Demonstrative Pronouns|Examples and Explanation

Demonstrative pronouns are essential tools in the English language, acting as your linguistic GPS to guide and clarify communication. These small but mighty words—“this,” “that,” “these,” and “those”—help you point out and refer to specific items, people, or places without unnecessary repetition. Imagine holding a toy and wanting to describe it without constantly mentioning its name; that’s where demonstrative pronouns come in. They provide precision and efficiency, ensuring your message is clear and understood. 

By mastering the use of demonstrative pronouns, you enhance both your spoken and written English, making your communication more effective and engaging. Let’s explore these powerful pronouns and learn how to use them like a pro!

What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Imagine you’re holding a toy, and you want to talk about it without repeating its name over and over. That’s when demonstrative pronouns step in to save the day! These little words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” do the job. They replace the actual names and show us what you’re talking about. Check out this table for a quick overview:

Demonstrative Pronouns

Singular

Plural

This

This toy

These toys

That

That book

Those books

Demonstrative Pronoun Definition

Demonstrative Pronouns are special words that help us indicate or point to specific things, people, or places without repeating their names.

List of Demonstrative Pronouns

• This: Close and singular.
• That: Far and singular.
• These: Close and plural.
• Those: Far and plural.

Demonstrative Pronouns Examples and Usage

Now, let’s get to know these friendly pronouns better.

Demonstrative pronouns show whether the thing you’re talking about is close or far away and whether it’s singular or plural. Let’s take a closer look:

“This” and “These” Demonstrative Pronouns Examples:

This (singular): 

Use it when the thing is close, like when you’re holding the toy.

Imagine you’re holding a cute teddy bear. You’d say, “This teddy bear is adorable.” Here, “this” helps you talk about the teddy bear you’re holding.

Example

• This book is very interesting.
• This phone has excellent battery life.
• This cake tastes delicious.
• This car is new.
• This movie is my favorite.
• This dress fits perfectly.
• This idea is innovative.
• This song is catchy.
• This painting is beautiful.
• This room needs cleaning.
• This problem needs to be solved.
• This photo brings back memories.
• This flower smells wonderful.
• This restaurant serves the best pasta.
• This game is fun to play.

These (plural): 

When you’re talking about things that are close together.

Suppose you have a bunch of colorful marbles in your hand. You’d say, “These marbles are shiny.” Here, “these” tells us you’re talking about the marbles you’re holding, which are close to you.

Example

• These books are on sale.
• These phones are the latest models.
• These cakes are freshly baked.
• These cars are electric.
• These movies are critically acclaimed.
• These dresses are on clearance.
• These ideas are revolutionary.
• These songs are popular.
• These paintings are masterpieces.
• These rooms are available for booking.
• These problems require attention.
• These photos capture beautiful moments.
• These flowers are in full bloom.
• These restaurants are highly recommended.
• These games are great for parties.

“That” and “Those” Demonstrative Pronouns Examples:

That (singular): 

If the thing is a bit far, like a book on the table.

Now, if you’re talking about a big tree across the street, you’d say, “That tree is tall.” You’re pointing at the tree from a distance and using “that” to show it’s a bit far away.

Example

• That tree is very tall.
• That car is speeding.
• That house is haunted.
• That mountain is covered in snow.
• That song brings back memories.
• That restaurant has the best seafood.
• That painting is a famous masterpiece.
• That flower is rare.
• That book changed my life.
• That movie made me cry.
• That idea sounds promising.
• That bridge is historic.
• That concert was amazing.
• That cake looks delicious.
• That bike is new.

Those (plural): 

For things that are farther away from each other.

Imagine you’re at a park and you’re looking at some beautiful flowers far away. You’d say, “Those flowers are lovely.” “Those” lets us know you’re talking about the flowers that are quite a distance away.

Example

• Those trees are very tall.
• Those cars are speeding.
• Those houses are haunted.
• Those mountains are covered in snow.
• Those songs bring back memories.
• Those restaurants have the best seafood.
• Those paintings are famous masterpieces.
• Those flowers are rare.
• Those books changed my life.
• Those movies made me cry.
• Those ideas sound promising.
• Those bridges are historic.
• Those concerts were amazing.
• Those cakes look delicious.
• Those bikes are new.

Remember, demonstrative pronouns help your listener understand which thing you’re talking about without any confusion. Just pick the right one based on whether the thing is close or far, and whether it’s singular or plural.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone and save the day by replacing nouns. Demonstrative adjectives, on the other hand, team up with nouns to give them a special touch. Let’s break it down with examples:

Demonstrative Pronouns: 

These are the solo stars that replace nouns completely. They stand on their own without needing a noun beside them.

