English grammar
This / that (near me / not near me)
Point out things near and far.
From the scene This one or that one
In short
Use this for something near you and that for something not near you. Say this one or that one.
- near me this dress
- not near me that dress
- without the noun This one? / That one?
- more than one these / those dresses
Your turn
Which one goes with not near me?
Options: this dress · This one? / That one? · that dress
Show answer
not near me → that dress
How it works
English has only two pointing words: this (near the speaker) and that (not near the speaker). Plurals: these, those.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
And (blank) shirt?
Clue: Nuria is holding the shirt
Options: these · this · that
Show answer
And this shirt?
¿Y esta camisa?
Good to know
It depends on who speaks: Nuria holds a shirt and says this shirt; Elena answers that shirt. Say this one / that one instead of repeating the noun.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) shirt is very ugly.
Clue: Elena speaks; the shirt is near Nuria
Options: That · This · Those
Show answer
That shirt is very ugly.
Esa camisa es muy fea.
near me this dress
Nuria
Doña Elena, is this dress pretty?
Doña Elena, ¿este vestido es bonito?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Doña Elena, is (blank) pretty?
Options: that dress · This one · this dress
Show answer
Nuria
Doña Elena, is this dress pretty?
Doña Elena, ¿este vestido es bonito?
not near me that dress
Nuria
Ugh. And that dress, over there?
Uf. ¿Y aquel vestido, allí?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Ugh. And (blank), over there?
Options: that dress · this dress · This one
Show answer
Nuria
Ugh. And that dress, over there?
Uf. ¿Y aquel vestido, allí?
without the noun This one? / That one?
Elena
This one? No, I don't like it.
¿Este? No, no me gusta.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)? No, I don't like it.
Options: This dress · That dress · This one
Show answer
Elena
This one? No, I don't like it.
¿Este? No, no me gusta.
more than one these / those dresses
Your turn
What goes with these / those dresses?
Options: not near me · more than one · near me
Show answer
these / those dresses → more than one
Common mistake
Not that or these here. Nuria is holding the dress.
Doña Elena, is this dress pretty?
Doña Elena, ¿este vestido es bonito?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| near me | this dress |
|---|---|
| not near me | that dress |
| without the noun | This one? / That one? |
| more than one | these / those dresses |
More lines from the story
- NuriaAnd this shirt?¿Y esta camisa?
- ElenaThat shirt is very ugly.Esa camisa es muy fea.
- ElenaYes, dear. It's perfect... for me.Sí, cariño. Es perfecto... para mí.