Mastering ‘These’ and ‘Those’: A Comprehensive Guide to Demonstrative Pronouns
Understanding and using demonstrative pronouns correctly is crucial for clear and effective communication in English. ‘These’ and ‘those’ are two such pronouns that often cause confusion, especially for English language learners. This comprehensive guide will provide a detailed explanation of these pronouns, their usage, and practical examples to help you master their application.
## What are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people, places, or things. They indicate which item or items we are referring to. In English, the demonstrative pronouns are: ‘this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these,’ and ‘those.’ They differ based on number (singular or plural) and proximity (near or far).
Here’s a quick overview:
* **This:** Singular, near in distance or time.
* **That:** Singular, far in distance or time.
* **These:** Plural, near in distance or time.
* **Those:** Plural, far in distance or time.
This guide will focus specifically on ‘these’ and ‘those,’ providing in-depth explanations and practical examples.
## Understanding ‘These’
‘These’ is the plural form of ‘this.’ It is used to refer to multiple items that are close in proximity to the speaker. ‘Proximity’ can refer to physical distance, time, or even conceptual closeness.
### Key characteristics of ‘These’
* **Plural:** ‘These’ always refers to more than one item.
* **Near:** ‘These’ indicates that the items being referred to are close to the speaker in some way.
### Usage Scenarios for ‘These’
1. **Physical Proximity:**
This is the most common usage. ‘These’ points to items that are physically near the speaker.
* *Example:* “These apples on the table look delicious.” (The apples are on the table next to the speaker.)
* *Example:* “Can you carry these boxes for me?” (The boxes are close to the speaker.)
* *Example:* “These shoes are hurting my feet.” (The speaker is wearing the shoes.)
2. **Temporal Proximity:**
‘These’ can also refer to a time period that is close to the present moment.
* *Example:* “These days, I’m very busy with work.” (Referring to the current period of time.)
* *Example:* “These past few weeks have been challenging.” (Referring to the recent weeks.)
* *Example:* “I’m really enjoying these summer evenings.” (Referring to the evenings in the current summer.)
3. **Conceptual Proximity:**
Sometimes, ‘these’ can refer to ideas, concepts, or topics that are currently being discussed or are salient in the speaker’s mind.
* *Example:* “These are the issues we need to address.” (Referring to issues currently under discussion.)
* *Example:* “These points are crucial to understanding the argument.” (Referring to points made in the current context.)
* *Example:* “These concerns need to be taken seriously.” (Referring to the present concerns.)
### Grammatical Considerations for ‘These’
* **Noun Agreement:** ‘These’ must always be followed by a plural noun.
* *Correct:* “These books are mine.”
* *Incorrect:* “These book is mine.”
* **Verb Agreement:** The verb used with ‘these’ must also be plural.
* *Correct:* “These are my favorite flowers.”
* *Incorrect:* “These is my favorite flowers.”
* **Pronoun Agreement:** When referring back to ‘these,’ use plural pronouns like ‘they’ or ‘them.’
* *Example:* “These cookies look delicious. I’m going to eat them.”
### Common Mistakes with ‘These’
* **Using ‘These’ with Singular Nouns:** This is a common error, especially for non-native speakers. Remember that ‘these’ is always plural.
* *Incorrect:* “These car is mine.”
* *Correct:* “This car is mine.” or “These cars are mine.”
* **Using ‘These’ to Refer to Distant Objects:** ‘These’ implies proximity. If the objects are far away, use ‘those’ instead.
* *Incorrect:* “These mountains over there are beautiful.” (If the mountains are far away.)
* *Correct:* “Those mountains over there are beautiful.”
## Understanding ‘Those’
‘Those’ is the plural form of ‘that.’ It is used to refer to multiple items that are distant from the speaker. ‘Distance’ can refer to physical distance, time, or conceptual distance, mirroring ‘these’ but with an opposite connotation.
### Key characteristics of ‘Those’
* **Plural:** ‘Those’ always refers to more than one item.
* **Far:** ‘Those’ indicates that the items being referred to are distant from the speaker in some way.
### Usage Scenarios for ‘Those’
1. **Physical Distance:**
This is the most common use of ‘those.’ ‘Those’ points to items that are physically far from the speaker.
* *Example:* “Those birds flying in the sky are migrating south.” (The birds are far away in the sky.)
* *Example:* “Who owns those cars parked down the street?” (The cars are parked far down the street.)
* *Example:* “Look at those stars! They’re so bright tonight.” (The stars are very far away.)
2. **Temporal Distance:**
‘Those’ can refer to a time period that is distant from the present moment.
* *Example:* “I remember those days fondly.” (Referring to days in the past.)
* *Example:* “Those were the best years of my life.” (Referring to years long ago.)
* *Example:* “We should learn from those past mistakes.” (Referring to mistakes made in the past.)
3. **Conceptual Distance:**
Sometimes, ‘those’ can refer to ideas, concepts, or topics that are not immediately relevant or are distanced in the speaker’s mind.
