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Today we’re revising this, that, these, and those through a fun and surprisingly clever scene from Winnie the Pooh. Although it seems simple, the characters use wordplay that plays with sounds like knot, not, and nought.
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Introduction
Choose the correct word singular, plural, far or close.
Vocabulary
Exercise 1
Here’s some vocab you’re gonna need. Connect words to their definitions.
rope
😮 an expression of surprise and frustration
swine
🫥 (phrase) everything was pointless
good grief!
🪢 (noun) a tight loop made by tying rope
(verb) to tie something into a knot
tie sth together
🐖 a pig
knot
🪢thick, strong string
it’s all for nought
🧶 to connect things using string, rope, etc.
answers
🪢 Rope (noun)
Thick, strong string made by twisting fibres together, used for tying or pulling things.
🐖 Swine (noun)
A pig (formal/literary).
😮 Good grief (exclamation)
An expression of surprise, frustration, or annoyance. Similar to "Oh no!" or "Honestly!"
🧶 Tie something together (phrase)
To connect or fasten things using string, rope, etc.
🪢 Knot
- (noun): A tight loop made by tying rope or string.
“He tied a knot in the rope.”
- (verb): To tie something into a knot.
“She knotted her shoelaces.”
🫥 It's all for nought (phrase)
Everything was pointless or wasted effort.
Nought means nothing in old-fashioned or literary English.
Pronunciation
Which words from the list above are pronounced as /nɒt/?
answers
not /nɒt/
knot /nɒt/
naught /nɔːt/ (the vowel sound is a bit longer)
Exercise 2
Read the following sentences:
1. He felt a knot in his stomach before the big exam. 🪢 (is this a verb or a noun?)
2. She quickly knotted her scarf before stepping outside. 🪢 (is this a verb or a noun?)
3. I'm not sure if he's coming to the party. 🚫
4. I cannot find my keys anywhere. ❌
5. Her efforts to explain were all for naught, as no one was listening. 😞
This/that/these/those
Exercise 3
Fill in the gaps
answers
that pumpkin pie
these books
those cats
this dog
that car
this box
that house
this handbag
this apple
those pears
that sofa
these jars
Exercise 4
Choose the correct word.
Piglet is holding a rope in his hands.
"Well, there is this/that/these/those rope."
- Piglet has cut the rope into pieces. The pieces are next to Piglet.
- Owl is far away from Piglet. "So, it is possible to knot this/that/these/those pieces."
- Piglet is talking about the pieces of rope which he’s holding in his hands. "Not this/that/these/those pieces."
- Pooh is far away from Piglet. "Yes, knot this/that/these/those pieces.”
Focus on: this/that/these/those
Watch the video to find out if your answers are correct. Focus on the sentences from exercise 4.
Focus on: vocabulary
Exercise 5
Remember exercise 1? Let’s do it again but this time, it’s more difficult.
r…
🪢thick, strong string
s…
🐖 a pig
g… g…!
😮 an expression of surprise and frustration
t… sth t…
🧶 to connect things using string, rope, etc.
k…
🪢 (noun) a tight loop made by tying rope
(verb) to tie something into a knot
it’s a… for n…
🫥 (phrase) everything was pointless
answers
🪢 Rope (noun)
Thick, strong string made by twisting fibres together, used for tying or pulling things.
🐖 Swine (noun)
A pig (formal/literary).
😮 Good grief (exclamation)
An expression of surprise, frustration, or annoyance. Similar to "Oh no!" or "Honestly!"
🧶 Tie something together (phrase)
To connect or fasten things using string, rope, etc.
🪢 Knot
- (noun): A tight loop made by tying rope or string.
“He tied a knot in the rope.”
- (verb): To tie something into a knot.
“She knotted her shoelaces.”
🫥 It's all for naught (phrase)
Everything was pointless or wasted effort.
Naught means nothing in old-fashioned or literary English.
Exercise 6
Fill in the gaps.
"Of all things, why didn't we think to bring a …?" 🪢 (a thick, strong string)
"Well, there is this ..." 🪢 (a thick, strong string)
"Do be a helpful little … and get us out of here." 🐖 (a pig)
"There! Now you can all get out!"
"… …! 😮 (an expression of surprise and frustration) … them …, Piglet." 🧶 (to connect things)
"Not possible."
"Ah! So, it is possible to … those pieces." 🪢 (to tie something into a knot)
"Not these pieces."
"Yes, … those pieces." 🪢 (to tie something into a knot)
"Why not?"
"Because it's all for ." 🫥
”Oh, dear! I can’t tie a ...” 🪢(a tight loop)
Watch the video again and check your answers. Focus on the correct vocabulary.
Focus on: jokes
Here’s the full transcript:
Rabbit: "Of all things, why didn't we think to bring a rope?"
Piglet: "Well, there is this rope."
Owl: "Do be a helpful little swine and get us out of here."
Piglet: "There! Now you can all get out!"
Rabbit: "Good grief! Tie them together, Piglet."
Piglet: "Not possible."
Owl: "Ah! So, it is possible to knot those pieces."
Piglet: "Not these pieces."
Pooh: "Yes, knot those pieces."
Piglet: "Why not?"
Donkey: "Because it's all for nought."
Piglet: “Oh, dear! I can’t tie a knot.”
Exercise 7
Choose the correct answer:
- Piglet: “Not possible.”
What did his friends hear?
A) Knot possible.
B) Not possible.
C) Nought possible
answer
Correct Answer: A “Knot possible” meaning that tying the knot is possible
2. Piglet: “Not these pieces.”
They thought Piglet meant:
A) Nought these pieces
B) Not these pieces.
C) Knot these pieces.
answer
Correct Answer: C “Knot these pieces” meaning that Piglet should tie these pieces together
3. Pooh: “Yes, knot those pieces.”
Piglet thought Pooh meant:
A) Knot those pieces.
B) Not those pieces.
C) Nought those pieces
answer
Correct Answer: B “Not these pieces” meaning that not the pieces Piglet is holding but maybe some other pieces
4. Donkey: “Because it’s all for nought.”
What did Donkey mean?
A) Everything is pointless.
B) Everything is tied in knots.
C) Everything is possible.
answer
Correct Answer: This whole conversation is pointless