Understanding the difference between these and those is essential for building strong English grammar foundations. These two demonstrative pronouns help students correctly point out objects based on distance and number.
Introduction: Why Learn “These” and “Those”?
“These” and “those” are used to point out plural nouns. Students often get confused about when to use them, especially because both refer to more than one object.
Your worksheet from WorksheetSeva.com includes practical daily-life examples such as:
- “___ apples are very sweet.”
- “Look at ___ clouds in the sky!”
- “___ pencils in your hand are new.”
These sentences teach learners how to use the right demonstrative based on distance—near or far.
Meaning of These and Those
Before solving the worksheet, we must understand what each word means.
✔ What Does “These” Mean?
“These” is used when:
- Talking about plural objects
- Objects are near the speaker
- Can be physically touched or very close
Example from worksheet:
- “___ shoes near the door are mine.” → These shoes
✔ What Does “Those” Mean?
“Those” is used when:
- Talking about plural objects
- Objects are far away from the speaker
- Cannot be touched easily
Example from worksheet:
- “Look at ___ clouds in the sky!” → Those clouds
Detailed Solved Answer Key
1. ___ apples are very sweet.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Apples seem to be near the speaker.
2. Look at ___ clouds in the sky!
âś” Answer: Those
👉 Clouds are far away in the sky.
3. ___ books on the table belong to me.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Books on the table are nearby.
4. Who owns ___ bags over there?
âś” Answer: Those
👉 The phrase “over there” indicates distance.
5. ___ pencils in your hand are new.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Pencils in someone’s hand are close.
6. ___ stars far away look beautiful.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 Stars are far away in the sky.
7. Can you pass me ___ plates?
âś” Answer: These
👉 Plates are close enough to be passed.
8. ___ shoes near the door are mine.
âś” Answer: These
👉 “Near the door” indicates closeness.
9. What are ___ noises in the street?
âś” Answer: Those
👉 Noises in the street are farther away.
10. ___ flowers in the garden smell lovely.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 The garden is usually at a distance.
11. ___ birds sitting on the tree are chirping.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 Birds on a tree are not near the speaker.
12. ___ mountains in the distance look huge.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 “In the distance” clearly means far.
13. ___ toys you are holding are expensive.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Toys being held are very close.
14. ___ chairs at the back are broken.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 “At the back” indicates distance from the speaker.
15. ___ questions are very difficult.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Usually refers to questions nearby (in a book/test).
16. ___ cars parked outside are my friends’.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 Cars outside are not near the speaker.
17. ___ cupcakes on the tray look delicious.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Cupcakes on a tray are close.
18. ___ buildings across the river are old.
âś” Answer: Those
👉 “Across the river” = far away.
19. Are ___ your notebooks?
âś” Answer: These
👉 Notebooks in hand or nearby.
20. ___ paintings on the wall are beautiful.
âś” Answer: These
👉 Paintings on the wall are usually considered nearby enough to point at.
Tips to Always Choose the Right Word
- Check if the object is near → Use THESE.
- Check if the object is far → Use THOSE.
- Ask: “Can I touch it?”
- Yes → These
- No → Those
- Look for clues: “there”, “in the distance”, “across”, “far”, “outside”.
- All indicate → Those.
Your worksheet uses these clues smartly.
