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These and those are both pronouns, words that substitute for other nouns in a sentence. Knowing when to use each pronoun can be tricky, however. If you’re confused about when to use these and those, read on to find out the difference between them.
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Understand the function of pronouns. These and those are both pronouns, words that refer to or substitute for other nouns in the sentence. They draw attention to something specific. Because a pronoun takes the place of another noun, using the correct one helps your reader understand what the referent of the pronoun is (i.e., what noun it took the place of).[1]
- These and those are plural pronouns: they refer to or replace plural nouns.
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Understand pronoun agreement. «Agreement» means that the pronoun takes the same number as the noun it replaces. If the noun is singular, you would use this or that. If the noun is plural, you would use these or those.[2]
- American English considers collective nouns, or nouns that refer to a large group of things that cannot be counted individually (such as milk or data), as singular nouns. Use this or that rather that these or those for collective nouns. For example: «This milk has spilled all over the floor!»
- British English differs from American English in using collective nouns. British English refers to some collective nouns such as crowd or data as plural, so it is appropriate to use these or those in British English. For example: «These data don’t match the graphs you gave me.»
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Understand the function of these. These is the plural form of this. You will use it to refer to or replace a plural noun.[3]
- Singular: This book (a single book) on the shelf next to me belongs to Rajeev.
- Plural: These books (several books) on the shelf next to me belong to Rajeev. [Note that the verb belong has also been made to agree in number.]
- Singular: Look at this bracelet (a single bracelet) on my wrist!
- Plural: Look at these bracelets (many bracelets) on my wrist!
- Singular: Who put this cupcake (a single cupcake) in the refrigerator?
- Plural: Who put these cupcakes (some cupcakes) in the refrigerator?
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Understand the function of those. Those is the plural form of that. You will use it to refer to or replace a plural noun.[4]
- Singular: That mountain (a mountain) looks really small from here.
- Plural: Those mountains (several mountains) look really small from here. [Note that the verb look has also been made to agree in number.]
- Singular: Could you hand me that box (a box) on the other side of the room?
- Plural: Could you hand me those boxes (a few boxes) on the other side of the room?
- Singular: Why hasn’t that scientist (a scientist) at NASA found extraterrestrial life?
- Plural: Why haven’t those scientists (many scientists) at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [Note that the verb have has also been made to agree in number.]
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Use these to replace nouns that are nearby in space and time. If the noun you are referring to is near to you, either physically or figuratively, you can replace it with these.
- I’m holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of these? (These replaces chocolate bars.)
- Would you like to borrow some books? Here, take these. (These replaces books.)
- These are so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers. (These replaces flowers.)
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Use these to refer to something that is physically nearby. This and these are both used to refer to something that is closer to the speaker. You can use these to draw particular attention to items.[5]
- These books on the shelf belong to Rajeev. [The books are near the speaker.]
- Look at all these bracelets on my wrist! [The bracelets are on the speaker’s wrist, so they’re nearby.]
- Who put these cupcakes in the refrigerator? [Presumably, the speaker is close to the cupcakes.]
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Use these to describe when something is figuratively nearby. This and these are also used to express figurative distances, particularly distances having to do with time. Use these when something is happening in the present, has happened in the recent past, or will happen in the near future.[6]
- These shows I’ve been watching are absolutely extraordinary. [The shows have been watched in the recent past.]
- Have you seen these letters to the editor in today’s news? [The letters have been published in today’s newspaper.]
- Why don’t you take these books with you when you go? [The books will be taken by the other person in the near future.]
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Use these to introduce people to others. If you are introducing more than one person to someone else, you can use these to begin your sentence.[7]
- For example: «These are my classmates, Sean and Adrienne.»
- However, in English we do not use these to refer directly to people: «These are Sean and Adrienne» is incorrect. Instead, you would say «This is Sean and this is Adrienne.»
- If introducing yourself, as when answering the phone, use this: «Hello, this is Chang.»
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Use «those» to replace nouns that are farther away in space and time. If the noun you are referring to is far from you, either physically or figuratively, you can replace it with those
- That man over there is holding three chocolate bars. Do you want all of those? (Those replaces chocolate bars.)
- Would you like to borrow some books ? Take those over there on the shelf. (Those replaces books.)
- Those were so beautiful! Thank you for the flowers you gave me yesterday. (Those replaces flowers.)
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Use those when something is physically far away (relatively speaking). That and those are both used to refer to something that is farther away from the speaker. This distance can be literal or more figurative. Using those can draw attention or emphasis to the noun you’re discussing.[8]
- Those mountains look really small from here. [The mountains are far away from the speaker.]
- Could you hand me those boxes on the other side of the room? [The boxes are on the other side of the room.]
- Why haven’t those scientists at NASA found extraterrestrial life? [The speaker may be emphasizing that they don’t feel connected to the NASA scientists.]
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Use those to describe when something is figuratively more distant. That and those are used to express figurative distances too, particularly distances having to do with time. Use those when something has happened in the relatively distant past or will happen in the relatively distant future.[9]
- Those shows I watched last week were absolutely extraordinary. [The shows were watched some time ago.]
- Did you see those letters to the editor in yesterday’s news? [The letters were published in the past.]
- Why do all those politicians fight so much? [The speaker may be emphasizing a feeling of personal distance from the politicians.]
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Usage Chart
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Question
Should I use ‘this/that’ or ‘these/those’ for a pair of shoes or jeans, and why?
Use the ‘this/that’ when you refer to shoes or jeans as a ‘pair;’ but you should use ‘these/those’ when you just say ‘shoes’ or ‘jeans.’ The word ‘pair’ is treated as singular and ‘shoes’ or ‘jeans’ as plural.
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Question
Can I say»this/these is/are the news»?
News is considered a singular entity. «This is the news.»
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Question
«Those are three pretty girls» or «Those three are pretty girls» — which is correct?
They are both grammatically correct, but the first one is more natural and more likely to be used.
See more answers
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If you can count the number of objects you’re talking about (like pencils, sheep, or people) use these’ or those.[10]
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If you can’t count the number of objects you’re talking about (like milk, software, or rain), use this or that.
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References
About This Article
Article SummaryX
If you’re not sure how to use the words “these” and “those” correctly, try to remember that “these” refers to multiple objects which are nearby in space and time, while “those” refers to objects which are far away. For example, you might say, «I loved those cookies you made yesterday,» or you could say «These books are making my backpack really heavy!» To learn more about the functions of pronouns from our English reviewer, read on!
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Demonstrative pronouns in English
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Demonstrative pronouns in English (demonstrative pronouns / demonstratives) indicate a person, object, or their signs. There are several demonstrative pronouns in English.
Single number The many number
this — this, this, this | these — these |
that — that, that, that | those — those |
such — such, similar | such — such like |
the same — the same | the same — the same |
it is | it is |
Now you know what demonstrative pronouns are in English. Next, we will consider the cases when each of them is used.
