O que é isto? — Perguntando sobre coisas
What is this? and What is that? to unlock your English world.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'What is this?' to identify objects near you and 'What is that?' for objects further away.
- Use 'What' to start the question for things. Example: 'What is this?'
- Use 'is' for single objects. Example: 'What is that?'
- Use 'this' for things you can touch; 'that' for things further away.
- Shorten 'What is' to 'What's' in casual speech. Example: 'What's this?'
Overview
What is this? (O que é isto?) e sua variante What is that? (O que é aquilo?) são as chaves mestras para qualquer iniciante no inglês.is e não are, quando escolher entre this e that (que pode ser mais confuso do que parece!) e, o mais importante, como responder corretamente. Afinal, em português a gente tem o hábito de omitir o sujeito, mas em inglês, o famoso It é obrigatório.What is this? e What is that? funcionam, precisamos decompor a frase em três partes principais. É como montar um quebra-cabeça: cada peça tem um lugar fixo e uma função específica.WhatWhat equivale ao nosso O que ou Qual. Ela é o ponto de partida de qualquer pergunta onde buscamos uma informação nova. No caso de objetos, What está substituindo o nome da coisa que você ainda não sabe.isser muda muito (sou, é, somos, são). No inglês, para perguntar sobre uma única coisa, usamos exclusivamente o is.- Importante: Como estamos no nível A0, foque nisso: se é um objeto só, o verbo é
is. - Inversão: Diferente do português, onde a gente só muda a entonação da voz para fazer uma pergunta (
Isso é um café?), no inglês a gente precisa trocar a ordem das palavras. O verboisvem antes do sujeito (thisouthat). Por isso não dizemosWhat this is?, mas simWhat is this?.
this e thatisso para quase tudo, e às vezes o isto soa formal demais. No inglês, a distinção é física e muito clara:this(perto): Use quando o objeto está na sua mão, ao alcance do seu toque ou muito próximo de você. Imagine que você está segurando um celular novo e pergunta:What is this?.that(longe): Use quando o objeto está fora do seu alcance. Pode ser algo do outro lado da rua, um quadro na parede ou um pássaro no céu. Você aponta e pergunta:What is that?.
this | isto / este / isso | Ao alcance da mão |that | aquilo / esse / aquele | Fora de alcance |ItO que é isto?, a gente responde direto: É uma caneta. No inglês, isso é um erro clássico. O inglês exige um sujeito.is. Você precisa do It. O It é um pronome neutro que representa o objeto que você acabou de perguntar.- Pergunta:
What is this? - Resposta correta:
It is a pen.(Isso é uma caneta / É uma caneta).
What + is + this / that + ?- Exemplo 1 (Perto):
What is this?(O que é isto?) - Exemplo 2 (Longe):
What is that?(O que é aquilo?)
What e o is se fundem para formar What's.What's this?What's that?
What is this? | What's this? | It's a book. |What is that? | What's that? | It's an apple. |a e an na resposta:a ou an (que significam um ou uma).- Use
aantes de palavras que começam com som de consoante:a phone,a car,a doctor. - Use
anantes de palavras que começam com som de vogal:an orange,an eraser,an umbrella.
- Você:
What's that? - Atendente:
It's a brownie.
What is this?(apontando para o grampeador na mesa do escritório).What is that?(apontando para o ícone novo no menu do computador).
What is this charge?(O que é esta cobrança?)What is that item on the menu?(O que é aquele item no menu?)
What is this part of the chart?(O que é esta parte do gráfico?)What is that in the background of the photo?(O que é aquilo no fundo da foto?)
this e that sejam muito visuais, também usamos para identificar coisas que percebemos com outros sentidos.- Ouviu um barulho estranho no motor do Uber?
What is that noise?(O que é aquele barulho?) - Sentiu um cheiro bom vindo da cozinha?
What is that smell?(O que é aquele cheiro?)
It na respostaÉ um carro. Se você disser Is a car em inglês, a frase está incompleta e soa muito estranha para um nativo.- Errado:
Is a car. - Correto:
It is a car.ouIt's a car. - Por que acontece? No português, temos o
sujeito oculto. No inglês, todo verbo (com raríssimas exceções) precisa de um sujeito explícito.
- Errado:
What this is?(O que isto é?) - Correto:
What is this? - Por que acontece? No português, a ordem da frase não muda para perguntas. No inglês, o verbo
to bedeve pular para a frente do sujeito em perguntas.
this para coisas que estão longeisso para tudo, o brasileiro usa this para apontar para algo que está do outro lado da sala.- Errado: (Apontando para longe)
What is this? - Correto:
What is that? - Dica de professor: Se você precisa esticar o braço e apontar, use
that. Se você pode tocar sem se esforçar, usethis.
