ENGLISH
REFERENCE

these

pron.
A1 Beginner US //ˈðiz// UK //ðˈiːz// these

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'.


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.

Origin

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.

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 goodthese books are good'These' must be followed by a plural noun; learners often use it with a singular noun by mistake.

© 2026 English Reference