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Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? This, that, these, those and furniture

This A1 ESL lesson plan teaches this, that, these and those for things near and far, with furniture words and Where's…?

Grammar
Demonstratives for near and far, one or more (This is my bed. Those are Emma's shoes.), Where's…? and Where are…?, and the prepositions in, on and under.
Topic
Furniture in Boston's Skinny House, a home about 10 feet wide, and in the student's own room, with words such as couch, shelf, desk and lamp.
Activities
A walking-tour card, a dialogue about a model of the house, self-checking drills, a chat about the student's cat, pointing tasks in open boxes, and a message about one room.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1Hello, furniture!

    • PictureUnlock
    • Spin the wheel and answerSpin the wheelUnlock
    • Study the new wordsVocabularyTry it
    • Look at the pictures and choose: where's the cat?Choose by pictureUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Let's read: a skinny house

    • Look at the photo: the Skinny HousePictureUnlock
    • Read the walking-tour cardReal-life documentTry it
    • Read and mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Read again and choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Let's listen: where's the bed?

    • Look at the photo: Emma's modelPictureUnlock
    • Listen to Emma and LiamListeningTry it
    • Transcript, for the teacherUnlock
    • Listen again and choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Grammar: this, that, where's…?

    • Study the scheme: this, that, these, thoseGrammar schemeTry it
    • Choose the right word: this, that, these or thoseChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the table: one or two or more?Fill in the tableTry it
    • Drag the words into the gaps: Liam is late!Drag and dropUnlock
    • Choose the right answer: in, on or under?QuizUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Let's talk: where's the cat?

    • Choose the right replies: Mia and your catChatTry it
    • Open a box and answerOpen the boxUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Put the letters in the right orderAnagramUnlock
    • Write a message: my roomWriting, checked by the teacherUnlock
    • Record yourself: where are your things?Speaking, checked by the teacherUnlock

23 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Furniture vocabulary

10 words and phrases from the lesson, each with a picture and audio in edio.

+7 more with pictures and audio in the lessonMore words

  • couch
  • chair
  • table
  • desk
  • shelf
  • lamp
  • narrow

Grammar: this, that, these, those and Where's…?

In a house about 10 feet wide, even the furniture is small, which makes it a fun place to point and search: That's the bathroom. Where's the bed? Learners choose among the four demonstratives by near or far, and one or more, then say where things are with in, on and under.

this, that, these, those · Where's…?

Near or far? One or two or more? And where is it?

Near or far? One or more?

Two questions pick the word. Near you: this or these. Far from you: that or those. One thing takes this or that, and two or more take these or those: this bed, those beds.

How many?Near me (here)Far from me (over there)
onethis bedthat bed
two or morethese bedsthose beds

Point and say, with is or are

This and that take is; these and those take are: Is this your chair? Are those your keys? Only that is has a short form, that's, while this is, these are and those are stay full.

Point and say

  • This is my bed.
  • That's the bathroom.
  • These are my books.
  • Those are Emma's shoes.
  • Is this your chair? – Yes, it is.
  • Are those your keys? – No, they aren't.

Short forms

that is → that's · where is → where's · it is → it's · they are → they're. But say this is, these are and those are: no short forms!

Where's…? It's… Where are…? They're…

Ask about one thing with Where's…? and answer It's…: Where's my phone? It's on the table. For two or more, Where are…? gets They're…: Where are the books? They're on the shelf.

QuestionAnswer
Where's the bed?It's on the third floor.
Where's my phone?It's on the table.
Where are my keys?They're in my bag.
Where are the books?They're on the shelf.

In, on and under

In is for rooms, closets and bags; on is for the top of a table, a bed or a shelf, and for a wall; under is below. Books go on a shelf, not in it.

in

  • in the closet
  • in my bag
  • in the kitchen

on

  • on the table
  • on the bed
  • on the wall

under

  • under the bed
  • under the table
  • under the couch

Common mistakes

  • this books

    these books

    two or more → these, those

  • These is my keys.

    These are my keys.

    these, those → are

  • Where's my keys?

    Where are my keys?

    two or more → Where are…? They're…

  • The books are in the shelf.

    The books are on the shelf.

    on top of a shelf, a table or a bed → on

More lessons on this grammar: This, that, these and those lessons and exercises

Try the this, that, these and those exercises

Try them yourself: these are the same exercises your students do in edio.

