PE-8: This, That, These, Those
Four little words that point: near or far, one or many — plus how English uses them on the phone, in time expressions and when introducing people.
PE-8: This, That, These, Those
Point at something on your desk, then at something across the classroom. English gives you four words for that finger: this, that, these, those. They are easy — there are only two questions to answer — but they hide a few surprises, like the fact that English people answer the phone with "This is Afsona".
In this lesson you will learn
- The 2×2 system: near / far × one / many
- The difference between this book and This is my book
- How English uses these words for time, not only for distance
- Phone and introduction phrases every learner needs
1. The whole system in one picture
👉 Near me (here)
- this + one thing — this pen
- these + many things — these pens
👈 Far from me (there)
- that + one thing — that building
- those + many things — those buildings
This is my pen and that is yours. These books are new, but those books over there are old.
Bu mening ruchkam, u esa seniki. Bu kitoblar yangi, ammo anavi kitoblar eski.
2. Two jobs: with a noun, or standing alone
These four words can sit in front of a noun (like my or the), or replace the noun completely and stand alone.
With a noun: This shirt is expensive. — Alone: This is expensive.
Bu koʻylak qimmat. — Bu qimmat.
3. Careful with the ones that are always plural
A few everyday things are plural in English even though they are one object: trousers, jeans, glasses, scissors, shorts. They always take these/those and a plural verb.
These jeans are too big, but those glasses are perfect.
Bu jinsi shim juda katta, lekin anavi koʻzoynak juda mos.
To count them, use a pair of: a pair of jeans, two pairs of scissors.
4. Not only distance — English also points in time
This is the part learners rarely get taught. This/these = near now; that/those = away in the past.
1Now / soon
this week, this morning, these days
2Then / the past
that year, in those days, at that time
3On the phone
Hello, this is Jasur. Who's that?
4Introducing people
This is my friend Sherbek.
These days everyone has a phone. In those days we wrote letters.
Hozirgi kunlarda hammada telefon bor. Oʻsha paytlarda biz xat yozardik.
5. "That" has a second life
You will also meet that as a connecting word, with no pointing meaning at all: I think that you are right. Do not confuse the two — you will study this that properly in the relative-clause lessons (PE-58).
6. Common mistakes
This books are interesting.
These books are interesting.
These is my brother.
This is my brother.
That are my shoes.
Those are my shoes.
Hello, I am Jasur. (on the phone)
Hello, this is Jasur.
This trousers are new.
These trousers are new. (trousers is always plural)
Practice
1 Choose: ? apples in my hand are sweet, but ? apples on the tree are sour.
Show answer
These … those. In my hand = near → these; on the tree = far → those. Both nouns are plural.
2 Correct it: This are my new shoes.
Show answer
These are my new shoes. The noun is plural, so both the pointing word and the verb must be plural.
3 You are introducing your sister to your teacher. What do you say?
Show answer
This is my sister, Afsona.
English introduces people with this is, not with she is. Use she is only after she has been introduced.
4 this / that: I am very busy ? week. I wasn't busy ? week. (last week)
Show answer
this … that. Time works like distance: the week I am in is near (this), the finished week is far (that).
5 What does that mean in each sentence? (a) Give me that book. (b) She said that she was tired.
Show answer
(a) points — "anavi kitobni". (b) connects two parts of a sentence and is not translated as "anavi" at all.
Key words — Kalit soʻzlar
- Demonstrativekoʻrsatish olmoshi
- To point atkoʻrsatmoq
- Near / faryaqin / uzoq
- Over thereanavi yerda
- To introducetanishtirmoq
- These dayshozirgi kunlarda
- In those daysoʻsha paytlarda
- To replaceoʻrnini bosmoq
- Trousersshim (doim koʻplik)
- Sournordon
🎯 Remember this
- Near → this (one) / these (many). Far → that / those.
- Match the number everywhere: This is … / These are …
- They point in time too: this week (now) vs in those days (past).
- Phone and introductions: This is Jasur. Who's that?
- That also works as a connector — a different word with the same spelling.