these

The word these serves as a fundamental building block in the English language, specifically acting as a plural demonstrative determiner or pronoun. Its primary function is to point toward specific people, animals, objects, or abstract ideas that are physically or metaphorically close to the speaker. When you use this word, you are establishing a spatial or temporal relationship between yourself and a group of items. It is the plural counterpart to the word 'this'. In everyday communication, humans constantly need to distinguish between things that are 'here' versus things that are 'there'. This distinction is known as deixis. Using these allows for precise identification in a crowded environment, such as a shop where you might point to a specific set of apples and say, 'I would like these apples, please.'

Spatial Proximity

This refers to objects within arm's reach or in the immediate vicinity of the person speaking. For example, 'These keys in my hand are heavy.'

Beyond physical distance, these is frequently employed to discuss time. We use it to refer to the present period or a series of events happening currently. Phrases like 'these days' or 'these past few weeks' anchor the conversation in the immediate present or the very recent past. This temporal use is crucial for providing context in storytelling or reporting. Furthermore, in written English, these acts as an anaphoric reference, meaning it points back to a group of things previously mentioned in a text. If a writer lists three different scientific theories, they might follow up by saying, 'These theories provide a framework for understanding the universe.' This creates cohesion and prevents the repetitive naming of complex subjects.

Emotional Proximity

Sometimes we use 'these' to show that we feel a personal connection or a strong positive/negative emotion toward a group of things, regardless of physical distance.

In social settings, the word is indispensable for introductions and shared experiences. When a host presents a tray of appetizers to guests, they might say, 'Please try these.' Here, the word functions as a pronoun, standing in for the noun 'appetizers' because the context makes the meaning clear. The versatility of these extends to various registers of speech, from the highly informal ('Check out these cool shoes!') to the strictly academic ('These data points suggest a correlation'). Understanding the nuances of this word helps learners navigate social cues and spatial orientation in English-speaking environments.

Categorical Reference

It can be used to refer to a general category of things that the speaker is currently interacting with or thinking about.

Using these correctly requires an understanding of pluralization and noun-verb agreement. As a determiner, it must always precede a plural noun. For instance, you would say 'these cars' but never 'these car'. This is a common point of confusion for learners whose native languages do not mark plural demonstratives. When these acts as the subject of a sentence, the verb that follows must also be plural. For example, 'These are my friends' uses the plural verb 'are'. If you were to say 'These is my friends', it would be grammatically incorrect. This consistency across the sentence is vital for clear communication.

Determiner Role

In this role, 'these' modifies a noun. Example: 'These cookies taste amazing.' The word 'these' tells us which specific cookies we are talking about.

When these functions as a pronoun, it replaces the noun entirely. This usually happens when the speaker and listener both know what is being referred to. Imagine standing in front of a shelf of books. You could simply point and say, 'I want these.' The listener understands that 'these' refers to the books because of the physical context. This usage is very efficient in spoken English. However, in formal writing, it is often better to use the determiner form ('these books') to ensure there is no ambiguity, especially if the noun was mentioned several sentences prior.

Pronoun Role

In this role, 'these' stands alone. Example: 'I found your keys; are these them?' Here, 'these' refers back to the keys.

Another important aspect of using these is its role in questions. It often appears at the beginning of interrogative sentences to identify groups of things. 'Are these your children?' or 'What are these things doing on the floor?' In these cases, the word helps to focus the listener's attention on the specific items being questioned. It can also be used in negative sentences to exclude specific groups: 'I don't like these colors for the bedroom.' By mastering the placement of these in various sentence structures, you gain the ability to point, identify, and categorize with precision.

Negative Usage

Used to specify which items are not included or liked. Example: 'We are not using these tools today.'

In the real world, these is ubiquitous. You will hear it in almost every environment where humans interact with objects. In a grocery store, customers and clerks use it constantly. 'Are these organic?' or 'I'll take these two, please.' In a domestic setting, parents use it with children to teach vocabulary or give instructions: 'Put these toys away before dinner.' It is a word that bridges the gap between thought and physical action. Because it requires a shared physical context, it is one of the most common words used in 'joint attention'—the process of two people looking at the same thing at the same time.

Retail and Shopping

Used to identify products. Example: 'Do these jeans have a discount?'