Demonstrative pronouns this and these
This is used with singular nouns, the pronoun these — with plural nouns. These pronouns should be used in the following cases:
- When we talk about people or things that are near us. Sometimes in sentences with this and these, the adverb here (here) is used, which also indicates the proximity of the subject to us.
- When a situation occurs in the present or future tense, we describe this situation using this / these.
- When we talk about the same thing several times and want to avoid repetition.
- When we introduce people or introduce ourselves in a telephone conversation.
This table is wooden. — This table wood. (the table is nearby, and we point to it)
These books belong to me. — These books belong to me. (several books are next to me)
this girl is here and she is waiting for you. — This girlhereand she is waiting for you.
We are going to meet this week… — We are going to meet at this week.
This month you are making a great progress. — V this month you are making tremendous progress.
I don’t want to discuss this but I have to. — I do not want it discuss, but I have to. (it is assumed that this event has already been called before, thus avoiding repetition)
Look at this! He seems to be looking for his money. — Look at it! He seems to be looking for his money. (the pronoun indicates the situation described in the second sentence)
This is the main goal in my life. — This is the main goal in my life.
Jim, These are my brothers, Tom and Carl. — Jim, it my brothers, Tom and Karl.
Hello! This is Kate speaking! Can I speak to Mary? — Hey. This is Kate. Can I talk to Mary?
Demonstrative pronouns that and those
The demonstrative that is used with singular nouns, the pronoun those with plural nouns. Let’s see when we can use the demonstrative pronouns that and those:
- When we talk about people or things that are far away from us. Sometimes the adverb there is used in sentences with the demonstrative pronouns that and those.
I don’t this piece of cake. Give me That one, please. — I don’t like this piece of cake. Give me that, please. (the piece of cake that the speaker liked is farther from him)
Source: https://engblog.ru/demonstrative-pronouns
Demonstratives this, that, these and those
Singular | Plural | ||
This — this, this, this | What color is this shirt? What color is this skirt? | These — these | Thesis buildings are new. |
That is that, that, that | I don’t know That girl. I don’t know this girl. | Those — those | Who broght Those cakes? Who brings em cakes? |
- This and these only indicate close objects or moments in time.
Let’s sit on These chairs, they are the closest.
Let’s sit on these chairs, they are the closest to us.
I’m too tired this weekend.
I am very tired this week.
If the pronoun this is used with the words government, city, country, etc., it means the country, city, place to which the speaker belongs. When translated, instead of the obscure Russian pronoun «this», you can name a city or a country.
This country is very interesting. — The person is in the UK
Great Britain is very interesting.
- That and those indicate objects that are distant in time or distance.
They can also be translated into Russian as «this», since the pronoun «that» is used much less often than that or those in English.
Let’s sit on Those chairs next to the stage. — Let’s sit on those chairs next to the stage.
Don’t got ill on Saturday. That day was the most difficult for him. — Don got sick on Saturday. That (this) day was the most difficult for him.
These pronouns can be put together with nouns and serve as a definition:
He owns this car. — He owns this car.
Or replace nouns and be used separately:
This is what John was searching for. “This is what John was looking for.
Pronoun such
Demonstrative pronouns in English include such — such. Its form does not change depending on the number, but the singular requires the use of the indefinite article if the noun is countable.
It is Such a boring book. — It’s such a boring book.
I don’t Such boring books. — I don’t like such boring books.
Pronoun same
Source: https://lingua-airlines.ru/kb-article/ukazatelnye-mestoimeniya-v-anglijskom-yazyke/
LESSON 17 English
Abstract of the 17th lesson in PDF format can be viewed, printed and downloaded at this link
Do you know what is the most frequently used word in English? This is the article the! There is also an article a/an, and in some cases the article should not be used at all.
The topic of the correct arrangement of articles, despite its apparent simplicity, remains one of the «stumbling blocks» even for those who have been studying English for a long time.
In this lesson we will try to understand why this interesting part of speech is needed, in which cases it is necessary to use articles and how to do it correctly.
The meaning and use of articles
In English before everyone noun, as a rule, the article is put. Of course, there are cases when the article is not used (the so-called Article zero). But in general, the rule remains in force — this part of speech goes along with the noun «in conjunction». If a noun is used with adjective, the article is placed before the adjective, and all article placement rules remain in effect.
This topic seems difficult to us because in the Russian language there is no such part of speech as the article. However, we still have words that seem to play his role. Let’s look at how the definite and indefinite articles differ, and with what words they can be replaced in Russian.
Use of the indefinite article ‘a / an’
Article a/an in English comes from the word one — «one«. The analogue of this article in Russian will be the word “one”, But not in the meaning of quantity, but in the meaning of“ one of many ”. For example: “I knew one doctor «.
If the article is followed by a word that begins with a consonant, we put the article a, if with a vowel — use an… If a noun is used with an adjective, the rule applies to the adjective preceded by the article. For example: to book (book), an actress (actress), a nice girl, an interesting film (interesting film).
Pay attention! This rule is determined by phonetics (pronunciation), not spelling. For example, the word an hour [auə] («Hour») begins with a consonant, but with a vowel, so we put the article an. The words a university
Source: http://en1632.com/d/1635634/d/lesson32_17_synopsis.html
Demonstrative pronouns in English: what does it mean?
In today’s English, demonstrative pronouns are those pronouns that denote a person or object located near or at a distance, as well as their signs.
There are several demonstrative English pronouns: this — this, this, this; That — that, that, that; Such — such, similar; same — the same. In pl. number of pronouns such and the same does not change, but the form of the pronouns this and that in plural. number changes to these and those.
The demonstrative pronouns
In unit. number number of
This (this, this, this) | These (these) |
That (that, that, that) | Those |
Let’s look at the possible uses of all demonstrative pronouns, as well as determine what they have in common, and what are the differences between them.
This is a rhino.
Pronouns this — these
This — these are used when we mean persons or objects that are at close range from us.
In sentences with this (this, singular) or These (these, plural) can be used here —here, so that there is no doubt that a certain object or person is in the vicinity of the speaker.
Pronoun this in singular form. numbers are used when an action or situation is implied that occurs in a given period of time, or that will occur in the near future: this year (this year), this month (this month), etc.
The demonstrative pronoun this usually used when talking on the phone or meeting another person:
Usually this / these are used when discussing objects or places that are near us.
Those bears are very funny!
Pronouns that — those
That — those are used when they mean things or persons located at a distance from the interlocutor, therefore the adverb «there — there» is sometimes used together with that.
In the case when a situation from the past is implied.
During a telephone conversation, when we specify who we are talking to.
look! Those are monkeys.
Pronouns the same and such
Rules for using demonstrative pronouns same (the same) and Such (such) are identical.
It is enough just to remember that in the case of using such with nouns (countable) in singular. number, it is correct to use it with an indefinite article, and with uncountable nouns or plural nouns after such an article is not needed.
Anchoring test
1 is my friend.
- a) There
- b) This
- c) These
2 are fish.
Source: https://crownenglishclub.ru/dlya-nachinayushhih/ukazatelnye-mestoimeniya-v-anglijskom-yazyke-kakoj-chto-oznachaet.html
This, That, These, Those — demonstrative pronouns in English
The demonstrative pronouns in English, they do not name a person or an object, but indicate it. Usually, demonstrative pronouns include this, that and their plural forms these, those.
