{"id":272520,"date":"2026-07-13T03:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-07-13T08:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=272520"},"modified":"2026-07-13T03:00:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T08:00:03","slug":"english-demonstratives-this-that-pre-a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/fr\/blog\/english-demonstratives-this-that-pre-a1\/","title":{"rendered":"English Demonstratives: This and That (Pre-A1 Grammar)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\"><strong><span data-no-translation>This<\/span><\/strong> et <strong><span data-no-translation>That<\/span><\/strong> are essential English words we use to point to things. They are called demonstrative pronouns or adjectives. These words help us show if something is close to us or far away. Imagine you are pointing with your finger! We use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> for one thing that is near you, something you can easily touch or hold. For example, if a pen is in your hand, you say, <span data-no-translation>This is my pen.<\/span> We use <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for one thing that is far from you, something you cannot easily touch. If a car is far down the street, you say, <span data-no-translation>That is a car.<\/span> Remember, both words are only for singular nouns, meaning one item. Mastering <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> is a key step for clear, basic communication in English.<\/div>\n<h2>What are &#8220;This&#8221; and &#8220;That&#8221; in English?<\/h2>\n<p><span data-no-translation>This<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> are special words. They help us show where something is.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They tell us if something is close to us.<\/li>\n<li>They tell us if something is far from us.<\/li>\n<li>They are only for one thing (singular).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-blended\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#0E63C4,#0A2540);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\ud83c\udf93 Apprenez l'anglais gr\u00e2ce \u00e0 la m\u00e9thode mixte<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;opacity:.95;\">Petits groupes \u00b7 Tuteur IA disponible 24 h\/24, 7 j\/7 \u00b7 Pr\u00e9paration aux examens de Cambridge<\/p><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:18px;\">Plans provenant de <strong><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>39<\/bdi><\/span><\/strong> <s style=\"opacity:.6;\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><bdi><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\" translate=\"no\">$<\/span>79<\/bdi><\/span><\/s> par mois<\/p><a href=\"\/fr\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#0E63C4;\">R\u00e9servez votre cours<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>When do we use &#8220;This&#8221;?<\/h2>\n<p>We use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> for one thing that is near you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The item is close. You can touch it.<\/li>\n<li>It is singular (only one).<\/li>\n<li>Think: &#8220;Here, close to me.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>When do we use &#8220;That&#8221;?<\/h2>\n<p>We use <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for one thing that is far from you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The item is not close. You cannot touch it easily.<\/li>\n<li>It is singular (only one).<\/li>\n<li>Think: &#8220;Over there, far from me.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do &#8220;This&#8221; and &#8220;That&#8221; work with nouns?<\/h2>\n<p><span data-no-translation>This<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> can be used in two main ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Before a noun:<\/strong> They describe the noun. For example, <span data-no-translation>this book<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>that car<\/span>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alone:<\/strong> They replace the noun. For example, <span data-no-translation>This is my book.<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>That is a car.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<caption>Comparing This and That<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Word<\/th>\n<th>Distance<\/th>\n<th>Nombre<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>This<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Near (close to you)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>One (Singular)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>That<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>Far (not close to you)<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>One (Singular)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Exemples<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>This is my phone.<\/span> (The phone is in my hand.)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>This apple is red.<\/span> (The apple is on the table next to me.)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>That is a big tree.<\/span> (The tree is across the street.)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>That dog is cute.<\/span> (The dog is playing far away in the park.)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Is this your bag?<\/span> (The bag is right here.)<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Look at that bird!<\/span> (The bird is flying high in the sky.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Entra\u00eenement<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-61\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"61\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"JR02 L1 GRAMMAR this, that\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-whatsapp\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#3DB16A,#1f8a4c);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">&#128172; Need personalized guidance?