"Das ist ein Tier."

Translation: This is an animal.

[sball88]

How do you know when "das" means "this" or "that"? And what about "dies" and "dass"?

[chrystal.c2]

Thats an easy one to remember. Houstier literally sounds like house animal to me so thats how I remember it. An animal that lives in the house is a pet. So it makes sense to me lol.
Hope that helps ;)

[David_Foote]

I thought Tier was pet and then it said it was animal or beast, so the second time it came up I translated Tier to beast and it said it was just animal. Is beast not a good substitution?

[ComboViera]

Why not "It is an animal"?

[Menschenkind]

It = Es; 'Das' is more definite. Example: - What's that noise?! - That's an animal. Although you might use 'it' in english, german needs a 'das' there.

[mcharcos]

Why "Pet" is not a correct translation of Tier?

[davye]

ein Haustier = a pet

[nersar]

Bechause
Tier =Animel
Houstier=Pet (House animal)

[Severie]

Sorry, my "this's an animal" wasn't accepted, warum?