Word
Definition
pron. the plural form of 'this'. You use it to point to people or things that are close to you in space or time.
pron. the plural demonstrative pronoun used to identify specific people or things nearby or currently being discussed. Functions as the plural counterpart to 'this'.
Examples
“These are my favorite shoes.”
“I found these keys on the kitchen counter this morning, but I don't know who they belong to.”
“While those earlier theories focused on external behavior, these more recent studies prioritize the internal cognitive processes that drive decision-making in high-stress environments.”
Examples
simple
“These are my favorite shoes.”
contextual
“I found these keys on the kitchen counter this morning, but I don't know who they belong to.”
complex
“While those earlier theories focused on external behavior, these more recent studies prioritize the internal cognitive processes that drive decision-making in high-stress environments.”
Usage
Functions as a plural demonstrative pronoun or determiner; must agree with a plural noun or refer to a plural antecedent.
Pitfall
these book are good
these books are good
'These' must be followed by a plural noun; learners often use it with a singular noun by mistake.
Etymology
From Middle English þes, from Old English þas, from Proto-West Germanic þes-, a form of Proto-Germanic sa (“that”), from Proto-Indo-European *só. Compare with German diese.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/these
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0