Mastering This That These Those Worksheet for Beginners

Mastering This, That, These, and Those: A Beginner's Guide

When learning English, one of the most common challenges for beginners is mastering the correct usage of demonstratives such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” These words are used to point out specific nouns or things, but the difference in their usage can be subtle, leading to confusion. In this guide, we’ll break down the rules and provide examples to help you understand when to use each word.

Understanding the Basics

Demonstratives are words that help us identify specific things or people. They can be classified into two categories: singular and plural.

• Singular Demonstratives: “this” and “that”
• Plural Demonstratives: “these” and “those”

This and These

• This is used to refer to a singular noun that is close to the speaker.
• These is used to refer to plural nouns that are close to the speaker.

Examples:

• “I’m reading this book.” (singular, close to the speaker)
• “I’m reading these books.” (plural, close to the speaker)

That and Those

• That is used to refer to a singular noun that is far from the speaker.
• Those is used to refer to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.

Examples:

• “I see that car over there.” (singular, far from the speaker)
• “I see those cars over there.” (plural, far from the speaker)

Common Mistakes

One common mistake is using “this” and “that” incorrectly when referring to something that is close or far. Remember, “this” is for things that are close, and “that” is for things that are far.

Examples:

• Incorrect: “I’m going to that store.” (should be “this” if the store is close)
• Incorrect: “I see this mountain over there.” (should be “that” if the mountain is far)

Practice Time!

Here are some exercises to help you practice using “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” correctly:

1. Complete the sentences with the correct demonstrative:
   • “I’m holding ____________________ pen.” (singular, close)
   • “I see ____________________ cars on the road.” (plural, far)
2. Identify the correct demonstrative in each sentence:
   • “I’m reading ____________________ book.” (singular, close)
   • “I’m reading ____________________ books.” (plural, close)

Tips and Tricks

• When in doubt, try replacing the noun with a pronoun. If you would use “it” (singular) or “they” (plural), use “this” or “that” for singular nouns and “these” or “those” for plural nouns.
• Pay attention to the context. If you’re describing something that is physically close to you, use “this” or “these.” If you’re describing something that is far away, use “that” or “those.”

👍 Note: Practice makes perfect. Try to use "this," "that," "these," and "those" in your daily conversations to become more comfortable with their usage.

Without a solid understanding of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” you may find yourself struggling to communicate effectively in English. By mastering the correct usage of these demonstratives, you’ll be able to express yourself more clearly and confidently. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be using “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” like a pro!