Demonstrative pronouns

What is the different among this, these, that, those? What is the rule when we use them?

Let’s start.

this and these

We use this (singular) and these (plural) as pronouns:

• to talk about people or things near us:

This is a nice cup of coffee.
Whose flip flops are these?

• to introduce people:

This is Huy.
These are my friends Huy and Long.

that and those

We use that (singular) and those (plural) as pronouns to talk about things that are not near us:

What’s that?
Those are very expensive flip flops.
This is our motorbike, and that‘s Phuc’s motorbike over there.

PRACTICE