Welcome to Your English Grammar Adventure!
Hello there! Today, we are going to learn how to talk about the things around us. Have you ever wanted to show your friend a cool toy or tell your teacher where your pencil is? In this chapter, we will learn how to point at things using this and that, how to say what exists using there is and there are, and how to describe exactly where things are hiding!
Don't worry if it seems a bit new. We will take it one step at a time. Let’s get started!
1. Pointing at Things: This and That
We use these words when we want to point to one thing (\(1\) object). The word we choose depends on how close the object is to us.
This: We use this for something that is near us (we can usually touch it!).
Example: This is my book. (The book is in my hand.)
That: We use that for something that is far away from us.
Example: That is a bird. (The bird is high up in a tree.)
Quick Memory Trick:
T-H-I-S is Close to me.
T-H-A-T is Far away!
Common Mistake to Avoid:
We only use this and that for \(1\) thing at a time. If you have many things, we use different words (which we will learn later!). For now, remember: This/That + is.
2. Talking About What We See: There is & There are
In Thai, you might say "Mee" (มี) to mean "there is" or "have." In English, when we want to say that something exists in a place, we use There is or There are.
There is
We use There is for one person, animal, or thing (\(1\)).
Example: There is a cat in the classroom.
Example: There is \(1\) apple on the table.
There are
We use There are for two or more things (\(2, 3, 4, ...\)).
Example: There are \(5\) students in the room.
Example: There are many books in my bag.
Did you know?
We often use "How many... are there?" to ask about the number of things.
Question: How many pens are there?
Answer: There are \(3\) pens.
3. Prepositions of Place (Where is it?)
Now that we can say "There is a cat," we need to say where the cat is! Prepositions are "position words" that help us describe location.
In: Inside something.
Example: The pencil is in the box.
On: Touching the top of something.
Example: The clock is on the wall.
Under: Below something.
Example: The ball is under the chair.
In front of: To the face of something.
Example: The teacher stands in front of the students.
Behind: At the back of something.
Example: The broom is behind the door.
Key Takeaway: When you want to ask about location, start your sentence with "Where is...?"
Question: Where is the ruler?
Answer: It is on the desk.
4. Let's Put It All Together!
We can use everything we learned to make a full sentence. Look at the examples below:
Example \(1\): This is a dog. There is a bone in its mouth.
Example \(2\): That is a tree. There are \(2\) birds on the branch.
Quick Review Box:
• This/That = Pointing at \(1\) thing.
• There is = \(1\) thing exists.
• There are = \(2+\) things exist.
• In, On, Under = Words that show where things are.
5. Simple Directions (For Older Students)
When you are at school or in your community, you might need to tell someone where to go. You can use your "place words" to help!
Example: The canteen is behind the building.
Example: The bin is in front of the gate.
Note: To learn more about naming objects, check out the chapter on "Nouns, articles & plurals". To learn how to ask "Is this a... or a...?", look for the chapter on "Questions".