Demonstrative THESE — When and How to Use It
Quick Answer
Use these for more than one thing that is near you — two or more shoes on your feet, several books in your bag, all the apples on your desk.
Example: These shoes are new. (The shoes I am wearing.)
THESE in Action — See the Pattern
Read these three sentences. Look at how these works:
- These are my keys. (Two or more keys, in my hand.)
- I love these cookies. (Several cookies on the plate in front of me.)
- These chairs are comfortable. (The chairs in this room.)
When to Use THESE
Use these when more than one thing is near you — close enough to touch or point at without moving. It is the plural of “this.”
- Holding many things: “These are my keys.”
- Pointing at things close: “These shoes are new.”
- Introducing two or more people: “These are my friends, Sam and Ali.”
- Talking about right now: “These days are warm.”
Easy way to remember: These = many + here. More than one thing, close to you. “These” comes from “this” + plural — same place, more things.
The Rule in One Line: Use these for more than one thing that is near you.
Real-Life Examples With THESE
Here are examples you might say or hear in everyday life:
- These are my photos from the trip. (The photos in my hand or on my phone.)
- Try these cookies — I made them. (The cookies in front of you.)
- These shoes are too small. (The shoes I am wearing right now.)
- These are my brothers, Sam and Omar. (Two people standing next to me.)
- These books are on sale today. (The books on the table I am pointing at.)
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With THESE
The biggest mistake is using “these” with one thing. “These” is always two or more. “This is shoes” sounds wrong because “shoes” is plural — and “these shoes” is the right phrase.
Using these for one thing
✗ These is my pen.
✓ This is my pen.
Using these for things far away
✗ These birds in the sky are loud.
✓ Those birds in the sky are loud.
Forgetting to use plural with these
✗ These is my friends.
✓ These are my friends.
How to remember: More than one + near = these. “This” + many things = “these.” The shape changes because the number changes.
Common “these” sentences: these shoes, these are my keys, these people, these days, these photos.
Test Yourself: THESE
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. _______ are my keys. (in my hand)
2. _______ cookies are delicious. (on the plate)
3. _______ shoes hurt my feet. (the ones I am wearing)
4. _______ are my brothers, Sam and Omar.
5. Try _______ chocolates from my box.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned these — the plural of this. Now you can talk about many things at your fingertips.
But what about many things far away? Birds in the sky. Cars at the end of the street. The clouds. Plural and far. There is one final demonstrative that handles exactly this — and once you have it, you have all four.
Next lesson: Demonstrative THOSE — When and How to Use It
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