What com WhoWhat é para coisas, objetos e situações. Se você quer perguntar sobre uma pessoa, a palavra muda.- Errado: (Apontando para uma pessoa)
What is that?(Isso soa ofensivo, como se a pessoa fosse um objeto). - Correto:
Who is that?(Quem é aquele/aquela?).
this e that com outras estruturas parecidas, vamos ver como eles se comportam quando passamos para o plural. Afinal, se você vir duas coisas que não conhece, a pergunta muda um pouco.What is this? | What is that? |What are these? | What are those? |- 1Verbo: No singular usamos
is. No plural usamosare. - 2Pronome:
thisvirathese(pronúncia mais longa, com som dez), ethatvirathose.
this/that como pronomes (quando eles estão sozinhos) e como adjetivos (quando acompanham um substantivo).- Como Pronome:
What is this?(O que é isto?) - Aqui othissubstitui o nome do objeto. - Como Adjetivo:
What is this box?(O que é esta caixa?) - Aqui othisestá qualificando a palavrabox.
What is that? para falar de algo que aconteceu no passado?What was that? (O que foi aquilo?). Mas para o nível iniciante, foque no is para o que você está vendo agora.this e these?this(singular): O som doié curto e seco, quase um som entreiee. Osfinal tem som desde sapato.these(plural): O som doeé longo (iiiii) e osfinal tem som dez.
this e that são intercambiáveis?This is [seu nome]. Para perguntar quem está do outro lado, você diz Who is that? ou Is that [nome]?.A book em vez de It's a book?It's a.... Isso mostra que você conhece a estrutura da língua e evita vícios de linguagem que podem prejudicar seu aprendizado futuro.3. Basic Question Structure
| Question Word | Verb (is) | Demonstrative | Punctuation |
|---|---|---|---|
|
What
|
is
|
this
|
?
|
|
What
|
is
|
that
|
?
|
|
What
|
is
|
it
|
?
|
Contractions (Spoken English)
| Full Form | Contraction | Usage |
|---|---|---|
|
What is this?
|
What's this?
|
Common/Casual
|
|
What is that?
|
What's that?
|
Common/Casual
|
|
What is it?
|
What's it?
|
Rare (usually 'What is it?')
|
Meanings
The fundamental way to ask for the name or identity of an object in English.
Physical Identification
Asking about a physical object you can see or touch.
“What is this on the table?”
“What is that in the sky?”
Abstract Inquiry
Asking about a concept, idea, or situation.
“What is this 'Bitcoin'?”
“What is that noise?”
Rhetorical Disbelief
Expressing shock or disapproval about something someone has done or presented.
“What is this?! Your room is a mess!”
“What is this behavior?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Near Object
|
What + is + this?
|
What is this? (holding a phone)
|
|
Far Object
|
What + is + that?
|
What is that? (pointing at a star)
|
|
Contraction
|
What's + this/that?
|
What's that noise?
|
|
With Adjective
|
What is + this + [adj] + [noun]?
|
What is this blue thing?
|
|
Short Answer
|
It is a/an + [noun]
|
It is an apple.
|
|
Negative (Clarification)
|
What is this? It isn't a...
|
What is this? It isn't a pen, it's a pencil.
|
Espectro de formalidade
Could you tell me what this object is? (General)
What is this? (General)
What's this? (General)
What's this thingy? (General)
This vs. That
Choosing the Right Word
Can you touch it?
Exemplos por nível
What is this?
What is this?
What is that?
What is that?
What's this?
What's this?
What is this? It is a cat.
What is this? It is a cat.
What is that red box?
What is that red box?
What is this in English?
What is this in English?
What is that sound?
What is that sound?
What's that over there?
What's that over there?
What is this 'special offer'?
What is this 'special offer'?
What is that supposed to be?
What is that supposed to be?
What is this feeling in my heart?
What is this feeling in my heart?
What is this mess in the kitchen?
What is this mess in the kitchen?
What is this if not a miracle?
What is this if not a miracle?
What is that smell coming from the basement?
What is that smell coming from the basement?
What is this sudden change of heart?
What is this sudden change of heart?
What is this document you've sent me?
What is this document you've sent me?
What is this fascination with the past?
What is this fascination with the past?
What is this 'new reality' we are facing?
What is this 'new reality' we are facing?
What is that but a mere shadow of the truth?
What is that but a mere shadow of the truth?
What is this obsession with productivity?
What is this obsession with productivity?
