3rd grade this, that, these, and those worksheets
Third graders use the four pointing words automatically and clean up the common slip of "them" as a pointer ("them books"). The two-question habit, how many and how far, resolves every item without memorization.
Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core L.1.1.h.
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The kind of sentences you'll get
Circle the letter of the pointing word that fits the sentence.
-
geese far overhead are flying south for the winter.
This · Those
Answer: Those
- quilt on my lap was stitched by my grandma. These · This
- comic books in my backpack are signed by the author. These · That
Every print pulls a fresh set of sentences at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.
What's on each sheet
- Choose the word. Circle the letter of the pointing word that fits the sentence. 10 questions per page.
Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key on the last page.
How to teach this
Nearly automatic at this age, so aim at the last error standing: them as a demonstrative. "Them books" is common in speech; the writing convention is those. Handle it matter-of-factly as a difference between how people talk and what tests expect, not as a moral failing.
Watch for: Two questions decide every case: how many, and how far. Answer both before choosing. Them is never a pointing word: it's those books, not them books.
Common questions about this, that, these, and those
- Why is "them books" wrong?
- Them receives action (I gave them books) but doesn't point. The pointing job belongs to those: those books. It's a speech habit in plenty of communities, so we treat it as a writing convention to practice, and the worksheet items make the correction feel routine.
- What comes after demonstratives?
- They fold into the bigger determiner family alongside articles, which we practice separately as a, an, and the. A student who can choose among this/that/these/those and a/an is handling the two determiner decisions elementary writing actually requires.
Related worksheets
- 1st grade this, that, these, and those A step easier, same skill
- 2nd grade this, that, these, and those A step easier, same skill
- 3rd grade adverbs of how, when, and where Same grade, nearby skill
- 3rd grade articles (a, an, the) Same grade, nearby skill
- 3rd grade collective nouns Same grade, nearby skill
- This, that, these, and those, all grades The full progression
- All 3rd grade English worksheets Every skill at this level
- All 3rd grade worksheets Everything at this level
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Aligned to Common Core L.1.1.h. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 137, updated August 2026.
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