In professional environments, these is used during presentations and meetings to refer to data, slides, or physical documents. A presenter might say, 'As you can see in these charts, our revenue has increased.' Here, the word helps the audience focus on the specific visual evidence being presented. It is also common in technical fields. A mechanic might point to parts of an engine and say, 'These valves need to be replaced.' In these contexts, the word is essential for clarity and safety, ensuring that everyone involved is talking about the exact same components. Without demonstratives like these, technical communication would be much more cumbersome and prone to error.

Academic and Professional

Used to refer to evidence or previous arguments. Example: 'These findings suggest a need for further research.'

In media and entertainment, these is used to create a sense of immediacy. News anchors might say, 'In these breaking images, we see the extent of the damage.' This makes the viewer feel closer to the event. In movies, characters use it to interact with their environment, making the dialogue feel natural and grounded. Even in song lyrics, the word appears frequently to describe the singer's immediate feelings or surroundings: 'These are the days of our lives.' Whether in a high-stakes business meeting or a casual conversation at a park, these is a linguistic tool that anchors our speech in the 'here and now'.

Media and Entertainment

Used to create immediacy. Example: 'These are the stories making headlines tonight.'

One of the most frequent errors involving these is the 'number mismatch'. This happens when a speaker uses these with a singular noun, such as saying 'these book' instead of 'these books'. Because English demonstratives must agree in number with the nouns they modify, this mistake is immediately noticeable to native speakers. Another common error is using these when those is more appropriate. Remember that these is for things close to you, while those is for things further away. If you point to a mountain in the distance and say 'these mountains', it sounds as if you are standing on them or holding a picture of them.

Number Mismatch

Incorrect: 'These apple is sweet.' Correct: 'These apples are sweet.' or 'This apple is sweet.'

Confusion between this and these is also common, particularly because their pronunciations are similar. The 'i' in 'this' is a short vowel sound /ɪ/, while the 'ee' in 'these' is a long vowel sound /iː/. Many learners accidentally use the singular form when they mean the plural because they aren't making the vowel long enough. Additionally, some learners use 'these' as a general plural marker where 'the' would be more natural. For example, saying 'I like these dogs' when you mean dogs in general. 'These' should only be used when you are referring to a specific group of dogs that are present or have just been mentioned.

Distance Confusion

Using 'these' for distant objects. Correct: 'Look at those stars.' Incorrect: 'Look at these stars' (unless you are looking at a map of stars).

Finally, there is the mistake of 'double pluralization' in some dialects or learner groups, where 'these' is combined with other plural markers unnecessarily. For example, 'these ones' is common in casual speech, but in formal writing, 'these' is usually sufficient on its own. Overusing 'these' can also make writing feel repetitive. If you find yourself starting every sentence with 'these', try to vary your sentence structure by using pronouns like 'they' or by rephrasing the sentence. Precision in demonstrative use not only improves your grammar but also makes your speech sound more natural and sophisticated.

Overuse as a Filler

Avoid using 'these' when you don't have a specific group of items in mind. It can confuse the listener.

Understanding these is easier when you compare it to its linguistic relatives. The most direct comparison is with those. Both are plural demonstratives, but they differ in distance. While these is for things 'here', those is for things 'there'. This spatial logic is a core part of English. Another similar word is this, which is the singular version of these. Choosing between this and these depends entirely on whether you are talking about one thing or many things. For example, 'this pen' versus 'these pens'.

These vs. Those

'These' is for near items; 'Those' is for far items. Example: 'These shoes I'm wearing are tight, but those shoes on the shelf look comfortable.'

Sometimes, the definite article the can be an alternative to these. However, the is more neutral. If you say 'the books', you are just identifying the books. If you say 'these books', you are specifically pointing them out as being near you or currently under discussion. Another alternative in formal or literary contexts is such. For instance, 'such problems' can sometimes replace 'these problems' to mean 'problems of this kind'. However, such often carries a slightly different meaning, emphasizing the quality or type of the items rather than their physical location.

These vs. The

'The' is a general definite article. 'These' is more specific and implies proximity. Example: 'Pass me the plates' vs 'Pass me these plates'.

In some cases, pronouns like they or them can replace these to avoid repetition. If you have already established what you are talking about, you can switch. 'I bought these apples. They are very sweet.' Here, 'they' refers back to 'these apples'. This makes the flow of your language more natural. In very informal slang, you might hear 'them' used as a demonstrative (e.g., 'look at them shoes'), but this is grammatically incorrect in standard English and should be avoided in professional or academic settings. Mastering these distinctions allows for more nuanced and accurate expression.

These vs. Such

'These' points to specific items; 'Such' points to a type or quality. Example: 'These movies are long' vs 'Such movies are long'.