A0 · 零起点 章节 3

Where Things Are

5 总规则
60 例句
5 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of locating and identifying objects in your daily life.

  • Identify objects near and far using demonstratives.
  • Ask simple questions to learn the names of items.
  • Describe the precise location of objects using prepositions.
Point, ask, and locate your world with confidence.

你将学到什么

Welcome! This chapter will help you talk about everything around you. We'll learn to point out things using 'this' and 'that,' and show exactly where they are with 'in,' 'on,' and 'at.' Get ready to describe your world in simple English!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use 'this' and 'that' to point out objects in your immediate surroundings.

章节指南

Overview

Learning to talk about the things around you is one of the most exciting first steps in English! This guide will help you begin to describe your everyday world, whether you're pointing out a cup, asking about a book, or telling someone where your keys are. Mastering these simple building blocks allows you to communicate basic needs and observations, making your first interactions in English much clearer and more confident.
It’s all about understanding where things are and how to refer to them directly. This fundamental knowledge is key for any absolute beginner aiming to learn English A0 grammar and will be useful in countless daily situations, from finding items to understanding directions. You’ll quickly be able to express yourself more effectively, turning simple observations into basic English sentences.
This chapter lays the foundation for all future descriptive language.

How This Grammar Works

Let's explore how we point to and describe objects in English. First, when you want to show someone an object, you use 'this' for one thing that is close to you, and 'these' for many things that are close to you. If the object is far away, you use 'that' for one thing and 'those' for many things.
For example, if a pen is in your hand, you say,
This is a pen.
If a book is across the room, you say,
That is a book.
When you want to ask about something, you often start with
What is this?
for one close object, or
What are these?
for many close objects. Similarly, you'd ask
What is that?
or
What are those?
for things far away. Notice how we use 'is' for one thing (singular) and 'are' for many things (plural).
We also use 'here' to talk about a location close to you, and 'there' for a location far from you. For instance,
My bag is here
or
The car is there.
To show ownership, we use 'my' for things belonging to you and 'your' for things belonging to the person you are talking to. These words must always be followed by a noun. For example,
My book is red
or
Your phone is new.
Finally, to specify where things are, we use prepositions:
* 'In': for something inside an enclosed space (e.g.,
in the box,
in the room
).
* 'On': for something resting on a surface (e.g.,
on the table,
on the wall
).
* 'At': for a specific point or general location (e.g.,
at the door,
at home,
at the park
). Understanding these basic rules will unlock your ability to describe the world around you in simple English.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Mixing up 'is' and 'are' with singular/plural:
* ✗ These is my keys.
* ✓ These are my keys. (Use 'are' for plural 'these'.)
* ✗ Those are my book.
* ✓ That is my book. (Use 'is' for singular 'that'.)
  1. 1Incorrect preposition for location:
* ✗ The apple is on the box. (If it's *inside* the box)
* ✓ The apple is in the box.
* ✗ My phone is in the table. (If it's *on top of* the table)
* ✓ My phone is on the table.
  1. 1Using 'my' or 'your' without a noun:
* ✗ That is my. (What is yours?)
* ✓ That is my book.
* ✗ Where is your? (Your what?)
* ✓ Where is your jacket?

Real Conversations

Conversation 1: Pointing and Asking

A

A

What is this? (A points to a pen on the table, close to A)
B

B

This is a pen.
A

A

And what is that? (A points to a bag across the room)
B

B

That is my bag.

Conversation 2: Location and Possession

A

A

Excuse me, where is my phone?
B

B

Is it on the chair?
A

A

No, it’s not on the chair. Oh, it’s in my pocket! Thank you.

Conversation 3: Close and Far

A

A

Look! This is a nice picture. (Holding the picture)
B

B

Yes, it is! And that is a big tree there. (Pointing out the window)

Quick FAQ

Q: When do I use 'this' versus 'that' in English?

Use 'this' for a single object close to you (like in your hand). Use 'that' for a single object that is farther away from you (like across the room).

Q: What's the main difference between 'in', 'on', and 'at' for beginners?

'In' means something is inside a space (like in a box). 'On' means something is on a surface (like on a table). 'At' means a specific point or general location (like at home or at the bus stop).

Q: Can I say My is good instead of
My life is good
?

No, 'my' always needs a noun right after it. You must say

My life is good
or
My car is fast.
It tells you *whose* noun it is.

Q: How do I ask about a location in English?

You can ask

Where is it?
for a single item, or
Where are they?
for multiple items. Then you can use 'here' or 'there' in your answer, or a preposition like 'in', 'on', or 'at'.