More exercises

What's in the lesson

  • 9 auto-checked exercises
  • 4 games
  • 2 teacher-checked tasks
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 set of word cards
  • 1 audio clip
  • 3 pictures
  • 1 transcript

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • point at things near and far with this, that, these and those: This is my bed. Those are Emma's shoes.
  • ask Where's…? about one thing and Where are…? about more, and answer: Where are my keys? They're in my bag.
  • say where things are with in, on and under: on the shelf, under the couch
  • name the furniture in a room, such as couch, desk, shelf and lamp, and call a very thin house narrow

Lesson 14 of English A1.1 · Hello, World comes second in the unit Home sweet home. It builds on lesson 13, where students showed rooms with This is the kitchen and These are the bedrooms, and adds that and those for things far away. Lesson 16 reviews all of it. In Boston's Skinny House, about 10 feet wide, the furniture has to be small, so Where's the bed? is a real question.

The warm-up is a spin wheel about students' homes, ten words from couch and shelf to narrow with pictures and audio, and six pictures of a gray cat on or under the furniture. Next, students read a walking-tour card, stop 6 of a tour of Boston's North End, and answer true-or-false and multiple-choice questions. After a look at Emma's model, they hear her talk with Liam (an AI-voiced dialogue) and answer questions about what's where. Four exercises follow the grammar scheme: choosing this, that, these or those, a fill-in table of one and more, a drag-and-drop in which Liam is late, and a quiz on in, on and under, each checked as students answer. Then comes the speaking: a chat with Mia about the student's cat, and boxes that send students pointing at things in the room.

Homework is two exercises that check themselves, word order and a furniture anagram, then a short message to a friend about one room and a recording about where the student's things are, both for the teacher to review.

Grammar:
this, that, these, those · Where's…? Where are…? · in, on, under
Topic:
home · furniture · the Skinny House · Boston

Teaching tips

  • Put two objects near you and two by the door before the scheme. Students point and say This is…, That's…, These are… and Those are…, and the table then names what they already did.
  • Before the listening, show the picture of Emma's model and ask Where's the bed? and What are those on the roof? Students guess, and the dialogue gives the answers.
  • Hide a pen around the room: in a bag, on a desk, under a chair. Ask Where's the pen? Then hide two pens for Where are the pens? They're…
  • After the walking-tour card, pace out 10 feet in the classroom. Seeing the width of a whole house makes the word narrow easy to remember.

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The whole course: English A1.1 · Hello, World

32 lessons for complete beginners in simple American English, from the verb to be to can and can't. Eight units cover greetings, family, numbers, home, food, daily routines, the town and free time, and each ends with a review lesson. Pictures and definitions replace translations, and the practice exercises check themselves.See the course

  1. Unit 1 Hello!

    greetings, the verb to be, countries and nationalities, yes/no questions

    1. Lesson 1Hi, hey, howdy or aloha?The verb to be with I and you
    2. Lesson 2Ellis Island: where are they from?He's, she's, they're: the verb to be
    3. Lesson 3Six languages at the UNYes/no questions with be and short answers
    4. Lesson 4Review: hello from the Statue of LibertyThe verb to be and yes/no questions, reviewed

  2. Unit 2 My people

    family members, possessive adjectives, have got, describing people

    1. Lesson 5Why is Mother's Day in May?Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her
    2. Lesson 6Best in show!Have got and the possessive 's
    3. Lesson 7National Best Friends DaySubject pronouns, possessives and describing people
    4. Lesson 8Review: Bobbie the Wonder DogPossessives, have got and 's, reviewed

  3. Unit 3 Numbers all around

    numbers and dates, a/an and plurals, phone numbers and prices

    1. Lesson 9Why is March 14 Pi Day?Numbers 0 to 100, decimals and US dates
    2. Lesson 10How old is the General Sherman tree?A, an and plurals, with big numbers and How old…?
    3. Lesson 119-1-1 and other numbers to knowSaying phone numbers, emails and prices
    4. Lesson 12Review: 102 floors and 1,860 stepsNumbers, dates, ages and prices, reviewed

  4. Unit 4 Home sweet home

    rooms in a house, this, that, these and those, furniture, opposites

    1. Lesson 13A house with 132 roomsThis is, these are and plurals
    2. Lesson 14 · you're hereBoston's skinny house: where's the bed?This, that, these, those and Where's…?
    3. Lesson 15Can a dorm room be cozy?Opposite adjectives and have got
    4. Lesson 16Review: homes for everyoneShowing and describing a home, reviewed

  5. Unit 5 Food I love

    likes and dislikes, present simple questions, ordering food

    1. Lesson 17Pancakes for breakfast?I like, I don't like and plural nouns
    2. Lesson 18New York pizza or Chicago deep-dish?Present simple questions and short answers
    3. Lesson 19A coffee to go, please!Ordering food with I'd like and Can I have…?
    4. Lesson 20Review: lunch from a food truckI like, Do you like and I'd like, reviewed