<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">As an Authorized Cambridge Preparation Centre, we can guide you to the right course and certification. Chat with our advisors today.<\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/wa.me\/51980473286\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#fff;color:#1f8a4c;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Chat with an Advisor on WhatsApp<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones<\/h2>\n<p>Spanish speakers sometimes confuse <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> with <span data-no-translation>it<\/span>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mistake:<\/strong> You point to a pen in your hand and say, <span data-no-translation>It is a pen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong>Correction:<\/strong> When you point to something new or show its location, use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>that<\/span>. So, <span data-no-translation>This is a pen.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Remember:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> when you are pointing to something for the first time or showing its position.<\/li>\n<li>Use <span data-no-translation>it<\/span> when you are talking about something you already mentioned.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Questions fr\u00e9quemment pos\u00e9es<\/h2>\n<h3>What is the main difference between &#8220;this&#8221; and &#8220;that&#8221;?<\/h3>\n<p>The main difference is distance. We use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> for one thing that is near you, and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for one thing that is far from you.<\/p>\n<h3>Can I use &#8220;this&#8221; or &#8220;that&#8221; for people?<\/h3>\n<p>Yes, you can use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for people, especially when introducing someone or pointing them out. For example, <span data-no-translation>This is my friend, Maria.<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>Who is that man?<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Are &#8220;this&#8221; and &#8220;that&#8221; for singular or plural nouns?<\/h3>\n<p>Both <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> et <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> are only for singular nouns (one item). For plural nouns (more than one item), we use <span data-no-translation>these<\/span> (near) and <span data-no-translation>those<\/span> (far), but that is a lesson for another time!<\/p>\n<h3>What is the Spanish equivalent for &#8220;this&#8221; and &#8220;that&#8221;?<\/h3>\n<p>In Spanish, <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> can be like &#8220;este&#8221; or &#8220;esta.&#8221; <span data-no-translation>That<\/span> can be like &#8220;ese,&#8221; &#8220;esa,&#8221; &#8220;aquel,&#8221; or &#8220;aquella.&#8221; The English system is simpler with just <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> (near) and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> (far) for singular items.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This and That are essential English words we use to point to things. They are called demonstrative pronouns or adjectives. These words help us show if something is close to us or far away. Imagine you are pointing with your finger! We use this for one thing that is near you, something you can easily [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":272611,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Demonstratives","langcom_cefr":"Pre-A1","langcom_type":"grammar","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"What is the main difference between \\\"this\\\" and \\\"that\\\"?\", \"a\": \"The main difference is distance. We use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> for one thing that is near you, and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for one thing that is far from you.\"}, {\"q\": \"Can I use \\\"this\\\" or \\\"that\\\" for people?\", \"a\": \"Yes, you can use <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> for people, especially when introducing someone or pointing them out. For example, <span data-no-translation>This is my friend, Maria.<\/span> or <span data-no-translation>Who is that man?<\/span>\"}, {\"q\": \"Are \\\"this\\\" and \\\"that\\\" for singular or plural nouns?\", \"a\": \"Both <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> are only for singular nouns (one item). For plural nouns (more than one item), we use <span data-no-translation>these<\/span> (near) and <span data-no-translation>those<\/span> (far), but that is a lesson for another time!\"}, {\"q\": \"What is the Spanish equivalent for \\\"this\\\" and \\\"that\\\"?\", \"a\": \"In Spanish, <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> can be like \\\"este\\\" or \\\"esta.\\\" <span data-no-translation>That<\/span> can be like \\\"ese,\\\" \\\"esa,\\\" \\\"aquel,\\\" or \\\"aquella.\\\" The English system is simpler with just <span data-no-translation>this<\/span> (near) and <span data-no-translation>that<\/span> (far) for singular items.\"}]","rank_math_title":"This & That: Basic English Demonstratives (Pre-A1)","rank_math_description":"Learn to use \"this\" and \"that\" in English! Understand how to talk about things near and far for Pre-A1 learners. Improve your basic English communication.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"this and that English grammar","rank_math_canonical_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[607],"tags":[651,678],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-272520","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pre-a1-beginner-english-for-kids","tag-grammar","tag-this-that"],"dsm_author":{"name":"Ra\u00fal","avatar_url":"https:\/\/cdn.langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/05230819\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/fr\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"Pre A1 Beginner English for 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