Master determiners that point out things (this, that, these, those) and show ownership (my, your, his, her, our, their). Learn to match them correctly with singular and plural nouns.
✅ Recommended for: Class 4-7 (Basic) | Class 8-10 (Application)
1. Demonstrative Determiners: This, That, These, Those
| Determiner | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near (physically or in time) | This book is interesting. (book in my hand) |
| That | Singular | Far (physically or in time) | That mountain looks far. (mountain in distance) |
| These | Plural | Near (physically or in time) | These apples are fresh. (apples here) |
| Those | Plural | Far (physically or in time) | Those days were happy. (days in past) |
2. Possessive Determiners: My, Your, His, Her, Its, Our, Their
| Person | Determiner | Example | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Person Singular | my | This is my book. | Shows ownership by "I" |
| Second Person | your | Is this your bag? | Shows ownership by "you" |
| Third Person Masculine | his | That is his car. | Shows ownership by "he" |
| Third Person Feminine | her | I like her dress. | Shows ownership by "she" |
| Third Person Neuter | its | The dog wagged its tail. | Shows ownership by "it" (animal/thing) |
| First Person Plural | our | This is our house. | Shows ownership by "we" |
| Third Person Plural | their | They forgot their books. | Shows ownership by "they" |
3. Number Agreement Rules
| Rule | Correct | Incorrect | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular Determiner + Singular Noun | This book That pen |
This books That pens |
Singular determiner needs singular noun |
| Plural Determiner + Plural Noun | These books Those pens |
These book Those pen |
Plural determiner needs plural noun |
| Possessives work with both | my book my books |
my books (actually correct!) | Possessives don't change form |
| Its vs. It's | The cat licked its paw. | The cat licked it's paw. | Its = possessive It's = it is/it has |
4. Special Usages & Common Errors
| Situation | Correct Usage | Common Error | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introducing People | This is my friend. (near) That is my teacher over there. (far) |
These is my friend. That are my teacher. |
Use singular with singular 'is' |
| Phone Conversations | Hello, this is Rohan. | Hello, I am Rohan. (less natural) | "This is" standard for phone introductions |
| Talking about Past/Future | Those were the days! (past) This weekend we'll go out. (near future) |
These were the days! That weekend we'll go out. |
Time distance follows same rules |
| Double Possessives | A friend of mine That book of hers |
A friend of me That book of her |
Use possessive pronouns (mine, yours, hers) after "of" |
5. Quick Practice (5 Questions)
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Wrong ❌ | Right ✅ | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| These book is mine. | This book is mine. These books are mine. |
Number agreement: These + plural |
| Its a beautiful day. | It's a beautiful day. | It's = it is (contraction) |
| That are my friends. | Those are my friends. | That + is (singular) Those + are (plural) |
| This pencils need sharpening. | These pencils need sharpening. | This + singular noun |
| Her and me went to market. | She and I went to market. Her book and my book... |
Use subject pronouns (she, I) as subjects |
🎯 Determiner Challenge (8 Questions)
Choose the correct determiner for each sentence.
1. Look at ____ birds in the sky! (this/these)
2. Is this ____ notebook? (you/your)
3. ____ building across the street is very old. (That/Those)
4. The dog wagged ____ tail happily. (it's/its)
5. ____ students in the front row are attentive. (This/These)
6. She completed the project all by ____. (her/hers/herself)
7. I remember ____ days we spent in Goa. (that/those)
8. This is a friend of ____. (me/mine)
7. Memory Aids & Tips
This/That vs. These/Those:
• This & These have 'T' and 'S' together → Think "These" = Several (plural)
• That & Those have 'T' and 'O' → Think "Those" = Over there (far)
• Singular: This/That ends with 'T' → Think "One Thing"
• Plural: These/Those ends with 'SE' → Think "Several Entities"
Possessive Determiner Chart:
I → my
You → your
He → his
She → her
It → its
We → our
They → their
Tip: All end with consonant except "our"
Its vs. It's:
• Its = Possessive (like his, her)
• It's = Contraction of "it is" or "it has"
Test: Replace with "it is" – if it makes sense, use it's.
Double Possessive Rule:
After "of" use possessive pronouns, not object pronouns:
• A friend of mine (not me)
• That idea of hers (not her)
• This work of theirs (not them)
Exam Tip:
1. Check number: singular noun needs this/that, plural needs these/those.
2. Check distance: near = this/these, far = that/those.
3. Remember: its (possession) vs. it's (it is).
4. Possessive determiners don't change with number (my book, my books).
5. For "of" phrases, use mine/yours/hers/theirs.
📝 Practice Demonstrative & Possessive Determiners
Test your understanding with our 25-question worksheet!
Go to Determiners WorksheetIncludes answer key • This/That/These/Those • My/Your/His/Her • Number Agreement • Error Correction
