It's / These are / They are

Question

I can't see the difference between:It's my photos.These are my photos.They are my photos.Could you explain the difference between these sentences and give some examples of situations when each of them can be used?

Doll · Accepted Answer

My try:

I have never saw the first and third sentence used like this. My vote is only for 2.

Vorpar · Answer

It's is a contraction of "it is".

The first sentence should read "It's my photo." (singular)

These are... I would use if the photos are right in front of me, or if I'm holding them.

They are... They is a pronoun. You can only use a pronoun after the noun is named.

You could use "Those are my photos." if the photos aren't near you.

Anonymous · Answer

1. I've come across a lot of times with "It's + plural", like: "It's your problems." or "It's my friends." Are they not correct?

2. Which answers are correct?

What are these? – It's my clothes. / These are my clothes. / They are my clothes.

Who were those people? – It was my friends. / Those were my friends. / They were my friends.

Alex+ · Answer

1. I've come across a lot of times with "It's + plural", like: "It's your problems." or "It's my friends." Are they not correct?

2. Which answers are correct?

What are these? – It's my clothes. / These are my clothes. / They are my clothes.

Who were those people? – It was my friends. / Those were my friends. / They were my friends.

Mister Micawber · Answer

1. I've come across a lot of times with "It's + plural", like: "It's your problems." or "It's my friends." Are they not correct? -- These sound odd, but can be correct in certain circumstances, e.g. 'What irritates you most about me? -- It's all your problems!'

2. Which answers are correct?

What are these? –These are my clothes. / They are my clothes.

Who were those people? – Those were my friends. / They were my friends.

Alex+ · Answer

Thank you for your reply.

1. Is there any difference between using "these" and "they"? And which do you use more often? Which is better for these examples?

ex: What are these? –These are my clothes. / They are my clothes.

ex: I've bought some gegs. – What are
these? / What are they?

ex: Are these apples or pears? - These are pears. / They are pears?

2. "Who are these? – These are our relatives."

This is a part of a dialog from my book. The author is not English. Is "Who are these?" not correct?

Mister Micawber · Answer

1. Is there any difference between using "these" and "they"? And which do you use more often? Which is better for these examples?
ex: What are these? –These are my clothes. / They are my clothes.
ex: I've bought some gegs. – What are these? / What are they?
ex: Are these apples or pears? - These/Those are pears. / They are pears?

-- I don't see much difference in many of the uses, Alex-- I suspect that in a conversation, if deictic (demonstrative) reference is considered necessary, these will be used, while if the indicated location is self-evident, they will be chosen-- chosen unconsciously, of course.

2. "Who are these? – These are our relatives." This is a part of a dialog from my book. The author is not English. Is "Who are these?" not correct? -- The sentence is correct if the context has the speaker e.g. pointing to the photograph.

Alex+ · Answer

Dear, Mister Micawber, I hope my questions don't seem to you very stupid. J The point is that in my language we don't say "What are they?". We use "What are these?" in all cases, whether we point to the objects or identify them. That's why I can't "feel" the difference between these questions.

Could you answer some more my questions?

1. Can I use "What is this?" or "What are these?" to identify objects (when the indicated location is self-evident) ?

ex: "Look, what I bought. – What is this? / What are these?"

2. Can I use "these" or "those" without a noun if I point to the people standing close or at some distance?
ex: The speaker is pointing to the group of people: "Who are those? Do you know them?"

3. I this example correct?
ex: "The Browns sent you their regards. – Who are these? I don't know any Browns."

Mister Micawber · Answer

Your concerns are never 'stupid'. However, the first advice I should give you is to avoid the general proposition, 'in my language, we do X, so language Y should also...' The grammar of any language is contingently independent of other languages, so come into a new language with no presuppositions.

1. Can I use "What is this?" or "What are these?" to identify objects (when the indicated location is self-evident) ? -- Yes.

2. Can I use "these" or "those" without a noun if I point to the people standing close or at some distance?
ex: The speaker is pointing to the group of people: "Who are those? Do you know them?" -- No, it is rude when used of humans.

3. I this example correct? ex: "The Browns sent you their regards. – Who are these? I don't know any Browns."-- No; see #2.

Alex+ · Answer

Thank you, Mister Micawber, everything is perfectly clear.

It's / These are / They are

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