Demonstrative pronouns This — That and the difference between them
Pronoun this used to indicate an object or person in the vicinity, like “this” in Russian. Pronoun That indicates an object, a person in the distance, like “that” or “that” in Russian. This plural is these, that the plural is those:
Single number The many number
Close | This | Thesis |
Far | That | Those |
This and that refer to noun determinants, words that clarify the meanings of nouns.
examples:
I hold the book in my hands, looking at the pictures.
I this book. — I like this book.
I don’t These pictures. — I do not like these Pictures.
At the bookstore, I point to the books on the shelf:
I That book. — I like and book.
I don’t Those books. — I do not like those books.
Pronoun That It is far from always appropriate to translate into Russian as “that, that”. More often «this, this» is suitable. For example, I’m talking about a book that the other person mentioned in the conversation. There is no book nearby, it is only mentioned.
I That book. — I like this book.
This is That as pronouns-nouns
The pronouns this and that can act not as determinants of a noun, but in roles characteristic of the nouns themselves. For example:
As a subject:
This is what we wanted. — This is what we wanted.
That was a good show. — It was a good show.
As an add-on:
I don’t this. — I do not like this.
Can you see that? — You it see?
Demonstratives Such, Same
Demonstrative pronouns also include Such и same… Both pronouns do not have special plural forms.
1. Pronoun Such
The pronoun such means «such», «this type, kind». If such comes before a singular noun, the article “a an” is placed between them:
It was such a moment interesting movie. — It was such an interesting film.
beer? At such as time? — Beer? At this hour?
The pronoun such is often used in surprised exclamations — happy or not:
Such a wonderful place! — What a wonderful place!
Such a mess! — What a mess!
If such comes before a plural noun, the article is not needed:
I don’t know Such people. — I don’t know such people.
Why would she ask me Such questions? — Why would she ask me such questions?
2. Pronoun Same
The pronoun same means “the same”, “the same”. Since same identifies a specific noun, it is always preceded by the definite article the.
I have same jacket. — I have the same jacket.
they had same idea. — They had the same idea.
Source: https://langformula.ru/english-grammar/this-that/
Pronouns in English. Exercises for beginners
The «Pronouns» section is one of the most important sections of the grammar of any language and to start pronouns in English it is necessary already at the first level of study.
In this article, I publish exercises for beginners on the most important pronoun groups. References are given to theoretical material on the topic «Pronouns in English».
Pronoun exercises for beginners are arranged as the difficulty increases and contain only the most common vocabulary.
:
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1. Personal pronouns. Exercises for beginners
Exercise 1. Select words from the list that can be replaced with “He”, “she”, “it”, “they”.
Children, a cat, animals, Mary, parents, Oleg, friends, a pen, books, a family, rain, a house, mice, February, summer, a river, Peter and Mike. a dog, windows, tuesday
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Exercise 2. Replace the highlighted words with personal pronouns.
1. Nick is from Great Britain. 2. Iren is a student. 3. Bert and his brother live in London. four. Helen and me are good friends. 5. Are you and your sister twins? 6. The cat is drinking milk.
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2. Demonstrative pronouns: this, these, that, those
Exercise 3. Build sentences by reference. Use the imperative of the verb cool and demonstrative pronouns this — this (this) and These -these.
Imperative verb stands in the first form (from a dictionary). look — look Look at — Look at
SAMPLE
- man / fat — Look at this man. He is fat. — Look at this man. He’s fat.
- hat / new — Look at these hats. They are new. — Look at these hats. They are new.
1.woman / thin2. sportsman / tall3. sportswoman / short4. children / noisy5. feet / clean6. hands / dirty7. dogs / spotty
8. cats / old
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Exercise 4. Choose English Pronoun Equivalents this, these, that,Those.
1. What color are (those) pens? 2. (That) boy is my friend. 3. I want to read (that) book. 4. (Those) children are my friends. 5. What is (this)? 6. (This) table is round. 7. (These) cats are white.
8. (Those) flowers are roses.
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Exercise 5. Make the sentences plural.
SAMPLE. This is a spider. — These are spiders.
1. This is a spider. 2. That is a snail. 3. This is a star. 4. This is a boy. 5. This is a baby. 6. That is a flower. 7. That is a shelf. 8. Is this a sofa? 9. Is this a bookcase? 10. Is this a man? 11. Is that a woman? 12. Is that a train? 13. Is that a plane? 14. Is the window open? 15. Is the door closed? 16. That is not a king. 17. That is not a queen. 18. That is not a bus. 19. This isn’t a mountain. 20. This isn’t a mouse.
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Exercise 6. Translate sentences with turnover «It«Into English.
SAMPLE
- This is a child. — This is a child.
- These are kids. — These are children.
1. This is a hat. 2. It’s a car. 3. These are toys. 4. This is a pen.
5. These are pencils.
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3. Personal and possessive pronouns
Exercise 7. Fill in the blanks with pronouns my, your, his, her, our, their.
REMEMBER: I would = I’d — I would like to
- I’d some ice in orange juice.
- We’d to have breakfast in.room.
- The children would to watch TV in. room.
- He’d some milk in .. cereal.
- She’d lemon in ..tea.
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* * *
Exercise 8. Fill in the gaps with possessive pronouns.
Source: http://englishinn.ru/mestoimeniya-v-angliyskom-yazyike-uprazhneniya-dlya-nachinayushhih.html
The use of the pronoun both in English
Pronoun both in English can be used in different situations in different ways. Both translated as «both«,»both«, etc.
For example:
I want both books.
I want both books.
Both shirts are good.
Both shirts are good.
Following pronoun both possessive pronoun or definite article the often omitted.
For example:
You can take both shirts… (NOT both the shirts.) You can take both shirts.
He lost both parents when he was a child. (NOT both his parents)
He lost both parents when he was a child.
Both and both of
Before a noun with a determinative (for example: the, this, my, your, those, etc.), can be used as bothAnd both of… In American English, the more commonly used both of.
For example:
I want both of these books… = I want both these books.
I want both of these books.
Before the personal pronoun is used both of.
For example:
Both of them are good. They are both good. Both of us want to go. We both want to go.
If a pronoun is used as an object in a sentence, both can be used after it.
For example:
She has invited us both… She invited both of us.
She has sent you both her love.
She says hello to both of you.
Both and neither
In negative sentences instead of both is used neither.
For example:
Neither of them came. (NOT Both of them did not come.)
Both of them are not have come.
Place both in a sentence
When the pronoun both used to describe the subject in a sentence, it is used together with the predicate, and is placed after the auxiliary verb, but before the semantic verb. When there are two auxiliary verbs, both usually placed after the first one.
For example:
They are both good. They are both good.
We both want to go.
We both want to go.
We have both been invited.
We were both invited.
They have both gone home.
They both went home.
Note that in such cases, the same value can be passed using the construction both (of) + noun / pronoun.
