LoginDemonstrative Adverbs
Discover the rules for using demonstrative adverbs like 'here', 'there', and 'therefore'. Detailed explanations and a quiz to test your knowledge.
What Are Demonstrative Adverbs?
Demonstrative adverbs are used to indicate the spatial or temporal location of something relative to the speaker. In other words, they show that something or someone is near or far from the speaker, or that an event happened in recent or past times.
Demonstrative Adverbs: Types
There are two types of demonstrative adverbs in English. One is used to talk about time and the other is used to refer to the place of someone or something. Take a look at the list below:
Demonstrative Adverbs of Time
Demonstrative Adverbs of Place
The table below presents the four demonstrative adverbs in English and their categories:
Take a look at some examples:
Your books are right here, Sicily.
She's gone to London and plans to stay there for a month.
"There" refers to a place that is far from the speaker.
Demonstrative Adverbs: Uses
Demonstrative Adverbs of Time
Demonstrative adverbs of time can be used to specify the time of an event or action relative to the present.
Now
'Now' is used to talk about the present moment in time, that is, the time of speaking. For example:
Carol would want to talk to you now.
Here, the action is happening in the present moment.
Then
We can use 'then' to point to a particular time in the past or future. For example:
I wish I knew then what I know now.
It was then that I figured out his intentions.
I'm coming back to town on Monday. I'll see you then.
Demonstrative Adverbs of Place
Demonstrative adverbs of place, such as 'here' and 'there', are often used to indicate the location of something or someone relative to the location of the speaker.
Here
'Here' as a demonstrative adverb of place can be used to point to the location of people or things that are near the speaker. Let us take a look at the following examples:
Click here to attach your application.
Can you come here for a second?
There
To point to the location of something or someone that is far away from us, we typically use the demonstrative adverb 'there'. For example:
The keys are there on the table.
The treasure is buried there on that remote island.
Archaic Adverbs
Some adverbs in Old English could be classified as demonstrative adverbs. However, these adverbs are now considered archaic and are not commonly used any more. Take a look at the table below:
Place | Time | |
|---|---|---|
Near | hither | hence |
Far | thither | thence |
In the past, the adverbs 'hither' and 'thither' were used in place of 'here' and 'there'. 'Hither' was used to refer to people or things that were near the speaker, while 'thither' was used to refer to people or things that were far from the speaker. Compare the following examples:
Come hither, young lad!
Here, it means 'come here'.
The sailors set their course thither.
Here, the sentence means look over there.
'Hence' and 'thence' were mainly used to discuss time. 'Hence' means 'from now' and 'thence' is its past form.
A week hence I shall meet him.
She decided to visit her aunt and thence head home.
Review
Demonstrative adverbs refer to a place or time relative to the speaker or the present time. The include:
Demonstrative adverbs of place: here (near), there (far)
Demonstrative adverbs of time: now (present), then (past or future)
Quiz:
Which sentence correctly uses a demonstrative adverb of place?
Put the package now on the table.
Your glasses are right here.
We'll discuss this matter hence.
She arrived then at the station.
Sort the words to form a correct sentence.
Match the demonstrative adverb with its correct category or meaning
Fill the blanks with the correct demonstrative adverb.
I dropped my keys back in the car. They should still be
.
I didn't understand the instructions yesterday, but I get them
.
The meeting starts in an hour. Please join us
.
Come sit
with me to watch the game.
Which of the following sentences correctly uses an archaic demonstrative adverb to refer to a place far from the speaker?
Come hither and listen closely.
The meeting will begin hence.
The explorers set their sails thither.
She returned thence with a heavy heart.
Comments
(0)
Recommended
