these

IPA/ðiːz/
KK[ðˈiz]IPA/ðiːz/

these — determiner

1. used with plural nouns to point to people or things that are physically close to

1.determinerA1
Definition

used with plural nouns to point to people or things that are physically close to the speaker, or that the speaker has just mentioned or is about to mention.

Example

Aoi has been reading these books every evening before bed.

these + plural noun for temporal proximity

Can you help Karim carry these boxes up the stairs?

these + plural noun for physically close objects

Common collocations
  • these days
  • these people
  • these things
  • these times
Antonyms
  • those

    those refers to things farther away, while these refers to things nearby

Grammar Patterns

these + plural noun

these + plural noun + verb (plural agreement)

Usage Note

These is the plural form of this. Use these with plural countable nouns; use this with singular nouns. For things that are farther away, use those instead.

Common Mistakes

These book is interesting.
These books are interesting.
these must be followed by a plural noun and a plural verb.
I like this apples.
I like these apples.
use these (not this) before a plural noun.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: determiner/1

This, these, and those are all demonstratives that point to specific people or things. Use this (singular) and these (plural) for things that are near the speaker in space, time, or in the conversation. Use that (singular) and those (plural) for things that are farther away. For example: 'This apple is fresh, but that one looks old.' 'These shoes fit me well, but those over there are too big.' These is always paired with a plural noun and a plural verb form.

this ↗these ↗those ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

These comes from Old English þās, the plural form of þes (this). It has been used as the plural demonstrative for over a thousand years, with no major change in meaning.