What is this 'self' that philosophers debate?
What is this 'self' that philosophers debate?
What is this if not the ultimate betrayal of trust?
What is this if not the ultimate betrayal of trust?
What is that peculiar light on the horizon?
What is that peculiar light on the horizon?
What is this 'will to power' in Nietzsche's work?
What is this 'will to power' in Nietzsche's work?
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use 'this' for everything.
Using 'What' for people.
Using 'it' when first introducing an object.
Erros comuns
What this?
What is this?
This is what?
What is this?
What is that? (pointing to a pen in hand)
What is this?
Who is this? (pointing to a rock)
What is this?
What is these?
What are these?
What's this noise mean?
What does this noise mean?
What is this 'freedom' you are speaking?
What is this 'freedom' you are speaking of?
Padrões de frases
What is ___?
What is this ___?
What is that ___ over there?
What is this '___'?
Real World Usage
What is this? Is it a mango?
What is this button for?
What is this pain in my arm?
What's this? 😂
What is this specific role's main challenge?
What is that dish on the next table?
Point and Ask
Don't forget 'is'
Use 'What's'
Polite Gestures
Smart Tips
Always check the distance. If you can't reach it with your hand, use 'that'.
Contract 'What is' into 'What's'.
Don't repeat 'This is...'. Use 'It's...' for a smoother answer.
Use the phrase 'What is this in [Your Language]?' to get a translation.
Pronúncia
Falling Intonation
Information questions (Wh- questions) usually end with a falling pitch.
The 'S' in 'What's'
The 's' in 'What's' is pronounced like a /s/ sound, not a /z/.
Standard Inquiry
What is this? ↘
Simple curiosity
Memorize
Mnemônico
THIS is in my fist, THAT is where I point my wrist.
Associação visual
Imagine a glowing circle around your feet. Anything inside the circle is 'this'. Anything outside the circle is 'that'.
Rhyme
Near is this, far is that. What is this? It's a cat!
Story
A traveler enters a magic shop. He touches a lamp and asks 'What is this?'. The shopkeeper points to a flying carpet in the corner and says 'What is that?'.
Word Web
Desafio
Walk around your room. Point at 5 things and say 'What is this?' out loud, then answer yourself.
Notas culturais
Pointing with the index finger is common when asking 'What is this?', but in some cultures, it is considered rude. In those cases, use an open hand.
You might hear 'What's this then?' added to the end of the question in a casual, slightly suspicious or curious way.
In very casual speech, 'What is that?' can sound like 'Whazzat?'.
From Old English 'hwæt' (what) and 'is' (is).
Iniciadores de conversa
Point to a fruit in a market: 'What is this?'
Look at a strange gadget: 'What is that?'
In a museum: 'What is this painting about?'
Hearing a strange word: 'What is this word in my language?'
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
What ___ this?
What is ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
This is what?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: What is this? B: ___ is a pen.
We use 'What' to ask about people.
___ / ___ / ___ / ?
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesWhat ___ this?
What is ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
This is what?
that / is / What / ?
This / That
A: What is this? B: ___ is a pen.
We use 'What' to ask about people.
___ / ___ / ___ / ?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesWhat ___ that?
What this is on the table?
Which question is correct?
Translate into English: '¿Qué es esto que tienes en la mano?'
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the demonstratives with the correct verb form:
___ that strange light?
Tell me what is this, please.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: '¿Qué es esto?' (referring to something close)
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Match the questions with their answers:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (8)
Yes! In fact, native speakers say `What's this?` more often than `What is this?` in casual conversation.
Use `this` for things you can touch or are very close. Use `that` for things further away.
The most common answer is `It is a...` followed by the name of the object. For example: `It is a chair.`
Only when introducing someone (e.g., 'This is my friend'). If you are asking who someone is, use `Who is this?` instead of `What is this?`.
You must use the plural form: `What are these?` or `What are those?`.
They are very similar. `What is this?` is better when you are pointing at something new. `What is it?` is better when you are already talking about the object.
Adding `there` or `over there` just emphasizes that the object is far away. It is very common in casual English.
In some cultures, yes. In English-speaking countries, pointing at objects is usually fine, but pointing at people can be rude.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
¿Qué es esto?
Spanish has gendered demonstratives (esto/esta/este).
Qu'est-ce que c'est ?
French uses a fixed idiomatic phrase for simple identification.
Was ist das?
German often uses 'das' for both 'this' and 'that' in casual speech.
Kore wa nan desu ka?
The word order is completely reversed compared to English.
Ma hadha?
Zhe shi shenme?
Chinese does not move the question word to the front.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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