  6. Unit 6 My day

    telling the time, daily routines, days of the week, prepositions of time

    1. Lesson 21What time is it in Times Square?Telling the time and daily routines
    2. Lesson 22Who brings the mail?The present simple with we and they
    3. Lesson 23Is it morning in Hawaii?Prepositions of time with parts of the day
    4. Lesson 24Review: a New York morningTime, routines and days, reviewed

  7. Unit 7 My town

    places in town, prepositions of place, giving directions

    1. Lesson 25Main Street, USAPrepositions of place: near and next to
    2. Lesson 26Meet me at Union SquarePresent simple questions and negatives with we and they
    3. Lesson 27Turn left on 42nd StreetImperatives for giving directions
    4. Lesson 28Review: streets for peoplePlaces, the present simple and directions, reviewed

  8. Unit 8 Free time

    hobbies, can and can't, sports, making plans

    1. Lesson 29Can you play Scrabble?Can and can't for ability
    2. Lesson 30Can you surf?Can for ability and how well
    3. Lesson 31Saturday morning: Little LeagueFree time and making plans
    4. Lesson 32Review: a book for every childCan, can't and free time, reviewed

Questions about this lesson

When do you use this, that, these and those?
Choose by distance and by number: this and these for things near you, that and those for things farther away, and these or those when there are two or more. This is my bed. That's the bathroom. These are my books. The A1 lesson Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai practices all four with furniture, pointing and a model of a very narrow house.
What are demonstratives in English?
Demonstratives are the pointing words this, that, these and those. They show which thing you mean: near or far, one or more. A demonstrative can come before a noun, as in this chair or those chairs, or stand alone as the subject: That's my desk. Are these your books? The singular ones take is and the plural ones take are.
What are the most useful furniture words in English?
For beginners, the most useful furniture words are bed, couch, chair, table, desk, shelf and lamp. Learn them with the verbs sit and put: Sit on the couch. Put the lamp on the desk. Watch the plural of shelf, which is shelves. A very thin room or house is narrow, like Boston's Skinny House, only about 10 feet wide.
When do you use in, on and under?
Use in for inside, on for on top, under for below: in the closet, on the desk, under the couch. Rooms, bags and pockets take in, and walls take on, like a photo on the wall. With the same piece of furniture, only the preposition changes: a cat can sleep on the bed or hide under the bed.
How do you ask where something is in English?
Use Where's…? for one thing, Where are…? for two or more, and answer with It's or They're and a place: Where's the cat food? It's in the kitchen. Where are the cat's toys? They're under the couch. To check a guess, turn it into a yes-or-no question: Is it under the bed?
Is it "Where's my keys?" or "Where are my keys?"
Where are my keys? is correct, because keys is plural and where's means where is. Answer with They're: They're on the table. Keep Where's and It's for one thing: Where's my bag? It's under the table. The same rule works for any plural noun, as in Where are my sunglasses?
Is it "in the shelf" or "on the shelf"?
Say on the shelf: things on top of a shelf, a table or a bed are on it, as in The books are on the shelf. Use in for the inside of a closet, a bag or a room: My clothes are in the closet. The chat in Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai offers in the shelf as a wrong reply.
How do I teach this, that, these and those to beginners?
Teach the four words by pointing at real things, near and far. In the A1 lesson Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai, students first hear them in a dialogue about a model house (these are tiny books, what are those, on the roof?), then see a near-and-far table. Next, a table to fill turns this bed into these beds, and open-the-box prompts get them pointing around the room.
What's a good game for practicing this, that, these and those?
A point-and-say box game works well: each box holds one task, such as Point to a thing far from you. Say: That's the… or Put two things from your bag on the desk. Say: These are my… Another box has students ask a classmate Is this your…? In the A1 lesson Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai, these boxes close the speaking chapter.
How do you practice demonstratives one-to-one?
Use whatever is on the desk or on camera: the student points and says This is my pen or Those are my books, and you ask Is that your bag? or Are these your keys? Then swap, and ask Where's…? about the room. The chat in Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai works for one learner, who tells a friend looking after their cat where its things are.
What's good homework for practicing furniture vocabulary?
A short message about one room makes good homework: where the bed, the desk and the lamp are, with this or that. For example: My bed is under the window. That's my desk, and the lamp is on the desk. In Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai, a word-order drill and a furniture anagram come first, and students also record where their phone, keys and bag are.
Are there interactive exercises for this, that, these and those?
Yes: practice that checks each answer instantly helps learners pick near or far, one or more. The page of the A1 lesson Boston's skinny house: where's the bed? on edio.ai plays four parts with no account: a walking-tour card about a narrow house, a dialogue about its model, a table where that chair becomes those chairs, and a chat about where your cat's things are. Everything else is locked.
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