these
THEEZ
These (determiner) means used before a plural noun to point to people or things that are nearby or have just been mentioned, as the plural of this. Example: “These shoes are too small for me.”
determiner
1
Used before a plural noun to point to people or things that are nearby or have just been mentioned, as the plural of this.
"These shoes are too small for me."
"Have you tried these biscuits?"
"These students all passed the exam."
pronoun
1
Used on its own to refer to plural people or things that are nearby or have just been mentioned, as the plural of this.
"These are my favourite songs."
"These are the documents you asked for."
"I like these better than the other ones."
How to use these
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThese is just this, but for more than one thing that is close by.
When to use it
These is a basic, everyday word used equally in speech and writing.
Memory tip
Pair these with plural nouns close to you, and switch to this for a single nearby item.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
these days
in these circumstances
one of these days
these things happen
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Can you complete this real example?
_____ shoes are too small for me.
Etymology
These comes from the Middle English word thes, which developed from Old English thas. That in turn traces back to a shared Germanic root meaning that, related to the German word diese.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for these
See all rhymes for these →Frequently asked questions
What does these mean?
These is the plural form of this, used to point to people or things nearby or already mentioned.
Is these singular or plural?
These is always plural. For a single item nearby, use this instead.
What is the difference between these and those?
These points to things close to the speaker, while those points to things further away or already referred to.
What is the meaning of these?
"these" (determiner) means used before a plural noun to point to people or things that are nearby or have just been mentioned, as the plural of this.
