This, That, These, Those

Singular:           Plural:

this tree             these trees

that picture        those pictures      

- For things that are near to us we use this and these

- For things that are far from us we use that and those

- When the meaning is obvious, we use this, that, these, those without a noun:

  Example: A student just finished his math exam, and he says to his mother: That was not easy! (That = the exam)

- Things that are happening now are to us in time, so we use this and these:

  Example: Maria (at a concert): I really love some of these songs.

- Things that are finished are not near to us in time, so we use those or that:

  Example: John (after leaving the concert): I really loved some of those songs.

Put that, this, these or those in the gaps in the following dialogue:

Lisa: I like sitting here on 1)____ terrace in the middle of 2)______ mountains.

Marc: Yes, and the fruits are great. 3)_____ oranges are delicious.

Lisa: Delicious, yes, but 4)____ one has gone bad. What are 5)_____ girls over there having for dinner?

Marc: I think 6) _____ is raclette. We can try 7) ____ if we come again.

____________________________________________________________

Answers:

Lisa: I like sitting here on 1) this terrace in the middle of 2) these mountains.

Marc: Yes, and the fruits are great. 3) These oranges are delicious.

Lisa: Delicious, yes, but 4) that one has gone bad. What are 5) these girls over there having for dinner?

Marc: I think 6) that is raclette. We can try 7) that if we come again.