For example:
Both of them are good. They are both good.
Both of us want to go.
We both want to go.
Both of us have been invited.
We were both invited.
Both of them have gone home.
They both went home.
Both and
Pay attention to the use both in this construction, which is a relational union. This construction translates as “both «,»and, and «.
For example:
She is both Beautiful and smart.
It as smart and beautiful.
She both sings and dances.
It и sings, и dancing.
Source: http://www.correctenglish.ru/mistakes/features/both/
Demonstrative pronouns. Demonstrative Pronouns
In English, there are four demonstrative pronouns (demonstrative pronouns): this (These), That (Those), Such и same.
Demonstrative pronouns indicate a person, an object or their signs and serve to distinguish them from other persons, objects, signs.
Demonstrative pronouns
Singular | this [ðis] this, this, thisThat [ðæt] that, that, that (sometimes this, this, this) |
Plural | These [ði: z] theseThose [ðəuz] those |
Pronouns such and the same categories do not have numbers | Such [sʌtʃ] such, suchsame [seim] the same, the same |
Demonstratives this, these, that, those
1. Demonstrative pronouns this / these indicate items that are near with the speaker. And pronouns that / those indicate items that removed from the speaker.
Examples: Take this plum. It looks very ripe. — Take this plum. She looks very ripe. (This refers to a plum that the speaker sees directly in front of him or holds in his hand)
That house is very beautiful. — The one (this) the house is very beautiful. (We are talking about a house located at some distance from the speaker)
2. Before the noun to which the demonstrative pronoun belongs this, these, that, those, the article is not used.
Examples: I have read That book twice. — I’ve read that book twice.
Those houses are rather new. — Those the houses are quite new.
3. In expressions of time, demonstrative pronouns this / these refer to moment of speech or to current time period. A that / those to the past moment or the future.
Examples: Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. — Louis, I think it the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
I remember that he woke up early That morning. — I remember that he woke up the early in the morning.
4. After pronouns this и That pronoun is often used one, in order not to repeat the previously mentioned noun twice.
Examples: Will you give me another cola? I don’t this one… — Give me another cola. I do not like this.
5. In the meaning of the demonstrative pronoun instead of That the pronoun is sometimes used it. It in this case translates as it.
Examples: What is That? — What it? (singular)
It is my cocktail dress. — This is my cocktail dress.
But!
What are These? — What is it? (plural)
They are my dresses. — These are my dresses.
6. Demonstrative pronouns That и this are often part of established expressions of the English language.
That’s right… — It’s right. Everything is correct. Exactly.
That’s a bit of all right… — Fine.
Not at all! That’s all right… “Please don’t be grateful.
this… — Thus.
before… — Thus.
To know better that that… — Be smarter.
Oh, hardly that… — No, not really. Not at all about that.
And all that… — Etc.
That’s why… — That’s why.
After that… — After that.
So that’s that… — That’s it.
Such and such things.
etc.
Demonstrative pronouns such and same
1. Demonstrative pronoun Such translated as such, such.
Examples: There are Such interesting people here! — There is such interesting people!
Why don’t all Chinese restaurants serve Such delicious food? — Why not all Chinese restaurants serve such a yummy?
2. Pronoun Such defines a noun. If it comes before a countable noun in the singular, then after Such the indefinite article is used.
Examples: It is such a moment honor to be nominated for this award. — It a honor to be nominated for this award.
3. Demonstrative pronoun same has the meaning the same, same… Front same the definite article is always used.
Examples: Don’t tell me same… — Do not tell me то же самое.
She bought same perfumes. — She bought the same perfume.
Source: http://englishstyle.net/grammar/pronoun/demonstrative-pronouns/
TOP 13 mistakes that prevent learning English grammar
: 14.11.2014
Is it easy for you to learn English grammar? In fact, every student periodically has some kind of learning difficulties. This is completely normal: you are improving your knowledge, which is why such moments arise. Today we will talk about what difficulties with grammar most often arise in the process of learning English and how to cope with them.
We advise you to watch the webinar of our methodologist Maria on the topic «Learning English from the mistakes of others.»
The main difficulties in learning English grammar and methods of getting rid of them
Do not be afraid of grammar: with our tips you will cope with all the difficulties. Russian students are often afraid of grammar in a foreign language. Let’s take a look at the most popular «hacks» and formulate some tips to help you cope with them.
1. Absence of the verb to be
Beginners often forget about the verb to be in an affirmative sentence. We are used to speaking Russian «I am free«,»She is at school now«And so on. Therefore, in English I just want to say»I free» instead of «I’m free«And»She at school now» instead of «She is at school now”. How to train yourself to use an auxiliary verb?
- Remember the main point: there is ALWAYS a verb in a sentence in English.
- Learn the most common uses of the verb to be, it is used:
- when you need to tell WHO you or another person (for example, by name or profession): “My name is Sam«;
- when you need to tell WHERE you or someone is: “He is at the hospital«;
- when you need to tell WHAT you or another person (quality): “You are beautiful«.
2. The absence of the auxiliary verb do / does
The next mistake is the absence of the auxiliary verb do / does in a negative or interrogative sentence in the present simple tense.
We are speaking «She does not go to school«, That’s why I just want to say»She didn’t go to school» instead of «She doesn’t go to school«.
And the sentence “Do you know Jim?«I want to translate»You know Jim?«, And the correct option is»Do you know Jim?”. How not to forget about the verb?
- Remember an easy rule: in general questions and negative sentences, there is ALWAYS an auxiliary verb (an exception if there is a modal verb in the sentence), even if it was not in the affirmative sentence.
- Another «foundation» of English grammar is word order: in the general question, the auxiliary (or modal) verb ALWAYS comes first, followed by the subject (subject) and only after that the predicate (action), for example: “Does she go to school?”(“She goes to school?») — in the first place is the auxiliary verb — does, then the subject — she (she), then the predicate — go (walks).
3. Wrong word order in an affirmative sentence
The great Russian language allows us to speak and “I love English«, And»I love English«, And»I love english«. And this most beloved English language does not spoil us with such a variety of options. Therefore, instead of “Love I English«We have to make do with the unoriginal and the only correct»I love english«.
- In this case, you need to forever remember the scheme for constructing a sentence in English: subject — predicate — the rest of the sentence. Therefore, if you are translating a sentence from Russian into English, first determine WHAT is the subject and WHAT is the predicate.
- Grammar and translation exercises are a great opportunity to hone your English sentence construction skills. Do these exercises as often as possible.
4. Lack of -s / -es
It is also often forgotten about -s / -es in verbs used after pronouns and nouns in the third person and the singular (he, she, it, Tom, car, park, cat, etc.) in the present simple tense (Present Simple ).
It’s not just those who recently started learning English grammar make this mistake: colloquially, we are so focused on WHAT to say that we sometimes forget HOW to say. Example: we say “I play chess» and «She plays chess».
We translate as “I play chess«, I just want to say similarly»She play chess«, Instead of the correct option»She plays chess”. How not to lose the ending?
