TKG English Learner's Dictionary

these

2 entries: pronoun · determiner

thesepronoun

American /ðiz/ British /ðiːz/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. people or things that are here, near the speaker, or being talked about right now

    These is the plural of this, standing alone for people or things nearby or already part of the conversation. Directly before a noun, these is a determiner, a separate entry.

    Compare this (the singular of these); those (those points to people or things farther away); these (these directly before a noun: these books, compared with the pronoun use standing alone: these are mine)

Usage

Directly before a noun, these is a determiner, a separate entry: these books. Standing alone, it is this pronoun: these are mine.

Common mistakes

These is my books. These are my books.
These takes a plural verb: these are, not these is.

See also these (these directly before a noun: these books); this (the singular of these)

For translators

Grammar trap These is the plural of this; it takes a plural verb even when the following noun is left out: these are, not these is.

thesedeterminer

American /ðiz/ British /ðiːz/
very commondefining vocabulary

  1. near or nowused before a plural noun for people or things that are here, near the speaker, or being talked about right now

    These is the plural of this: this apple, these apples. It points to people or things close by, or already part of the conversation.

    • These shoes are too small for me.
    • I've known these friends since childhood.
    • Have you read these instructions carefully?
    • These days, more people work from home.

    Collocations

    phrase these days

    Compare this; those (those points to people or things farther away, the plural of that); these

Usage

Standing alone, without a following noun, these is a pronoun: these are mine, a separate entry, these.

Common mistakes

These book are interesting. These books are interesting.
These is followed by a plural noun.

See also this (the singular of these); these (these standing alone, without a noun: these are mine)