Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. ___ book in my hand is very interesting. → This

One book, and it is in your hand, so it is near and singular: this.

2. ___ shoes over there are on sale. → Those

Shoes is plural and over there is far, so the demonstrative is those.

3. ___ are my parents, Anna and Piotr. → These

Two people being introduced right here are near and plural: these.

4. Look at ___ mountains in the distance. → those

Mountains is plural and in the distance is far, so those is correct.

5. Hello, ___ is Marta speaking. → this

On the telephone English speakers identify themselves with this is, never I am.

6. Can you pass me ___ salt, please? (it is next to you) → that

The salt is away from the speaker and near the listener, so that is the natural choice.

7. ___ biscuits I made yesterday have all gone. → These

Biscuits is plural, and they are close to the speaker in the conversation, so these.

8. Which sentence is correct? → These are my keys.

Keys is plural, so it needs these and the plural verb are.

9. ___ was the best holiday of my life. → That

A finished event in the past is distant in time, so English uses that.

10. Do you remember ___ days when we had no internet? → those

Days is plural and the time is in the past, so those.

11. ___ is my brother, Karim. → This

English introduces one person with this is rather than he is.

12. I don't like ___ weather at all. (it is raining now) → this

Weather happening right now is near in time, so this is the natural demonstrative.

13. ___ trousers are too small for me. → These

Trousers is always plural in English, so it takes these or those, never this.

14. Who is ___ man at the back of the room? → that

One man at a distance is far and singular: that.

15. ___ is the last time I lend him money. → That

That refers back to something that has just happened, and is the fixed choice in this phrase.

16. Which question is correct? → What are these?

These is plural, so it takes are, and the question word comes first.

17. Take ___ chair — it's more comfortable. (pointing to one nearby) → this

One chair that is near takes this.

18. ___ people in the queue have been waiting an hour. → Those

People is plural and the queue is at a distance, so those.

19. Is ___ your bag under the table? → that

Under the table is away from the speaker, so the singular far form that is used.

20. ___ oranges smell wonderful — I'll take a kilo. → These

Oranges is plural and the speaker is standing at the stall, so these.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. ___ is my new phone. Do you like it? → This

One object being held out to somebody is near and singular.

2. ___ are the photographs from our holiday. → These

Photographs is plural and the speaker is showing them, so the near plural form is used.

3. Who lives in ___ house at the top of the hill? → that

One house at a distance takes the far singular form.

4. ___ apples on the far table look better than ours. → Those

Apples is plural and on the far table is distant.

5. Good morning, ___ is Dr Silva's surgery. → this

Answering a telephone in English begins with this is.

6. I bought ___ jacket in Rome last year. → this

This works if the speaker is wearing or holding the jacket; that if it is across the room.

7. Could you hand me ___ scissors, please? (near the listener) → those

Scissors is always plural in English, and near the listener means the far form.

8. ___ was a difficult year for everybody. → That

A completed period in the past is distant in time, so the singular far form is used.

9. I still remember ___ summers we spent by the sea. → those

Summers is plural and firmly in the past, so the far plural form fits.

10. ___ is my colleague Fatima, from the design team. → This

English introduces one person with this is rather than she is.

11. Are ___ your gloves on the floor over there? → those

Gloves is plural and over there is distant.

12. ___ coffee is far too strong for me. → This

A cup in front of the speaker is near and singular.

13. Do you know who owns ___ black car outside? → that

One car outside the building is distant and singular.

14. ___ shoes are killing me — I should have worn trainers. → These

Shoes on the speaker's own feet are near and plural.

15. What are ___ marks on the ceiling? → those

Marks is plural, and the ceiling is away from the speaker.

16. ___ is exactly what I was looking for, thank you. → This

This points at something just received; that would point back at something just said or done.

17. Have you tried ___ biscuits my mother sent? → these

These if the plate is between the speakers; those if it is across the room.

18. ___ trousers don't fit me any more. → These

Trousers is a plural-only noun in English, so the singular forms are impossible here.

19. In ___ days there were no mobile phones at all. → those

Days is plural and the period is remote in time, so the far plural form is required.

20. Is ___ seat free, or is somebody sitting there? → this

This for the chair beside you; that for one further away.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Show somebody a place you love, standing outside it. → This is my favourite restaurant.

Show somebody a place you love, standing outside it.

2. Show a friend some pictures in your hands. → These are my old school photographs.

Show a friend some pictures in your hands.

3. Point out a landmark on the other side of a square. → That building is the town hall.

Point out a landmark on the other side of a square.

4. Admire some plants at a distance. → Those flowers are beautiful.

Admire some plants at a distance.

5. Ask about a garment you are holding. → Is this your coat?

Ask about a garment you are holding.

6. Explain who some food nearby is meant for. → These sandwiches are for the children.

Explain who some food nearby is meant for.

7. Comment on something that has just finished. → That was a wonderful evening.

Comment on something that has just finished.

8. Ask about a group you can see through a window. → Who are those people outside?

Ask about a group you can see through a window.

9. Complain about the drink in front of you. → This coffee is too sweet.

Complain about the drink in front of you.

10. Look back on a period in your childhood. → I remember those long summer holidays.

Look back on a period in your childhood.

11. Ask about several chairs right beside you. → Are these seats free?

Ask about several chairs right beside you.

12. Correct somebody's understanding of what you said. → That is not what I meant.

Correct somebody's understanding of what you said.

13. Give the price of footwear you are wearing. → These shoes cost eighty euros.

Give the price of footwear you are wearing.

14. Draw attention to an animal high above you. → Look at that bird on the roof.

Draw attention to an animal high above you.

15. Introduce a named relative to somebody. → This is my sister Nina.

Introduce a named relative to somebody.

16. Look back fondly on a long period in the past. → Those were the best years of my life.

Look back fondly on a long period in the past.

17. Ask a shop assistant about a plural-only garment. → Can I try these trousers on?

Ask a shop assistant about a plural-only garment.

18. Give news about a place across the street. → That restaurant closed last year.

Give news about a place across the street.

19. Report a problem with something in your hand. → These keys do not open the door.

Report a problem with something in your hand.

20. Ask who owns luggage across the room. → Whose are those bags by the window?

Ask who owns luggage across the room.