This/That

This and that are singular. This points to something nearby while that points to something “over there.”

Examples: This dog is mine.
This is mine.
That dog is hers.
That is hers.

These/ Those

These and those are plural. These points to something nearby while those points to something “over there.”

Examples: These babies have been smiling for a while.
These are mine.
Those babies in the nursery have been crying for hours.
Those are yours.

Than/ Then

Use than to show comparison. Use then to answer the question when.

Examples: I would rather go skiing than rock climbing.
First we went skiing; then we went rock climbing.

Pop Quiz

1. This/these tables need to be cleaned before customers arrive.
2. Please clean this/that table in the corner.
3. These/those clothes in the other room need to be folded.
4. That/those toaster burned my bagel.
5. We reached the summit of the mountain and then/than collapsed.
6. I would rather starve then/than eat oysters.

Quiz Answers

1. These tables need to be cleaned before customers arrive.
2. Please clean that table in the corner.
3. Those clothes in the other room need to be folded.
4. That toaster burned my bagel.
5. We reached the summit of the mountain and then collapsed.
6. I would rather starve than eat oysters.

Word Puzzle

Find all the oxymorons in this sentence:
The jumbo shrimp in my soup seemed to be growing smaller as I stared briefly at them.

Answers at bottom of newsletter.

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Word Puzzle Answer

The jumbo shrimp in my soup seemed to be growing smaller as I stared briefly at them.

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