1. What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are used in English to point to specific people, things, or ideas, indicating their location in space or time relative to the speaker. They replace a noun and can indicate whether the object is singular or plural, and whether it is near or far from the speaker.

In English, there are four main demonstrative pronouns:

NumberNear the SpeakerFar from the Speaker
Singularthisthat
Pluralthesethose

2. Demonstrative Pronouns – Singular Forms

2.1. “This”

  • Use: Refers to a single object/person that is close to the speaker.
  • Examples:
    • This is my favorite book. (the book is near the speaker)
    • I love this dress! (the dress is right here or being held)

2.2. “That”

  • Use: Refers to a single object/person that is far from the speaker.
  • Examples:
    • That is my old house. (pointing at a house in the distance)
    • Who is that man over there?

3. Demonstrative Pronouns – Plural Forms

3.1. “These”

  • Use: Refers to multiple objects/people that are close to the speaker.
  • Examples:
    • These are my keys. (holding the keys or showing nearby)
    • These cookies are delicious!

3.2. “Those”

  • Use: Refers to multiple objects/people that are far from the speaker.
  • Examples:
    • Those are her shoes by the door.
    • Do you see those birds in the tree?

4. Summary Table

PronounNumberProximityExample
thisSingularNearThis is my phone.
thatSingularFarThat is your backpack.
thesePluralNearThese are my friends.
thosePluralFarThose are beautiful mountains.

5. Common Mistakes and Tips

  • ❌ This are my books.
    ✅ These are my books. (Plural noun needs a plural demonstrative)
  • ❌ Those is expensive.
    ✅ Those are expensive. (Plural subject needs plural verb)
  • Always match number (singular/plural) and proximity (near/far) correctly.

6. Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives

It’s important to distinguish demonstrative pronouns from demonstrative adjectives.

TypeFunctionExample
Demonstrative PronounReplaces a nounThis is mine.
Demonstrative AdjectiveModifies a noun (comes before)This book is mine.

Observe:

  • This is expensive. → “This” is a pronoun; replaces the noun.
  • This phone is expensive. → “This” is an adjective; describes the noun “phone”.

7. Usage in Time and Ideas

Demonstrative pronouns can also refer to time or ideas.

Examples:

  • This is what I was talking about. (refers to an idea just mentioned)
  • I don’t agree with that. (refers to a previous statement)
  • These are the best years of our lives. (refers to current time period)
  • Back in those days, things were different. (refers to a past era)

8. Exercises for Practice

Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun:

  1. ______ is my brother. (standing next to you)
  2. ______ are my grandparents. (in a photo on the wall)
  3. I don’t like ______. (pointing to shoes across the room)
  4. ______ is delicious! (talking about a cake you’re eating)

Answers:

  1. This
  2. These
  3. Those
  4. This

9. Conclusion

Understanding demonstrative pronouns is essential to speaking and writing clearly in English. They help us point out things, talk about specific people, and refer to ideas or timeframes. Always pay attention to two key aspects:

  • Whether the noun is singular or plural.
  • Whether it is near or far from the speaker.

💡 Tip: Practice using them in sentences every day to build natural fluency.