- First, take your time to speak. As a rule, students remember very well to add the ending -s / -es, but they are in such a hurry to express their idea that they forget about it. You will still have time to acquire fluency, but grammatical errors need to be corrected as they appear.
- Secondly, we recommend installing the Polyglot application (iOS, Android) on your tablet or smartphone. It is free and does not require an Internet connection. Of course, you won’t be able to learn English in 16 hours, as the authors of the program of the same name promise. But you will hone your skills in using the Simple tenses and the ending -s / -es will be pronounced automatically.
5. Incorrect use of demonstrative pronouns
Another common mistake is the misuse of the demonstrative pronouns that (that, that, that), this (this, this, this), these (these), those (those). The only reason why we admit confusion is ignorance of these words and their rare use in speech.
- The advice will be simple and reliable: you just need to remember what this and these say about objects that are next to us, in close proximity to the speaker. And that and those we are talking about distant objects. This and that speak of things in the singular, and these and those in the plural.
- Practice on the surrounding objects, accustom yourself to say these words so that when talking with an English-speaking interlocutor, you no longer think about which pronoun to speak, but pronounce the right word automatically.
6. Absence of articles
They are not in Russian, so it seems that the cunning Englishmen invented them on purpose, so that we puzzled over when to say a dog, and when the dog. Even at levels like Pre-Intermediate or Intermediate, students forget about articles. They often explain this by the fact that “I don’t want to put it here”, “the instinct of the language did not suggest”.
Some people consider articles to be a trifle, an optional part of speech. This is a misconception: a native speaker will, of course, understand what you are talking about, but he will have to guess if there is a specific subject or something in common.
In addition, if you miss the article, some words (for example, hand or fly) from nouns can turn into verbs, which is completely unacceptable.
- To make it easier to learn the use of articles, you can memorize simple associations. The article a / an comes from the English numeral one, which is why it is placed only before a countable noun (one that can be counted) in the singular. Some philologists suggest associating it with the word any, that is, a / an means «any, any» subject. The article the evolved from the word that, so it means a specific object that is well known to the interlocutors.
- To check how well you have learned the rules, take the tests on the use of articles in English, presented in our blog.
For information on how to use articles correctly in English, see the video.
7. Incorrect use of words any / some, a few / little, many / much
It would seem that these pairs of words are similar. But if we want to ask “How much tea do you drink?«, offer «How many teas do you drink?«Will be incorrect, but it would be correct to say»How much tea do you drink?
Source: https://englex.ru/13-most-common-grammar-mistakes/
Demonstrative pronouns in English. Use of demonstrative pronouns in English
There are not so many demonstrative pronouns in the English language, but they play an important role, indicating the subject of conversation. Already in grade 3, students are taught to actively use these elements and understand the difference between them. Since demonstrative pronouns are very common in colloquial speech, you need to know the rules for their use.
Introduction to demonstrative pronouns
The task of this class of pronouns is to indicate an object, a person, or their signs. In Russian, the following pronouns correspond to them: this (this, this, these), that (that, that, those), such (such, such, such), the same.
Demonstrative pronoun table in English
These pronouns change in numbers, with the exception of such, the same… Let’s consider separately the use cases of these words.
Features this, that, these, those
These pronouns are used when the speaker’s goal is not only to indicate the object in question, but also to show how far the object is in relation to the interlocutor. The following table makes it clear when to use each of these pronouns.
So, if the narrator points to one close object, we use this, if there is an indication of many objects, then these are set. Pay attention to the following suggestions:
- This is my new T-shirt.
- These boots are very dirty.
In both versions, it is said about objects that are in the speaker’s field of vision.
Accordingly, we will talk about physically distant objects, using that for one object and those for several. For example:
- I would to buy that parrot (I would like to buy that parrot).
- We don’t know those guys (We don’t know those guys).
In addition, these pronouns can indicate the temporal proximity of events. In this case, this and these are used in relation to the present time, and that and those — to the past or future.
Those days were nice.
The use of demonstrative pronouns in relation to people is considered appropriate only for acquaintance. In other situations, this shows a dismissive attitude towards the person under discussion.
Demonstrative pronoun such
The role of this pronoun is to indicate the quality of the object or the object itself. It can be translated into Russian as «such» or «similar». Moreover, if after such there is an object in the singular, be sure to put an indefinite article! Naturally, it will not be in the plural.
- Such a silly outfit!
- I have never seen such amazing creatures.
Pronoun the same
As for the pronoun the same, which translates as «similar», «the same», it is always used with the definite article the. In this case, it does not matter in what number the subsequent part of the speech is. Here’s an example:
We with friends have the same interests.
Along with the pronoun this (this), you can use it, the difference will be only in logical stress — highlighting a certain word in intonation.
Take a look at the following examples:
- THIS is my classmate (This particular person, and not someone else, is my classmate).
- It is my CLASSMATE (This person is my classmate, not my brother or best friend).
When using several demonstrative pronouns in a choice situation, in order not to repeat the corresponding noun, the second time it is replaced by one or ones (for plural):
- He has chosen this coat, not that one.
Source: https://ik-ptz.ru/fizika/ukazatelnye-mestoimeniya-angl-upotreblenie-ukazatelnyh-mestoimenii-v.html
When it is written these and when those. Using this, that, these, and those: rules and examples. When the pronoun that is used
This, that, these, those are demonstrative or demonstrative pronouns in English. Typically, this, that, these, and those are used to refer to a specific object, creature, or phenomenon. When should you refer to these pronouns? What is the difference between them? Read more in the article.
Fundamental rules
So, the rule about this, that, these and those testifies: in English speech, these words can play the role of not only pronouns, but also determinatives. Consider the following table.
It’s also worth noting that these is the plural form of this and those are the plural form of that.
Thus, this and that should be used with singular nouns, and these and those should be used with plural nouns.
Using the pronouns this, that, these and those: rule
The first thing to remember is that we use this and that with uncountable nouns as well as singular nouns.
Try to repeat this exercise every morning and evening.What does this music make you think.I’ve never been to that part of France.Can I have some of that juice, please?
- Try to repeat this exercise every morning and evening.
- What does this music make you think about?
- I have never been to this part of France.
- Can I have some of this juice, please?
The English rule of thumb about this, that, these and those indicates that these and those should only be used with plural nouns:
You can use any one of these computers.
- You can use any of these computers.
- I need to paint those windows.
Interestingly, according to the rules of the English language, this, that, these and those are used in the context of time.
Demonstrative pronouns and tense
So, for example, we often use this with words describing the time and date (morning, afternoon, evening, week, month, year).
In this case, it is important to refer to the time in which the speaker speaks directly, or the time that comes. For example:
I’ll be with you some time this evening.Johan seemed very happy this afternoon.Ian is in Germany all this week.
- I’ll be with you tonight.
- Johan seemed very happy this afternoon.
- Jan is in Germany this week.
This, that, these, those is the rule of using further pronouns.
This, that, these, those — pronouns
We use the above words as pronouns, referring to things or phenomena:
Put the butter, chocolate and sugar in a saucepan. Heat this over a low flame until it melts.
