Demonstrative Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives

The words: This / That – These / Those are known as demonstrative, and are used to show the distance between the speaker (subject) and the noun (what are you talking about).

The first group is called:

Demonstrative Pronouns

This; refers to singular nouns and near to the speaker.

This is my house. Here This refers to a singular noun.

These; refers to plural nouns and near to the speaker.

These are our toys. Here These refers to a plural noun.

That; refers to singular nouns and far to the speaker.

That is my house. Here That refers to a singular noun.

Those; refers to plural nouns and far to the speaker.

Those are our toys. Here Those refers to a plural noun.

Note: Demonstrative pronouns can work by themselves.

e.g. Did you do That?

I’d like to have These.

Which of Those would you like?

Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives are used just before the noun and have to agree on the noun form.

i.e.

This car = This [singular] and car [singular noun].

Those toys = Those [plural] and toys [plural noun].

Examples of demonstrative adjectives:

This class is interesting. [singular]

That city is amazing. [singular]

These candies are delicious. [plural]

Those chairs are modern. [plural]

In summary:

The difference between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjective is that demonstrative pronouns are before a verb or by themselves, while demonstrative adjectives are always before nouns (equal in form –singular or plural).

• This chair is colorful (Demonstrative Adjective + Noun)
• This is nice. (Demonstrative Pronoun + Verb)
• Did you like those? (Demonstrative Pronoun by itself)

Demonstratives with Time:

If an action is close in time we commonly use This or These.

If an action has finished or is in the past we can use That or Those.

• This is a good dinner. (at the time of eating)
• Those girls we met yesterday were very beautiful. (an event that happened in the past)

Expression for This is.

The expression This is is useful when we talk on the phone or when we introduce people.

• “Hello, This is Peter. Can I talk to Mr. Roberts?”
• Lily, this is my friend Robert. Robert this is Lily…

Source: www.woodwardenglish.com

Using Demonstrative Adjectives, try to make some sentences about the picture: