Printable Demonstratives Worksheet: This, That, These, Those

This comprehensive demonstrative pronouns worksheet helps students in grades 1 through 4 master the correct usage of this, that, these, and those. By providing clear definitions alongside ten targeted practice problems, this resource ensures students can distinguish between singular and plural forms while considering physical distance. Students will achieve immediate fluency in functional grammar.

At a Glance

• Grade: 1–4 · Subject: ELA (Word Classes)
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.H — Use demonstratives including this, that, these, and those in context accurately
• Skill Focus: Demonstrative Pronouns
• Format: 2 pages · 10 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Independent grammar practice and homework
• Time: 15–20 minutes

What's Inside

This two-page PDF packet includes a primary instructional page and a corresponding full-page answer key. The worksheet features a "Learn It" section that acts as a mini-anchor chart, defining the four demonstratives based on number and distance. The "Apply It" section contains ten fill-in-the-blank sentences where students must choose the correct pronoun based on visual or contextual cues provided in the prompts.

Zero-Prep Workflow

This resource minimizes teacher workload via a three-step process. First, print the practice page (30 seconds). Second, distribute for immediate engagement as the built-in guide requires no lecture (1 minute). Finally, use the answer key for rapid grading or self-correction (1 minute). This makes it an ideal candidate for emergency sub plans or bell-ringers.

Standards Alignment

This resource aligns to CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.H, requiring students to "Use demonstratives (e.g., this, that, these, those)." While a Grade 1 standard, the sentences provide meaningful review for students through Grade 4 who are refining their command of word classes. The code can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

The worksheet is effective as a formative assessment after an introduction to pronouns. Assign the practice section during independent work to observe if students correctly identify plural versus singular nouns. Alternatively, use it as a "check for understanding" exit ticket to gauge mastery before moving to more complex grammatical structures.

Who It's For

This is designed for early elementary students and English Language Learners (ELLs) needing explicit scaffolding for function words. The "Learn It" definitions support those struggling with working memory. Pair this with a classroom scavenger hunt where students point to objects to reinforce the distance concepts of "near" and "far."

The mastery of demonstrative pronouns is a critical component of functional grammar that bridges the gap between simple identification and complex sentence composition. According to a RAND AIRS 2024 analysis, structured practice with word classes significantly improves the syntactic maturity of student writing in the primary grades. This worksheet targets the CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.H standard by providing a scaffolded environment where students move from conceptual understanding to contextual application. By using ten distinct sentence prompts, the resource ensures that students encounter various noun contexts, reinforcing the plural and singular rules for "this, that, these, and those." Educational researchers such as Fisher & Frey (2014) emphasize the importance of gradual release models, which are mirrored here in the transition from the instructional "Learn It" block to the independent "Apply It" assessment. This systematic approach ensures that Grade 1 to Grade 4 learners build the necessary grammatical foundations for long-term literacy success.