
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Informal

That sounds good.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

That sounds good

reaction to an idea
that points back to an idea just mentioned
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

This phone is new.

This works before a singular noun.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

This phone

demonstrative + noun
one near phone
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
is new

description
singular be plus adjective
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

That phone is new.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

That phone

demonstrative + noun
one farther phone
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
is new

description
singular be plus adjective
Core Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

These shoes are too small.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

These shoes

demonstrative + plural noun
near plural noun phrase
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
are too small

description
plural be plus adjective phrase
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Those shoes are too small.

Those works before a plural noun and marks distance.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Those shoes

demonstrative + plural noun
far plural noun phrase
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Are those your shoes?

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Are those your shoes

question frame
yes/no question with are before the demonstrative subject
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Is this your ticket?

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Is this your ticket

question frame
yes/no question with is before the demonstrative subject
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Negative Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

This isn't my coat.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

This isn't my coat

negative frame
this + negative be + noun phrase
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Negative Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Those aren't our bags.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Those aren't our bags

negative frame
those + negative plural be + noun phrase
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Spoken Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

I like this one.

Use this one to avoid repeating a singular noun.

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

this one

choice phrase
one near item when the noun is already clear
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
I like

preference frame
introduces a preference
Spoken Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

I like those.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

those

plural object
far plural things used without repeating the noun
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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 Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

What is this?

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

What is this

identifying question
asks the listener to identify the near thing
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

It is a charger.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

It is a charger

later reference
uses it after the thing has been identified
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Question Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Are those your glasses?

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Are those your glasses

identifying question
asks about plural things being pointed out
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
Contrast Gramatika A1 Žodynas A1 Neutral

Yes, they are.

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

Sudedamosios dalys

Skaitykite sakinį prasminėmis dalimis, o ne po vieną žodį.

Yes, they are

short answer
uses they after the plural things are known
Įsiminkite kaip visumą
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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