Add butter, chocolate, and sugar to the saucepan. Heat it (this / container with the mixture) over low heat until the food is melted.
What color are those? Black or dark blue. I can’t see.
What color are they? Black or blue. I do not understand.
You can use this and that if you want to point to a person:
Linda, this is my mother, Anne. Is that your brother over there?
- Linda, this is my mother, Ann.
- Is that your brother over there?
Demonstrative pronouns are often used in telephone conversations.
Hello, is that Ken Orm? This is Jane Bromham here.
Hi, is this Ken Orme? This is Jane Bromham calling.
Use cases for this and these, that and those
In many ways, the selection of the correct pronoun is determined by the physical proximity of the object / person / phenomenon to the speaker. Those and these, this, that and the spelling rules are presented in the following examples:
Translation: Should I use this knife?
Source: https://my-kross.ru/porody/kogda-pishetsya-these-a-kogda-those-ispolzovanie-this-that-these-i-those/
Также как и в русском языке, в английском есть единственное и множественное число. Как правило, большинство имен существительных имеют форму и единственного, и множественного числа (например: box — boxes, flower — flowers, rainbow — rainbows). Правила образования множественного числа довольно простые, и они подробно описаны в статье «Множественное число существительных английского языка».
Но бывают и частные случаи, когда существительное имеет только форму единственного числа или только множественного (scissors – ножницы, всегда множественное; news – новости, всегда единственное число). С этими существительными мы познакомимся в данной статье.
- Мы употребляем во множественном числе существительные, которые идут в паре:
Trousers – штаны (две ноги, мы всегда говорим во множественном числе), а также jeans – джинсы, tights – колготки, shorts – шорты, pants – трусы.
Pajamas – пижама (верх и низ).
Glasses – очки (2 линзы), а также binoculars – бинокль.
- Эти существительные стоят всегда во множественном числе, соответственно они требуют сказуемого во множественном числе:
My jeans don’t suit me at all. – Мои джинсы совсем мне не подходят. (а не my jeans doesn’t)
- Если нужно сказать в единственном числе об этих вещах, то надо употреблять a pair of + эти слова:
Those are fabulous trousers или that is a fabulous pair of trousers. (но никак не a fabulous trousers)
I want some new glasses или I want a new pair of glasses.
- Эти существительные стоят всегда во множественном числе, соответственно они требуют сказуемого во множественном числе:
- Есть такие существительные, которые заканчиваются на -ics, и чаще всего это не множественное число. Например: economics, electronics, maths, politics, physics.
Politics was his favorite subject in his school that is why he became a politician. (но не Politics were)
- Слово news – новости также не является множественным числом, несмотря на то, как мы его переводим, это всегда единственное число:
What is the last news you read in that newspaper? (Но никак не What are the last news)
- Некоторые слова, которые заканчиваются на -s, могут быть и единственным, и множественным числом, как бы парадоксально это не звучало:
means
(средство)a means of communication
(средство общения)many means of communication
(много средств общения)series
(серия)a TV series
(телевизионная серия)four TV series
(4 телевизионных серии)species
(вид, класс)a species of animal
(вид животных)100 species of animals
(100 видов животных)
- Слово news – новости также не является множественным числом, несмотря на то, как мы его переводим, это всегда единственное число:
- Бывает и такое, что некоторые существительные в единственном числе употребляются вместе с формой глагола множественного числа. Например: audience – аудитория, committee – комитет, company – компания, family – семья, firm – фирма, government – государство, staff – коллектив, team – команда. Это так называемые collective nouns или собирательные имена существительные. Вы обратили внимание, что все эти слова называют одну вещь, однако состоят, как правило, из группы людей (семья, группа, команда – все эти явления не могут состоять из одного человека). И мы часто думаем об этих явлениях как о группе людей (they – они), поэтому мы и употребляем глагол в форме множественного числа:
The government (they) don’t want to decrease taxes. – Государство не хочет уменьшать налоги.
- Иногда мы используем множественное число после названий компаний и спортивных команд:
Russia are playing Brazil next Monday. (in a football match) – Россия играет против Бразилии в следующий понедельник. (имеется ввиду футбольный матч)
- Но также возможно с такими словами и употребление формы глагола для единственного числа, все зависит от того, какой смысл вы вкладываете в предложение. Если все члены группы, семьи, государства действуют в унисон, одинаково, делают одну вещь все вместе, то, как правило, мы говорим о них в единственном числе:
The government wants to stop the war. – Государство хочет остановить войну.
- Мы используем глагол во множественном числе со словом police – полиция:
The police have been investigating this crime for more than 6 months! – Полиция расследует это преступление уже более 6 месяцев! (но не has been)
- Но также мы можем говорить о единственном числе, если употреблять такие слова как a police officer / a policeman / a policewoman.
- Иногда мы используем множественное число после названий компаний и спортивных команд:
- Также обычно мы не употребляем слово person – человек во множественном числе (persons). Чаще всего говорят people – люди.
She is a great person. – Она отличный человек.
They are great people. – Они отличные люди. (но не persons)
Many people don’t know where to work. (но не Many people doesn’t know)
- Мы думаем о сумме денег (a sum of money), периоде времени (a period of time), дистанции (a distance) как об одной вещи, поэтому мы используем форму глагола в единственном числе:
Ten million dollars was stolen from the bank. (not were stolen)
Five years is a very long time, anything can happen at this period of time. (not five years are)
Трудно, конечно, бывает сразу же запомнить все эти правила, однако при постоянстве повторения этих правил, вы в скором времени даже не будете замечать, как и где нужно ставить единственное или множественное число.
Тест
Употребление существительных только во множественн
Если вы нашли ошибку, пожалуйста, выделите фрагмент текста и нажмите Ctrl+Enter.
What is singular noun?
The singular nouns are words that only refer to one person or thing. They can be used as a subject, direct object, indirect object, predicate nominative, or appositive.
For example: “I went to the store.” This sentence is about the speaker and their experience at the store. It’s also possible for a singular noun to be an appositive such as in this sentence: “Tina was wearing her best dress.”
Here, Tina is being described by what she was wearing which is called an appositive.
What is plural noun?
Plural nouns are words that refer to more than one person, place or thing. They are often used in sentences where we want to talk about a group of people, animals, or things.
Let’s take the sentence “I am teaching a class this semester.” We can change it around and say “The students have been working hard all semester long.” In the first sentence, “class” is singular and in the second sentence, “students” is plural. That means you need to use a proper noun (singular or plural) according to the situation.
It may not seem like much of a difference at first but it will make your writing sound awkward if you don’t get it right! The best way is to learn the rules of plural nouns.
We’ll break down the rules so you’ll never get your plural nouns wrong again.
Rule-1
We add ‘-s’ to the end of regular nouns to make them plurals. For examples,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Chair | Chairs |
Table | Tables |
Pencil | Pencils |
Book | Books |
Cat | Cats |
Rule-2
In some cases, we add suffix “-es” to the nouns ending in “o”. See examples below.
