Demonstrative Pronouns 

Explore the rules and nuances of demonstrative pronouns like 'this', 'that', 'these', and 'those'. Detailed explanations, advanced exercises, and a quiz.

Demonstrative Pronouns in English Grammar

What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrating means showing, indicating, and pointing to something; that is exactly what demonstrative pronouns do. They indicate distance and time and tell you where something is in relation to the speaker. Like other pronouns, these pronouns can replace a noun.

Demonstrative Pronouns: Types

Demonstrative pronouns are categorized based on two factors:

1.

Number: Which can be either singular or plural

2.

Distance: Which can be either near or far

In the following table, 'number' indicates how many objects each pronoun refers to, and 'distance' refers to how near or far the object is to the speaker. Let us take a look at these pronouns and their usage.

Pronouns

Near

Far

Singular

this

that

Plural

these

those

Demonstrative Pronouns: Uses

In English, demonstrative pronouns are used to point to or indicate a specific person, place, thing, or idea. They assist the speaker in conveying information about the location or identity of the subject, and can provide context about the relationship between the speaker and the subject.

1. To Show Distance

The primary function of demonstrative pronouns is to indicate the position of an object or person in relation to the speaker. By using 'this' or 'that', the speaker can show whether the object or person is within reach or not.

Example

This is an apple; it is sweet.

In this example, by using 'this' you show that the apple is in your hand or within reach.

That, over there, is my house.

In this example, you are speaking about the house from a distance.

2. To Distinguish between Two Things by Difference in Distance

Demonstrative pronouns enable the speaker to distinguish between two things based on distance. The nearer object is referred to as "this" or "these", while the farther object is referred to using "that" or "those". Proximity, rather than actual reachability, determines which pronoun to use. Thus, "this" and "that" show the relative distance from the speaker, not absolute distance. Look at the following examples:

Example

My sister and I share a room; this is my bed and that is hers.

In this example, 'my bed' is nearer than 'my sister's bed'. None of them may be in reach, but one of them is nearer than the other.

These are my friends and those are my colleagues.

In this example, again 'my friends' are nearer than 'my colleagues.'

3. To Show Distance in Time

Demonstrative pronouns can indicate temporal distance in addition to spatial distance. The present time is viewed as near, while the past and future are seen as distant. There are three ways demonstrative pronouns are used to refer to time:

1. Using near pronouns to talk about present time (now) or something that is happening now:

Example

Is this a bad time or can you talk now?

In this example, 'this' refers to the present time.

2. Using far pronouns to talk about a situation or condition in the past or future:

Example

In 1999, I moved to Paris. That was the best year of my life.

In this example, 'that,' refers to a past time.

That will be hard to take care of.

Here, in this example, 'that' refers to something in the future.

3. Using plural near or far pronouns to talk about the general condition of life in the present, past or future:

Example

These are strange times.

In this example, 'these' refers to general present conditions.

Those were hard times.

Here, 'those' refers to general past conditions.

4. To Talk about People

Demonstrative pronouns can also be used to introduce yourself on the phone or introduce someone to others. In such cases, no spatial or temporal distance is indicated by the demonstrative pronoun. Look at the examples"

Example

Hello, this is Steve.

Here, the person is introducing himself by using the term 'this.'

Everyone, this is my friend Ivan.

Warning!

When a demonstrative pronoun is used to refer to something in a sentence and the speaker wants to refer to the same thing again later in the sentence, the pronoun 'it' is used to refer to it the second time instead of the demonstrative pronoun. The same rule applies to 'these' and 'those,' which should be replaced by 'they.' Look at the example below:

Example

Look at that! It's beautiful!

As you can see, we used 'it' for a singular item, after being mentioned for the first time.

Check these out! They are made of great material and they are cheap too!

As you can see, we used 'they' for a plural item, after being mentioned for the first time.

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Demonstrative Pronouns: Functions in Sentence

Demonstrative pronouns can act as the subject or object of the sentence. Being used as the subject or object does not change the form or meaning of these pronouns. Let's see some examples:

Example

This is what I have to read.

Here, demonstrative pronoun 'this' is the 'subject' of the sentence.

I can't read this; the handwriting is awful.

Here, demonstrative pronoun 'this' is the object of the sentence. You can easily recognize the object by the position of the demonstrative pronoun. Whenever it is after a main verb it is an object.

We are not going to sell those to the customers; they are hideous!

Here 'those' is the object of the sentence. Remember, there is no noun after the demonstrative pronoun.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative determiners look just the same. This means "this, that, these, and those" can act as determiners as well. However, as a pronoun, they can function as the subject or the object of a sentence by themselves, yet, as a determiner, they must be followed by a noun. You can see in the following examples that none of the determiners are alone and they are all followed by a noun:

Example

That book is so good that I've read it more than ten times.

In this example, 'that book' is the subject of the sentence.

Those restaurants are all very expensive.

In the example above, 'those restaurants' is the subject of the sentence.

I'll have to get another job if I want to pay all these bills, or I will have to move out of this apartment.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adverbs

While demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and act as subjects or objects in sentences, demonstrative adverbs modify adjectives or other adverbs and indicate the degree or extent of the quality being described. Out of the four demonstrative pronouns, only "this" and "that" are also used as demonstrative adverbs.

Example

John's brother was not that handsome. I saw him at the party last night.

This new collection of winter garments are not that well-designed.

The cat was this big.

I have never thought that the building might be this tall.

Review

Demonstrating means showing, indicating, and pointing to something; that is exactly what demonstrative pronouns do.

Distance

Number

This

near

singular

These

near

plural

That

far

singular

Those

far

plural

Demonstrative pronouns are used to:

1.

Show reachability

2.

Distinguish something by difference in distance

3.

Show distance in time

4.

Talk about people

Function

Demonstrative Pronouns

instead of a noun in the place of subject or object

Demonstrative Determiners

before a noun

Demonstrative Adverbs

only this and that before adjectives or adverbs

Quiz:


1.

Match each demonstrative pronoun with its correct description.

This
Those
These
That
Refers to a singular object that is near the speaker.
Refers to multiple objects that are far from the speaker.
Refers to a singular object that is far from the speaker.
Refers to multiple objects that are near the speaker.
2.

Sort the words to form a sentence using a demonstrative pronoun.

adventures
of
our
.
me
memorable
this
reminds
3.

Which sentence correctly uses a demonstrative pronoun to indicate a past event?

A

This was an unforgettable day.

B

Those was an unforgettable day.

C

That was an unforgettable day.

D

These were an unforgettable day.

4.

Fill the blanks with the appropriate pronouns. (There is one extra option.)

Remember the summer we spent in Greece?

was the best time of our lives!

are the shoes I want to buy, but

are too expensive.

Hi,

is Clara calling. May I speak to Mr. Johnson?

Remember the 1990s?

were the days when music was revolutionary!

that
those
they
this
these
it
5.

"Which sentence uses 'that' as a demonstrative pronoun?

A

That movie was surprisingly suspenseful.

B

That's unbelievable.

C

The project isn’t that complicated.

D

Those shoes are too tight.

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