Example

• I want this. (The noun is missing, but it’s something close by.)
• Take this. (You’re handing over something nearby.)
• Can you fix this? (Refers to a problem or item that is close.)
• I love this. (Expressing affection for something within reach.)
• Remember this. (Refers to a piece of information or an item close at hand.)
• Watch this. (Refers to something happening nearby or about to be shown.)
• Read this. (Handing over a document or book nearby.)
• Use this. (Offering a tool or item close by.)
• Hold this. (Asking someone to hold an item you’re giving them.)
• Try this. (Offering food or drink that’s close to you.)
• Like this. (Showing or demonstrating something nearby.)
• See this? (Pointing out an item or detail close by.)
• Understand this? (Referring to a concept or idea being discussed.)
• Take care of this. (Refers to a task or item at hand.)
• I bought this. (Referring to a recent purchase close by.)

• “I want this.” (The noun is missing, but we know you’re talking about something close.)
• “She prefers those.” (Again, no noun, but we know it’s something far away.)

Demonstrative Adjectives: 

These are the supportive pals that come before nouns, adding extra details to them.

Examples

• She prefers those. (Refers to items far away.)
• Give me those. (Asking for items at a distance.)
• Look at those. (Pointing out objects far away.)
• Remember those? (Refers to distant memories or items.)
• I like those. (Expressing preference for items far away.)
• Take those. (Instructing someone to take items at a distance.)
• Can you see those? (Asking if someone can see distant objects.)
• Use those. (Refers to items that are not close by.)
• Move those. (Instructing to move items far away.)
• Check those. (Requesting to examine items at a distance.)
• Want those? (Asking if someone wants items far away.)
• Buy those. (Suggesting the purchase of items not nearby.)
• Pick those. (Instructing to choose items far away.)
• Choose those. (Suggesting selection of items at a distance.)
• Pass those. (Asking to pass items that are far away.)

• “This book is interesting.” (Here, “this” describes the book that’s close to you.)
• “Those houses are colorful.” (In this case, “those” adds info about the houses that are far away.)

Remember, when you’re using a demonstrative pronoun, you don’t need a noun because the pronoun itself does the job. But when you use a demonstrative adjective, it’s like the adjective is holding hands with a noun to give it more information.

So, in short:

• Demonstrative Pronouns: Stand alone (no noun needed).
• Demonstrative Adjectives: Team up with nouns to give them more info.

Demonstrative Pronouns in Conversations

Imagine you’re having a chat with a friend or someone you’ve just met. Demonstrative pronouns can help you be clear and specific about the things you’re talking about. Here are some conversation examples to show how they work:

Shopping

• Person A: “I found this dress at the mall.”
• Person B: “Oh, I like that one you’re holding.”

In this scenario, Person A is talking about a dress they’re holding, so they use “this.” Person B is referring to a dress a bit farther away, so they use “that.”

Food Choices

• Person A: “I ordered pizza. Want to try this slice?”
• Person B: “I prefer those fries instead.”

Person A offers a slice of pizza they have, using “this,” and Person B expresses a preference for fries that are likely on a different plate or container, so they use “those.”

Nature Walk

• Person A: “Look at these flowers. They’re so colorful!”
• Person B: “And over there, I see that butterfly.”

Person A points to flowers nearby using “these,” and Person B spots a butterfly a bit far away and uses “that.”

Demonstrative Pronouns in Written Communication

Just like in spoken conversations, demonstrative pronouns are also super helpful when you’re writing. They add clarity to your text and help your readers visualize what you’re talking about. Here are some examples to showcase their role in written communication:

Storytelling

“Amelia stepped into the old library, amazed by the rows of books. She reached for this book on the shelf and began to read.”

In this excerpt, “this” is used to refer to the book Amelia is reaching for, creating a clear picture for the reader.

Descriptive Essay

“The bustling market was filled with vibrant stalls. Among them, those handmade crafts caught everyone’s attention.”

Here, “those” is used to point out a specific group of crafts among the various stalls in the market.

Informative Article

“When exploring a new city, it’s important to learn about the local culture. Start by tasting these traditional dishes and visiting those historical landmarks.”

In this case, “these” refers to the specific dishes readers should try, and “those” directs readers to the historical landmarks they should visit.

By using demonstrative pronouns in your writing, you make it easier for your readers to follow your ideas and engage with your content. It’s like giving them a virtual tour of the places, objects, or ideas you’re discussing.

Common Mistakes to Avoid with Demonstrative Pronouns

While demonstrative pronouns are quite handy, there are a few common mistakes that learners might make. Let’s highlight these pitfalls and show you how to steer clear of them:

Mixing Up Singular and Plural Pronouns

It’s easy to get confused between “this” and “these,” or “that” and “those.” Remember that “this” and “that” are for one thing, while “these” and “those” are for more than one.

