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Ticce Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

These or this

We usually use these with plural nouns, like

These are tables. These tables are low.

But why don't we use these with plural pronouns?

Why don't we say

1) These are we (us)

Is there an explanation to this?

Another thing is:

Is it right to use this with plural nouns? I know that it is not right but maybe it can be used in everyday speech, like

This is tables.
  

Top answer

"These" is a pronoun. " is possible, if you're looking at photographs, but I've never heard it used. Perhaps as a modifier instead of a complement: "These ones are ready to be shipped.

— Avangi

  • "These" is a pronoun.
  • " is possible, if you're looking at photographs, but I've never heard it used.
  • Perhaps as a modifier instead of a complement: "These ones are ready to be shipped.
  • " is also possible.
  • I've heard people say it.
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12 Answers
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"These" is a pronoun.

I suppose "These are we/us." is possible, if you're looking at photographs, but I've never heard it used.

Perhaps as a modifier instead of a complement:

"These ones are ready to be shipped. Those ones are scrap." is also possible.
I've heard people say it. But it seems redundant. Very low register.

I can't imagine
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Avangi"These" is a pronoun. I suppose "These are we/us." is possible, if you're looking at photographs, but I've never heard it used.

Good point, Avangi.

When you say

This is us/we.

you mean

This (group of people) is us/we.

but

These are we/us.

doesn't work because "these" implies another g
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Avangi"These" is a pronoun.
This is a demonstrative pronoun, while I was talking about a personal pronoun.
AvangiI suppose "These are we/us." is possible, if you're looking at photographs, but I've never heard it used.
Exactly, this is what I find to be an anomaly. Because these should correspond with plural nouns (
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IvanhrWhen you say
This is us/we.
you mean
This (group of people) is us/we.
but
These are we/us.
doesn't work because "these" implies another group of people (these people), of which we cannot be part (unless you're talking about photographs, video clips etc)
This is the first time I have heard such thing that THESE implies another grou
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Hi Ticce

When you say "this man" you usually don't speak about yourself (it's possible that you point at yourself and say "this man" but this would be very rare) and the same is true about "these people" ("you", the speaker, aren't included in the group of "these people")

In the case of "this is us/we" you are included in the group (beacuse we/us inherently includes the speaker)
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IvanhrWhen you say "this man" you usually don't speak about yourself (it's possible that you point at yourself and say "this man" but this would be very rare) and the same is true about "these people" ("you", the speaker, aren't included in the group of "these people")
Wait, I don't see this statament to be logical.

This is what you had said before
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IvanhrIn the case of "this is us/we" you are included in the group (beacuse we/us inherently includes the speaker) .
Why does THIS include the speaker while THESE doesn't? It is not clear to me.
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Another thing is that we can switch WE (US) to THEY (THEM)

Does it sound correct in your opinion?

These are them.
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Ticce
IvanhrIn the case of "this is us/we" you are included in the group (beacuse we/us inherently includes the speaker) .
Why does THIS include the speaker while THESE doesn't? It is not clear to me.

I didn't say that. I merely said that "we/us" inherently includes the speaker but "these" seems to be incompatible with
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TicceAnother thing is that we can switch WE (US) to THEY (THEM)Does it sound correct in your opinion?These are them.

I'd still use "this is them".
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