Circle the correct options.
Complete the sentences with It’s or They’re.
Match answers a-h in exercise 2a to questions 1-8 in exercise 1.
Complete the conversations with ‘s, is, ‘re or are. Use the contractions where possible.
This ESL EFL free worksheet is about demonstratives this, that, these, those and verb be. Students read and answer the questions. The worksheet has an answer key.
Understanding Demonstratives
| Demonstrative | Use Case | Example Sentence | Contextual Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular, near in time/space | “This is my pen.” | Use when the object is close to you. |
| That | Singular, far in time/space | “That is your coat.” | Use when the object is not close to you. |
| These | Plural, near in time/space | “These are my friends.” | Use for multiple objects close to you. |
| Those | Plural, far in time/space | “Those were the days.” | Use for multiple objects not close to you or for reminiscing about the past. |
Detailed Usage
This and These (Near):
- “This” is used for a single item that is physically close to the speaker or is the current topic of conversation.
- “These” is used for multiple items that are close to the speaker or are the current focus.
Examples:
- “This is delicious!” (while eating something)
- “These are my ideas.” (presenting ideas in a meeting)
That and Those (Far):
- “That” is used for a single item that is physically distant from the speaker or is being referred to in the past.
- “Those” is used for multiple items that are distant or were mentioned earlier.
Examples:
- “That was a great movie we saw last week.”
- “Those cookies on the top shelf look tasty.”
Fun Tips for Remembering
- This and These both have a ‘T’, which can stand for “Touch” (things that are close enough to touch).
- That and Those both start with ‘Th’, which can stand for “There” (pointing to something farther away).
Creative Practice
To make learning fun, try creating a short story using all four demonstratives. For example:
“This morning, I saw that old tree near those hills from my window. These memories will stay with me forever.”
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