A Simple Sentence with Big Impact in English Learning
Why This Sentence Matters
The phrase "This is a pen" is one of the most iconic introductory sentences in English language education—especially in Japan and other non-English-speaking countries.
It’s often the first complete sentence learners encounter because it demonstrates:
Subject + Verb + Article + Noun structure
Use of the demonstrative pronoun "this"
Introduction to articles ("a")
Everyday vocabulary (pen)
Breakdown of the Sentence
This is a pen.
This – Demonstrative pronoun pointing to something nearby.
is – Present tense form of the verb "to be".
a – Indefinite article used before singular countable nouns.
pen – A common writing instrument; a concrete noun.
Practice Pronunciation
Click the button below to hear how the sentence sounds (simulated via text-to-speech if supported):
More Examples Using the Same Pattern
This is a book.
This is a cat.
This is my phone.
This is water.
Notice how the structure stays consistent—only the noun changes!