In Dutch, "This are nice books" is a perfectly correct way to say that you think the books are nice. On the previous page, you already saw a few examples of how we use _dit_ and _dat_ where we would normally use _deze_ or _die_. We normally use _dit/dat_ for _het_-nouns, _deze/die_ for _de_-nouns (including all plural nouns).
For Dutch learners, it must look particularly strange when we use _dit_ and _dat_ to refer to plural nouns. That is why we look at this phenomenon again, now focusing on plural nouns.
- Where the English say 'these are [noun]', the Dutch say 'this are [noun]'.
- For 'those are [noun]', the Dutch say 'that are [noun]'.
As you can see in the example below, singular _dit/dat_ (this/that) does not correspond with plural 'zijn' (are) or 'waren' (were):
Dit zijn inheemse planten. | These are indigenous plants.
[lit: This are indigenous plants]
Dat waren aardige buren. | Those were nice neighbours.
[lit: That were nice neighbours]
We only do this when 'these/those' is linked to a noun. 'Indigenous plants', and '(nice) neighbours' are nouns.
If 'these/those' is linked to an adjective, the Dutch use the independent demonstratives [deze/die](#/lesson/Pronouns.De03).
[Deze planten]
Deze zijn inheems. | [these plants]
These are indigenous.
[Die buren]
Die waren aardig. | [those neighbours]
Those were nice.
'Indigenous', and 'nice' are adjectives.
If we put the examples in one table, it is easy to see the difference.
Dit zijn inheemse planten
Deze zijn inheems. | These are indigenous plants.
These are indigenous.
Dat waren aardige buren.
Die waren aardig. | Those were nice neighbours.
Those were nice.