Cultural Context

These simple grammar patterns are the backbone of everyday conversation in English. Native speakers use 'this', 'that', 'in', 'on', and 'at' constantly and naturally. They are not formal or informal; they are simply how you describe the basic existence and location of objects.
Mastering them will make your English sound more natural and your meaning clearer to native speakers from the very beginning.

关键例句 (8)

1

Is **this** your coffee?

¿Es este tu café?

This & That: 指示事物
2

**That** building is very tall.

Ese edificio es muy alto.

This & That: 指示事物
3

What is this? It's a book.

¿Qué es esto? Es un libro.

这是什么？ — 询问事物
4

What's that? It's a bird!

¿Qué es eso? ¡Es un pájaro!

这是什么？ — 询问事物
5

This is my pen.

这是我的钢笔。

My & Your — 简单所有格
6

Is that your bag?

那是你的包吗？

My & Your — 简单所有格
7

My phone is `in` my bag.

Mi teléfono está en mi bolso.

In, On, At: 物品所在地
8

The book is `on` the table.

El libro está en la mesa.

In, On, At: 物品所在地

技巧与窍门 (4)

💡

The Touch Test

If you can reach out and touch it, use 'this'. If you have to point your arm, use 'that'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: This & That: 指示事物
💡

Point and Ask

If you forget the word for an object, just point and say 'What is this?'. It's the best way to learn!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 这是什么？ — 询问事物
💡

永远放在名词前

记住，'my' 和 'your' 就像小跟班，必须紧贴在它们描述的东西前面。比如：my phone 或者 your hat。千万别把它们放在后面哦！
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: My & Your — 简单所有格
💡

The 'Walk' Rule

If you can walk onto a vehicle, use 'on' (bus, train). If you have to duck or sit immediately, use 'in' (car, taxi).
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

核心词汇 (5)

book a written work pen an instrument for writing table a piece of furniture bag a container for carrying things phone a device for calling

Real-World Preview

search

Finding Your Keys

Review Summary

  • This/That + is + [noun]
  • What + is + this/that?
  • My/Your + [noun]
  • [Noun] + is + in/on/at + [place]
  • It is + here/there

常见错误

You cannot use 'this' for something far away ('there'). Use 'that' for distance.

Wrong: This is my book there.
正确: That is my book there.

We use 'on' for surfaces and 'in' for containers. A table is a surface.

Wrong: Where is the pen in the table?
正确: Where is the pen on the table?

Use 'my' before a noun, not 'mine'. 'Mine' is used alone.

Wrong: What is that? That is mine book.
正确: What is that? That is my book.

Next Steps

You've done an amazing job! Keep looking around and naming your world in English. See you in the next chapter!

Label your furniture with sticky notes using 'This is my...' phrases.

Continue to: Expressing Actions & Needs

快速练习 (10)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

She is waiting on the bus stop.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
It should be 'at the bus stop' because it is a specific point.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

Fix the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

This is what?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: What is this?
In English questions, the question word 'What' comes first.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 这是什么？ — 询问事物

Fill in the blank.

I saw the news ___ the internet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
Digital media uses 'on'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

Fill in the blank with in, on, or at.

The keys are ___ the table.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: on
A table is a surface, so we use 'on'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

找出并改正错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

The cat is over here, by the door (pointing across the room).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: The cat is over there, by the door.
如果你指着房间的另一头，猫离你不近，所以应该用 there。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 这里 & 那里: 简单位置

Which is correct for transport?

I am ___ a taxi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: in
A taxi is a small, private vehicle.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

Choose the correct preposition.

I live ___ Paris.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: in
Paris is a city (large area), so we use 'in'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

Choose the correct address preposition.

Meet me ___ 42 Wallaby Way.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: at
Specific house numbers use 'at'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: In, On, At: 物品所在地

Fill in the blank for plural objects far away.

Look at ___ birds in the sky!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: those
Birds in the sky are far and plural, so 'those' is correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: This & That: 指示事物

Choose the correct word for an abstract idea mentioned before.

You want to quit? ___ is a big decision.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: That
'That' is used to refer back to a statement made by someone else.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: This & That: 指示事物

Score: /10

常见问题 (6)

Use this to point something out for the first time. Use it to refer to it again later. Example: 'This is my car. It is fast.'
Yes, but only for introductions or identification. 'This is my brother.' You wouldn't say 'This is tall' to describe him; you'd say 'He is tall.'
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.
My 表示某物属于说话者（我），而 your 表示某物属于听者（你）。它们都是物主形容词。比如：
This is my cup.
完全不会！你可以说 my book（单数）和 my books（复数）。英语在这方面非常简单。
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