@ Question: How To Use "Those" & "Them"
- 111
- 22
- 0
I don't know how to use these terms "those" and "them."
While I was watching a TV show, two girls were talking about one's shoes. The line was like this.
~~~~~~~~~
A: "Oh, Wow! I love THOSE! Where did you get THEM?"
B: "I bought them off eBay."
~~~~~~~~~~
Why didn't A-girl say, " I love them?" or " Where did you get those?" ?
Are there any rules about the usage of those two?
Thank you in advance!!!
（^^）
While I was watching a TV show, two girls were talking about one's shoes. The line was like this.
~~~~~~~~~
A: "Oh, Wow! I love THOSE! Where did you get THEM?"
B: "I bought them off eBay."
~~~~~~~~~~
Why didn't A-girl say, " I love them?" or " Where did you get those?" ?
Are there any rules about the usage of those two?
Thank you in advance!!!
（^^）
As a guess, I think, (those) is used over (them) when pointing out things first, like the shoes which because they are a pair (more than one thing) are (those), then after the shoes or other subject/object is identified, "them" could be used next.
I do think (those) could have been used twice in your example also.
Thank you for your answer!!!
Example.
Look at THAT cat, it's so cute.
Look at THOSE cats, they're so cute.
With your example "I love those" , the girl used THOSE instead of THEM because she's referring to an object held by the the other speaker. It's like Sore in Japanese. But you can still use "I love THEM" people will still understand what you mean.
THEM - you can use this on people or things. (plural subjects only)
Example:
The junior boys were so kind, I think I love them. (People)
The books look amazing, I think I'm going to buy them. (Things)
With your example "Where did you get THEM?", it's alright to used THEM or THOSE with this, it depends on the situation, people will still understand you, there's no strict rules about this one, just remember to use it if the subject is in plural form already.
REMEMBER: Don't use this words when the subject is SINGULAR.
Example:
THOSE girl is famous. (THIS IS SO WRONG.)
Robert is cute, I think I like THEM. (THIS IS REALLY WRONG TOO)
Hope I've helped you out. ^_^ Good luck!
Thank you for your precise explanation!!!
"Them" is also a plural pronoun, but it can only be used for the object of a verb. You can say "I want to buy them", but you cannot say "Them are very nice." "Them" does not "point" to objects; it refers to (stands for) objects which are already known to both the speaker and the listener.
"I love those!"-- I love the shoes you are wearing (in effect pointing to the shoes).
"Where did you get them?"-- Where did you get the shoes that I just mentioned? "Them" only makes sense in this question because both the speaker and the listener know that the speaker is talking about the shoes mentioned in the previous sentence.
Those = sore-ha それは [plural, in English]
Them = sore-wo それを [plural, again, in English]
Thank you very much for your clear explanation!!!
In school, I learned the usage of "those", which was used as a demonstarative adjective. それらの～～～ Maybe I learned the different way as well, but I might have taken a nap at the time! lol "Those are nice" is a little complecated usage for me, but I need to understand and use it before words.
If I use "those" as I learned at school, I will say " I love those shoes! Where did you get them?" It makes sense to me.
"Those" rocks!
Thank you!
Thank you for your answer!!!
I learned that "those" is translated as それらの in Japanese at school. So, only the phrases,those shoes, those cameras, those people, are put in my head.
ありがとう。
"I love that! Where did you get it?"
(Maybe it's a purse instead of shoes this time.)
So the first sentence is pointing out an object with "that" and the second is dropping "that" down to a "it" because we already know what she's talking about from the first sentence.
"Those/that" is short for "those things you have." Whereas, "them/it" is just a pronoun because we don't have to mention "that thing/those things" again.
"Those" is used to mean "those things" in general. And you can use it as the subject or object of a sentence.
example:
ok - "Those are nice."
ok - "I like those."
ok - "They are nice."
ok - "I like them."
bad - "Them are nice." (Actually, this is used some types of spoken slang, but it looks really weird in writing. I don't recommend talking this way.)
And "those" by itself can't refer to people, unless you add the word "people."
ok - "Those people are nice."
ok - "They are nice."
Thank you very much for your precise explanation!!!
I have been having a clear understanding gradually from the examples you gave me by making the list here.
I will put those sentences in my head!
"Those are nice." "I like those."
"Those people are nice. "
Thank you!
and them is often used in the same way, but after the items have been introduced.
They could easily be switched and it wouldn't sound THAT weird, but thats the basic idea of it.
Thank you for teaching this to me.
That is why Jennifer Aniston used "those" first, then "them" the next in the TV show!
I would do this like her, when I have a chance!
Thank you!
() "Those" is the plural of "that" (when "that" functions as a pronoun).
Therefore, the difference between "them" and "those" is really a derivative of the difference between:
(him / her / it) vs. (that)
I am pretty sure that your skills have advanced far beyond knowing the differences between "it" and "that". So, think in terms of "it" and "that", then make them plural as needed. That is the rule. Sometimes the correct choice may sound unnatural.
Everything you say is true, but all of this is made more confusing by the fact that some of these words have more than one function (the demonstrative pronouns can also be used as adjectives, "they" has the objective form "them" but the objective form of "it" is also "it", and so on).
Also, I often see English speakers disagreeing in their corrections between the use of "it", "this" and "that", especially when they refer to something which has already been mentioned, so I think the choice is not always entirely clear.
Well, when I say "those" I feel something different from when I say "them". But, I cannot explain that feeling in a meaningful sense. This sounds very natural:
"I don't want those! Those are the ones I want!!!!"
While not quite in the same sentence, "those" are right next to each other and have different antecedents. I can't explain (this / it / that)...
tony,
Thank you for thinking about it for me!!! I appreciate it.
Actually, I've still had been in trouble to use "this" "that" "it" and "the."
When I wrote "That was a good memory" in my journal, the "that" was corrected to "it", if my memory serves...
When I wrote "at that time", it was corrected to "at the time."
I still don't know when I can use them correctly. I just play my hunch when I use them!
ほんとに、ありがとう。
However, "that" can be both an adjective and a pronoun. So,
"at that time" <-- acting as an adjective
the choice is ("the" or "that" or "this")
"That was a memory" <-- acting as a pronoun
the choice is ("it" or "that" or "this")
It's not easy to choose one of them. But, I will keep exploring the fascination of English language!
It's a shame that I can't use those basic terms freely though...
I need to study about them (those???) more.
Thank you!
意味はそんな質問を持って英語がすごく上手になります。。。。
When you have those kind of questions, it means your english is getting too good!
｡o@(^-^)@o｡