Demonstratives

What are demonstratives?

Demonstratives are pointing words. They show exactly which person or thing we mean. There are only four of them:

Imagine pointing with your finger. This cup is in your hand. That cup is across the room. These shoes are on your feet. Those shoes are by the door.

Two questions to ask

To choose the right demonstrative, ask:

1. Is it one or more than one? One: this or that. More than one: these or those.
2. Is it near or far? Near: this or these. Far: that or those.

• I love this sweater. (one, near: I’m wearing it)
• Can you pass me that book? (one, far: it’s over there)
• These cookies are delicious. (many, near: on my plate)
• Look at those stars! (many, far: up in the sky)

Near and far in time

Demonstratives can point to time as well as place.

• this and these often mean now or soon: this morning, this week, these days
• that and those often mean the past: that summer, in those days

I’m busy this weekend. (coming up soon)
I remember that trip to the lake. (in the past)

Two jobs: adjective or pronoun

Demonstratives can do two different jobs in a sentence.

Demonstrative adjectives

A demonstrative adjective comes right before a noun and tells which one.

• This puppy is sleepy.
• I want those stickers.

Demonstrative adjectives are a kind of determiner, a word that comes before a noun to point it out.

Demonstrative pronouns

A demonstrative pronoun stands alone. It takes the place of the noun.

• This is my favourite song.
• Are those yours?
• That was amazing!

Quick test: If a noun comes right after the demonstrative, it is an adjective. If no noun follows, it is a pronoun.

Matching with the noun and verb

The demonstrative must match the noun:

• ✓ this book, these books
• ✗ this books, these book

Watch the verb, too:

• This is my bike. / These are my bikes.
• That was fun. / Those were fun.

Demonstratives in speaking and writing

We use demonstratives all the time when talking, because we can point. In writing, the reader can’t see you point, so make sure it is clear what this or that means.

✗ The class had a test and a field trip. This was fun. (Which one?)
✓ The class had a test and a field trip. The field trip was fun.

Writers also use this to connect ideas: Bees carry pollen from flower to flower. This helps plants make seeds. Here this points back to the whole previous sentence.

Let’s try some examples

• Is this seat taken?
• I’ll never forget that day.
• These are the best fries I’ve ever had.
• Who left those muddy boots by the door?

Common mistakes

• Using them with them. ✗ Look at them birds. → ✓ Look at those birds.
• Mixing singular and plural. ✗ These kind of games → ✓ This kind of game or These kinds of games
• Adding here or there. ✗ this here book, that there dog → ✓ this book, that dog

Try it yourself

Fill in this, that, these or those:

1. ___ socks I’m wearing are itchy.
2. Do you see ___ airplane way up there?
3. ___ is the best day ever!
4. Pass me ___ crayons on the far shelf.

Then say whether each one is an adjective or a pronoun.

Answers: These (adjective), that (adjective), This (pronoun), those (adjective).

Quick recap

• The four demonstratives are this, that, these and those.
• This and these are near; that and those are far.
• This and that are singular; these and those are plural.
• Before a noun they are adjectives; alone they are pronouns.