Vocafy - Kujifunza lugha kwa ufanisi Vocafy - Kujifunza lugha kwa ufanisi
Sarufi
Nouns and determiners A1

Demonstratives: this, that, these, those

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

Tunatafsiri maelezo...
Kwa sasa tunaonyesha somo la Kiingereza la asili.
Mwongozo wa picha

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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

This is my bag.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

This
pointing subject
points to one thing near the speaker or current focus
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

This chair is free.

Use this for one nearby thing.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

This chair
demonstrative + noun
one chair near the speaker or current focus
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
is free
description
gives information about the chair
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

That chair is taken.

Use that for one more distant thing.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

That chair
demonstrative + noun
one chair farther away or outside the speaker's current focus
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
is taken
description
gives information about the chair
Core Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

These keys are mine.

Use these for nearby plural things.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

These keys
demonstrative + plural noun
more than one thing near the speaker or current focus
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
are mine
ownership phrase
uses plural are with a plural subject
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Those houses are old.

Use those for distant plural things.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Those houses
demonstrative + plural noun
more than one thing farther away or outside the current focus
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Informal

That sounds good.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

That sounds good
reaction to an idea
that points back to an idea just mentioned
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

This phone is new.

This works before a singular noun.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

This phone
demonstrative + noun
one near phone
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
is new
description
singular be plus adjective
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

That phone is new.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

That phone
demonstrative + noun
one farther phone
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
is new
description
singular be plus adjective
Core Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

These shoes are too small.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

These shoes
demonstrative + plural noun
near plural noun phrase
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
are too small
description
plural be plus adjective phrase
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Those shoes are too small.

Those works before a plural noun and marks distance.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Those shoes
demonstrative + plural noun
far plural noun phrase
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Are those your shoes?

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Are those your shoes
question frame
yes/no question with are before the demonstrative subject
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Is this your ticket?

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Is this your ticket
question frame
yes/no question with is before the demonstrative subject
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Negative Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

This isn't my coat.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

This isn't my coat
negative frame
this + negative be + noun phrase
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Negative Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Those aren't our bags.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Those aren't our bags
negative frame
those + negative plural be + noun phrase
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Spoken Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

I like this one.

Use this one to avoid repeating a singular noun.

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

this one
choice phrase
one near item when the noun is already clear
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
I like
preference frame
introduces a preference
Spoken Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

I like those.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

those
plural object
far plural things used without repeating the noun
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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 Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

What is this?

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

What is this
identifying question
asks the listener to identify the near thing
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

It is a charger.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

It is a charger
later reference
uses it after the thing has been identified
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Question Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Are those your glasses?

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Are those your glasses
identifying question
asks about plural things being pointed out
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
Contrast Sarufi A1 Msamiati A1 Neutral

Yes, they are.

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

Vipengele vya msingi

Soma sentensi kwa vipande vya maana, si neno kwa neno.

Yes, they are
short answer
uses they after the plural things are known
Jifunze kama kitu kimoja
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.
Hatutumii vidakuzi vya matangazo kutoka kwa wahusika wengine wala pikseli za ufuatiliaji kwenye tovuti tofauti.
Tunatumia vidakuzi na teknolojia zinazofanana ili programu yetu ifanye kazi vizuri, kuchanganua utendaji, na kuboresha matumizi yako.
Unaweza kudhibiti mapendeleo yako wakati wowote.

Karibu tena!

Tafadhali ingia ili uendelee

Umesahau nenosiri?
Huna akaunti? Jisajili