Examples
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Tomato | Tomatoes |
Potato | Potatoes |
Mosquito | Mosquitoes |
Echo | Echoes |
Zero | Zeroes |
Rule-3
In some Latin or Greek words (foreign words) ending in “-o”, we add suffix ‘-s’. For example,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Avocado | Avocados |
Photo | Photos |
Video | Videos |
Studio | Studios |
Radio | Radios |
Rule-4
When singular noun ends in ‘-us’, we replace ‘-us’ with ‘-i’. Examples are,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Cactus | Cacti |
Fungus | Fungi |
Focus | Foci |
Nucleus | Nuclei |
Rule-5
In singular noun ending on ‘-y’ (when the letter before -y is vowel), we add ‘-s’ to the end to make the noun plural, for example,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Boy | Boys |
Alloy | Alloys |
Day | Days |
Ray | Rays |
Guy | Guys |
Rule-6
In singular noun ending on ‘-y’ (when the letter before -y is consonant), we replace ‘-y’ with ‘-ies’ to make the noun plural, for example
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Lady | Ladies |
City | Cities |
Spy | Spies |
Penny | Pennies |
Army | Armies |
Rule-7
In some cases, the singular nouns ending in ‘-s’ or ‘-z’, the last letter is doubled plus we add ‘-es’ to the end. See the examples,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Gas | Gasses |
Quiz | Quizzes |
Fez | Fezzes |
Rule-8
In many cases, the singular noun ending in ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’, we replace the ‘-f’ or ‘-fe’ with ‘-ves’. For example,
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Thief | Thieves |
Wife | Wives |
Loaf | Loaves |
Half | Halves |
Knife | Knives |
There are some exceptions where the rule does not apply, Examples are roof -> roofs, belief -> beliefs, cliff -> cliffs
Rule-9
In case the noun ends in ‘-on’, we replace ‘-on’ with ‘-a’ to make it plural, for example
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Criterion | Criteria |
Phenomenon | Phenomena |
Rule-10
In case the singular noun is ending in ‘-is’, to make the noun plural, ‘-is’ is replaced with ‘-es’. For examples
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Oasis | Oases |
Thesis | Theses |
Basis | Bases |
Crisis | Crises |
Diagnosis | Diagnoses |
Rule-11
If the nouns ends in ‘-um’, last letters ‘-um’ are replaced with ‘-a’ in plural form. Examples are
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Datum | Data |
Agendum | Agenda |
Medium | Media |
Bacterium | Bacteria |
Memorandum | Memoranda |
Rule-12
In some case, the singular noun is ending in ‘-ex’ or ‘-ix’, the plural will end in ‘-ices’ Examples are given below:
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Matrix | Matrices |
Index | Indices |
Vertex | Vertices |
Codex | Codices |
Rule-13
There are several singular nouns which do not follow any of the above rules while making them plural
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Foot | Feet |
Child | Children |
Mouse | Mice |
Louse | Lice |
Man | Men |
Woman | Women |
Goose | Geese |
People | Person |
Alumnus | Alumni |
Genus | Genera |
Rule-14
Many nouns have the same singular and plural form. Fro example, plural nouns for sheep is ‘sheep’. See some more examples.
Singular | Plural |
---|---|
Fish | Fish |
Tuna | Tuna |
Salmon | Salmon |
Deer | Deer |
Gross | Gross |
Ice | Ice |
Species | Species |
Rule-15
Some nouns do not have plural forms. Examples are
- Love
- Hatred
- Lust
- Happiness
- Kindness
Types of Plurals
A lot of people don’t know about the types of plural nouns, but it’s important to understand that there are three types of plurals:-
- Regular Plurals
- Irregular Plurals
- Compound Words
The plural noun rule is one of those things that can trip you up when you’re writing sentences
Regular Plurals
Regular plurals end in s or es. For example, bag -> bags, toy -> toys, pen -> pens etc.
Irregular Plurals
Irregular plurals have a different spelling for their endings than they do for singulars. For example ox -> oxen, goose -> geese etc.
Compound Plurals
Compound words are made up of two words put together to make one word. For example, “bookcase” is a compound word with two parts – book and case. To form the plural form of this word, we would simply add an ‘s’ at the end (bookcases).
It’s easy to remember these rules if you think about them like this – just add an ‘es’ for regular plurals and an ‘s’ for irregular ones!
You can read here further: Regular and Irregular Nouns Rules with Examples
Singular Noun Example Sentences
- Fungus is vicious for human health.
- I need a knife to cut the apple.
- There is only one chair in the hall.
- Runabout is the most popular boat in the United States.
- Tom has been driving the same car for the last ten years.
- Do you think life is so easy?
- I love to eat continental food.
- Tina bought a new house in a colony near the forest.
- My room is spacious and well furnished.
- The chef baked a pie cake for the guests.
- Do you have a camera to record the action?
- The cat is sitting on the roof.
- I avoid junk food because it is unhealthy.
- They booked a table in the restaurant.
- The baby is crying with hunger.
- Do you still listen to radio programs?
- The rug was so dirty that I had to vacuum it.
- I can’t believe you left your clothes on the floor!
- You’re going to have to clean up after yourself if you want dinner tonight.
- In this game, players are given a singular noun and must use it in a sentence.
- It’s time to go home now, so I’ll see you later!
- The most common type of security system is a door alarm that will sound when someone opens your front door.
- I’m going to a party this weekend.
- Who is watching television?
- Our school was founded by a man named John Smith who wanted to create a safe space for children and teenagers who were bullied at their old schools.
Plural Nouns Example Sentences
The plural noun example sentences are often used when you want to refer to a group of people or things.
- Fungi are vicious for human health.
- There are fifty chairs in the hall.
- I avoid oily and high-calorie foods.
- Pakistan is the largest exporters of footballs all over the world.
- Jackson has a great collection of coins and stamps.
- All the friends agreed to spend a day in the jungle camp.
- There are many ways to whiten teeth naturally.
- A fleet of boats was sailing in the river.
- There are 195 countries in the world.
- Men and women are born with 12 pairs of ribs.
- She cut the pizza into equal halves.
- How many subjects have you completed in this syllabus?
- The costs of the new house are high.
- It’s important that you know what the words mean and when they can be used.
- The pencils are sharpened.
- The students have their assignments due tomorrow.
- I think both the computers need to be fixed.
- There is a lot of food for everyone to eat.
- We’ve been waiting on you guys forever!
- As a result of the recent increase in crime rates, many people are opting to buy home security systems.
- These alarms can be easily installed on existing doors with just a few screws and some wiring.
- You don’t need any special tools or equipment – all you’ll need is an electric drill and some patience.
- There are three cats in the yard.
- How many people work for your company?
- A group of students is waiting at the bus stop 30 minutes before school starts.
Worksheet for Singular and Plural Nouns
Following is a worksheet for singular and plural nouns. Answers are given at the end. Mention against each sentence whether highlighted/bold word is a singular or plural noun.