* *Example:* “I disagree with those arguments.” (Referring to arguments that are not accepted by the speaker.)
* *Example:* “Those are just theories, not facts.” (Referring to theories that are considered less valid.)
* *Example:* “Let’s not revisit those old issues.” (Referring to issues from the past that are not desirable to discuss.)
### Grammatical Considerations for ‘Those’
* **Noun Agreement:** ‘Those’ must always be followed by a plural noun.
* *Correct:* “Those houses are very expensive.”
* *Incorrect:* “Those house is very expensive.”
* **Verb Agreement:** The verb used with ‘those’ must also be plural.
* *Correct:* “Those are the rules we must follow.”
* *Incorrect:* “Those is the rules we must follow.”
* **Pronoun Agreement:** When referring back to ‘those,’ use plural pronouns like ‘they’ or ‘them.’
* *Example:* “Those flowers need watering. They look quite dry.”
### Common Mistakes with ‘Those’
* **Using ‘Those’ with Singular Nouns:** Remember that ‘those’ is always plural.
* *Incorrect:* “Those dog is friendly.”
* *Correct:* “That dog is friendly.” or “Those dogs are friendly.”
* **Using ‘Those’ to Refer to Close Objects:** ‘Those’ implies distance. If the objects are near, use ‘these’ instead.
* *Incorrect:* “Those books in my hands are heavy.” (If the books are in the speaker’s hands.)
* *Correct:* “These books in my hands are heavy.”
## ‘These’ vs. ‘Those’: A Direct Comparison
To solidify your understanding, let’s compare ‘these’ and ‘those’ directly with some contrasting examples:
| Feature | These | Those |
|—————-|—————————————————-|—————————————————-|
| **Number** | Plural | Plural |
| **Proximity** | Near (physical, temporal, or conceptual) | Far (physical, temporal, or conceptual) |
| **Examples** | “These cookies taste amazing.” | “Those cookies on the top shelf look old.” |
| | “These days have been very productive.” | “Those days were filled with adventure.” |
| | “These are my main concerns about the project.” | “Those are irrelevant details to the main issue.” |
## Practical Exercises
Let’s test your understanding with a few exercises. Fill in the blanks with either ‘these’ or ‘those’.
1. ______ shoes look expensive. Are they new?
2. ______ were the days! I miss them so much.
3. ______ are the issues we need to discuss today.
4. ______ birds flying high up in the sky are eagles.
5. I don’t agree with ______ opinions.
**Answer Key:**
1. These
2. Those
3. These
4. Those
5. Those
## Tips for Remembering the Difference
* **Associate ‘These’ with ‘Here’:** ‘Here’ indicates a place close to you. Similarly, ‘these’ refers to things close to you.
* **Associate ‘Those’ with ‘There’:** ‘There’ indicates a place far from you. Similarly, ‘those’ refers to things far from you.
* **Practice Regularly:** The more you practice using ‘these’ and ‘those,’ the easier it will become to distinguish between them.
* **Pay Attention to Context:** Context is key. Consider the physical distance, time frame, and conceptual relevance when choosing between ‘these’ and ‘those.’
## Advanced Usage
While the basic principles are straightforward, here are some more nuanced ways ‘these’ and ‘those’ can be used.
### Demonstrative Adjectives
‘These’ and ‘those’ can also function as demonstrative adjectives. In this case, they modify a noun directly.
* *Example:* “These old houses need renovation.” (‘These’ modifies ‘houses’)
* *Example:* “Those expensive cars are out of my budget.” (‘Those’ modifies ‘cars’)
### Implying Judgement or Opinion
‘Those’ can sometimes be used to imply a negative judgment or distance from something.
* *Example:* “I don’t like those types of movies.” (Suggests a dislike for the specific genre of movies).
* *Example:* “He’s one of those people who always complain.” (Suggests the speaker finds the complaining annoying).
### In Formal Writing
In formal writing, be particularly precise with your use of demonstrative pronouns to avoid ambiguity. Ensure the context clearly identifies what you are referring to.
## Conclusion
Mastering the use of ‘these’ and ‘those’ is essential for clear and accurate English communication. By understanding the concepts of proximity (physical, temporal, and conceptual) and practicing regularly, you can confidently use these demonstrative pronouns in your speaking and writing. Remember that ‘these’ refers to multiple items that are near, while ‘those’ refers to multiple items that are far. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon become proficient in using ‘these’ and ‘those’ correctly.
This guide has provided a comprehensive overview of demonstrative pronouns, particularly ‘these’ and ‘those’. We have covered their key characteristics, usage scenarios, grammatical considerations, common mistakes, and practical exercises. By following these guidelines, you can enhance your English language skills and communicate more effectively.
Remember to continually practice and pay attention to how native speakers use ‘these’ and ‘those’ in various contexts. This will help you internalize the rules and develop a natural feel for their usage. Good luck!