Does the word these modifiy plural nouns that are close by?

That's a great question! It's a bit more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Here's the breakdown:

Generally, yes, "these" modifies plural nouns close by.

* Example: "These apples are ripe." Here, "these" clearly refers to the plural noun "apples".

But, there are exceptions:

* Distance: While "these" usually modifies nouns nearby, it can sometimes refer to nouns further away if the context makes it clear.

* Example: "I saw three dogs. These dogs were all golden retrievers." Even though "dogs" is a bit further away, the context makes it clear that "these" refers to the previously mentioned dogs.

* Emphasis: "These" can also be used to emphasize a particular group of things, even if there are other options.

* Example: "We have many colors, but these colors are the most popular." Even though "colors" is mentioned further back in the sentence, "these" emphasizes a specific subset of the colors.

Important Note: "These" can also modify singular nouns when referring to things that are conceptually plural.

* Example: "These shoes are comfortable." While "shoes" is singular, it refers to a pair, making it conceptually plural.

In summary: "These" usually modifies plural nouns close by, but it can also refer to nouns further away or emphasize a specific group, and it can sometimes be used with singular nouns that represent a plural concept.