- This is my favorite pizza topping because they give me one every time I order one. (singular/plural)
- The sun is shining. (singular/plural)
- My mom’s favorite color is red. (singular/plural)
- A house has four walls, a roof, and a door. (singular/plural)
- Cars are typically rectangular in shape with sharp corners and flat surfaces. (singular/plural)
- A dog has fur on its back legs to keep it warm during winter months. (singular/plural)
- The cat is under the table. (singular/plural)
- My phone is on my desk. (singular/plural)
- The apple fell from the tree and landed in a pile of leaves. (singular/plural)
- I need to go back to my house because I left my wallet there. (singular/plural)
- That’s an interesting idea, but it won’t work for me. (singular/plural)
- I have two hands and five fingers. (singular/plural)
- You should come over to my place sometime, we’ll have fun together. (singular/plural)
- The books are on the desk. (singular/plural)
- Three dogs were playing outside. (singular/plural)
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Answers
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Plural Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Singular Noun
- Plural Noun
- Singular Noun
- Plural Noun
- Plural Noun
Read also
- Singular and Plural Nouns for Kids
- Types of Noun with Examples
- Regular and Irregular Nouns
- Material Nouns
- Abstract Nouns
- Common Nouns
- Proper Nouns
- Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Sentences with “one of those” can be confusing because either a singular or a plural verb seems like it would work: “one” is singular, and “those” is plural.
Similarly, How do you use these?
This is used with singular or uncountable nouns (i.e. this egg or this music). These refers to plural nouns (i.e. these cookies). When the noun is omitted after this and these, they become pronouns (i.e. turn this off when you leave). Demonstratives are words we use to indicate nouns in a sentence.
Additionally, Is one of those people grammatically correct? Be one of those people who uses the correct verb in the phrasing of “one of those”! Of course, unless one of those people are really steeped in English, not many are likely to notice that in both of those “one of those” phrases, the verb was wrong. For now, at least.
Related Contents
- 1 How do you use one of?
- 2 Is one of VS are one of?
- 3 How do you use the word these in a sentence?
- 4 What is the floating comma called?
- 5 What does it mean one of those days?
- 6 Which one of them is or are?
- 7 When should verb be plural?
- 8 What is a one of?
- 9 What is meant by the term one-off?
- 10 Is it one-off or one-off?
- 11 Do you say is one of you or are one of you?
- 12 Is one of the best grammatically correct?
- 13 What is a good sentence for these?
- 14 Can I start a sentence with the word these?
- 15 Which is correct this couple or these couple?
- 16 What are the 4 types of commas?
- 17 What is dot dot dot called?
- 18 What is a bracketing comma?
- 19 What does one of those mean?
- 20 Are those days correct?
- 21 What is the meaning of missing those days?
How do you use one of?
“One of my friends is from Italy.” If we didn’t have “one of,” then we would say, “My friends are from Italy.” But when using this structure, one of my friends, we have friends plural and “is” singular to match with the word “one.”
Is one of VS are one of?
Logically, you come to the conclusion that ‘one of you’ is second person singular whereas ‘one of them’ is third person singular. Therefore, the old-fashioned usage would indeed be ‘one of you are the girl’ but, for example, ‘one of them is the person’. In this case it’s not plural vs.
How do you use the word these in a sentence?
These sentence example
- How long would these mind games go on? …
- You’ll have to show me these beautiful flowers. …
- These are my other two daughters, Dulce and Alondra. …
- “Can one be calm in times like these if one has any feeling?” …
- I’m talking about the safety of these people. …
- How’s your mother doing these days?
What is the floating comma called?
This final comma, known as an Oxford or serial comma, is useful in a complex series of elements or phrases but is often considered unnecessary in a simple series such as in the example above. It usually comes down to a style choice by the writer. The semicolon (;) is used to connect independent clauses.
What does it mean one of those days?
Definition of (just) one of those days
: a day in which many bad or unpleasant things happen I missed the bus and it splashed mud all over me; it’s just one of those days. It was one of those days when nothing was going right.
Which one of them is or are?
One is singular; it takes a singular verb. So you know that “one are” could not possibly be correct. (It doesn’t matter that the phrase “of these” is included.)
When should verb be plural?
When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns or pronouns connected by and, use a plural verb. She and her friends are at the fair. 2. When two or more singular nouns or pronouns are connected by or or nor, use a singular verb.
What is a one of?
: a person or thing that is not like any other person or thing.
What is meant by the term one-off?
1 : limited to a single time, occasion, or instance : one-shot one-off gigs a one-off payment. 2 : singular, unique a one-off design. Other Words from one-off Synonyms Learn More About one-off.
Is it one-off or one-off?
“One-off” (always hyphenated) refers to something that will happen only once, never be repeated. Can be used as an adjective: “a one-off payment”.
Do you say is one of you or are one of you?
Are one of you or is one of you? Logically, you come to the conclusion that ‘one of you’ is second person singular whereas ‘one of them’ is third person singular. Therefore, the old-fashioned usage would indeed be ‘one of you are the girl’ but, for example, ‘one of them is the person’.
Is one of the best grammatically correct?
Technically there is only one “best” so “one of the best” is synonymous with “best”, that said, it’s used quite often – it’s English not mathematics after all, imprecision is allowed. “One of the better ” is fine too. ‘One of the better’ may not be used because ‘the better ‘ can be used when compared the two.
What is a good sentence for these?
[M] [T] These flowers are beautiful, aren’t they? [M] [T] Mistakes like these are easily overlooked. [M] [T] I wonder if she’ll recognize me after all these years. [M] [T] These flowers aren’t only beautiful, but they smell nice.
Can I start a sentence with the word these?
Both are possible but, depending on the context, one may be more appropriate.
Which is correct this couple or these couple?
“Couple” is a singular noun. A “couple” is one thing comprised of two people. As a result, you would say “Does this couple…”.
What are the 4 types of commas?
There are four types of comma: the listing comma, the joining comma, the gapping comma and bracketing commas. A listing comma can always be replaced by the word and or or: Vanessa seems to live on eggs, pasta and aubergines.
What is dot dot dot called?
It’s time to stop calling them ‘dot dot dot’ . . . You see those dots? All three together constitute an ellipsis. The plural form of the word is ellipses, as in “a writer who uses a lot of ellipses.” They also go by the following names: ellipsis points, points of ellipsis, suspension points.
What is a bracketing comma?
Bracketing commas usually come in pairs. They are used to mark information which is not essential to the meaning of a sentence. Such non-essential information is called a “non-restrictive phrase” or a “weak interruption”. E.g.: … Note that the section between the commas can be removed and the sentence still makes sense.
What does one of those mean?
noun phrase. —used to refer to a bad or unfortunate experience that happened and to say that such experiences can happen to anyone.
Are those days correct?
We use ‘these days’ to refer to the present time. “Young people are always on screens these days.” “It’s hard to find people who don’t own a smartphone these days.” ‘Those days’ can refer to some period in the past.
What is the meaning of missing those days?
2 is right but it can also imply that the person is missing (lacking or deficiency with) those days (e.g. amnesia) 3 is basically 2 but very casual. See a translation.