• Incorrect: “I like this apples.”
• Correct: “I like these apples.”

Using the Wrong Pronoun for Distance

Using the wrong pronoun can lead to misunderstandings. Choose “this” or “these” for things close to you, and “that” or “those” for things farther away.

• Incorrect: “I want that cookie on the plate.”
• Correct: “I want this cookie on the plate.”

Not Considering Context

Sometimes, the choice of pronoun depends on what you’re talking about. Consider whether the thing you’re mentioning is singular or plural and its proximity to you.

• Incorrect: “I want these coffee, please.”
• Correct: “I want this coffee, please.”

Using Demonstrative Pronouns Instead of Nouns

While demonstrative pronouns are great, they can’t replace nouns all the time. Make sure your sentences still make sense when you remove the nouns.

• Incorrect: “I love this! It’s so delicious.”
• Correct: “I love this cake! It’s so delicious.”

By being mindful of these common mistakes, you’ll be on your way to mastering demonstrative pronouns without any hiccups. Practice and paying attention to the context will help you get the hang of using them correctly.

Demonstrative Pronouns Exercises

Here are some fun and engaging Demonstrative Pronouns Exercises to help you practice using demonstrative pronouns.

Pick the Right Pronoun

Read the sentences below and choose the correct demonstrative pronoun (this, that, these, those) to complete each sentence.

• I love __________ painting on the wall. It’s so vibrant!
• Can you pass me __________ cookies from the jar?
• Look at __________ beautiful flowers in the garden.
• Are __________ the books you borrowed from the library?
• I want to try __________ cake at the bakery.

Answer Keys

• I love this painting on the wall. It’s so vibrant!
• Can you pass me those cookies from the jar?
• Look at those beautiful flowers in the garden.
• Are these the books you borrowed from the library?
• I want to try this cake at the bakery.

FAQs

What are the Rules for Demonstrative Pronouns?

Proximity and Number:

• Use “this” for a single item close by.
• Use “these” for multiple items close by.
• Use “that” for a single item far away.
• Use “those” for multiple items far away.

Agreement:

• Demonstrative pronouns must agree in number with the nouns they replace.
• Singular: this, that.
• Plural: these, those.

Context:

• Ensure the context clearly indicates what the demonstrative pronoun is referring to.

What  Mistakes we make with Demonstrative Pronouns?

Mixing Up Singular and Plural:

Incorrect: “I like this apples.”

Correct: “I like these apples.”

Using the Wrong Pronoun for Distance:

Incorrect: “I want that cookie on the plate.”

Correct: “I want this cookie on the plate.”

Lack of Context:

Incorrect: “I want this.”

Correct: “I want this cake.”

Overuse:

Using demonstrative pronouns too frequently can make writing vague.

Try to name the noun periodically to maintain clarity.

Incorrect Pronoun Usage:

• Incorrect: “I want those car.”
• Correct: “I want that car.”

Difference Between Relative and Demonstrative Pronouns?

Relative Pronouns:

Purpose: Introduce relative clauses, providing more information about a noun.

Examples: who, whom, whose, which, that.

Usage: “The book that I read was fascinating.”

Demonstrative Pronouns:

• Purpose: Point out specific items or people.
• Examples: this, that, these, those.
• Usage: “I want that.”

Difference Between Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives?

Demonstrative Pronouns:

Stand Alone: They replace nouns.

Examples: “This is delicious.” (No noun following the pronoun.)

Demonstrative Adjectives:

• Accompany Nouns: They modify nouns.
• Examples: “This cake is delicious.” (Noun “cake” follows the adjective.)

How to Avoid Overusing Demonstrative Pronouns

Use Specific Nouns:

Instead of “This is interesting,” say “This article is interesting.”

Vary Sentence Structure:

Avoid starting too many sentences with demonstrative pronouns.

Use varied sentence openers to maintain reader interest.

Clarify Antecedents:

• Ensure the referent of the demonstrative pronoun is clear.
• Instead of “I like this,” say “I like this painting.”

Reduce Redundancy:

• If the noun is clear from context, you may not need a demonstrative pronoun at all.
• Instead of “This is the best cake I’ve ever had,” say “The cake is the best I’ve ever had.”

Epilogue

In mastering demonstrative pronouns, you unlock the power to point out and refer to specific items, people, or places with precision. By understanding the rules for their use and being aware of common mistakes, you can communicate more clearly and effectively. Knowing the differences between demonstrative and relative pronouns, as well as between demonstrative pronouns and adjectives, helps you use them correctly. 

Additionally, avoiding overuse ensures your writing remains clear and engaging. Embrace these guidelines, and you’ll enhance your communication skills, making your speech and writing more impactful and precise.