Demonstrative Pronouns | Definition and Examples

Pronouns are words we use to replace nouns and prevent repetition in sentences. There are various types of pronouns, and here, we’ll discuss a specific type called demonstrative pronouns. These special pronouns point out or show specific people, places, or things in a conversation, helping everyone understand exactly what’s being discussed. Common demonstrative pronouns include ‘this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these,’ and ‘those.’ In this article, we’ll explore what demonstrative pronouns are with their uses and examples. So, let’s begin!

What are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are words used to point out or identify specific people, places, or things in a conversation. These pronouns replace nouns and indicate their proximity or distance in relation to the speaker and the listener. The most common demonstrative pronouns are:

• This
• That
• These
• Those

“This” and “that” are singular, while “these” and “those” are plural. “This” refers to something close to the speaker (either physically or in terms of time), while “that” points to something farther away. For example, “This book is interesting” indicates a book close to the speaker, while “That book is interesting” refers to one farther away. Similarly, “These pens are blue” refers to multiple pens nearby, whereas “Those pens are blue” points to pens farther away.

Types of Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns come in four main types: “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” Each type serves a specific purpose in indicating the proximity or distance of people, places, or things in a conversation or text.

1. This:
   • Used to refer to a singular item or person that is close to the speaker. For example, “This book is interesting,” indicating the proximity of the book to the speaker.
2. That:
   • Indicates a singular item or person that is farther away from the speaker. For instance, “That is my pen,” signaling something at a distance from the speaker.
3. These:
   • Refers to multiple items or people that are close to the speaker. For example, “These shoes are comfortable,” highlighting the proximity of the shoes.
4. Those:
   • Points out multiple items or people situated farther away. For instance, “Can you pass me those (pencils)?” indicating that the pencils are not nearby.

Chart of Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns		Uses	Examples
Singular (Near)	This	Refers to something closer in time/distance.	This is my new phone. This city is my hometown. Can you pass me this (book)?
Singular (Far)	That	Refers to something further away in time/distance.	That movie was released last year. I can’t believe I did that. That seems beautiful.
Plural (Near)	These	Refers to multiple things closer in time/distance.	These are my favorite (shoes). These (cookies) taste amazing.  I bought these at the local market.
Plural (Far)	Those	Refers to multiple things further away in time/distance.	Those are expensive. Those belong to me. Can you grab those tools from the garage?

How to Use Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns, such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” are used to replace specific nouns in a sentence while indicating their proximity to the speaker and listener. Here’s how to use them:

• Proximity: Determine the distance between the speaker and the object or objects being referred to. Use “this” or “these” for close items and “that” or “those” for distant ones.
• Singular vs. Plural: Select the right pronoun based on singular or plural context: “this” for near singular, “that” for distant singular, “these” for close multiples, and “those” for distant multiples.
• Clarity: Ensure your pronoun choice conveys clear understanding, helping the audience identify the specific object without ambiguity.
• Consistency: Maintain uniformity in pronoun usage; if you start with “this,” stick with it for the same object throughout.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs Demonstrative Adjectives

Although both types of words indicate proximity and help identify specific things, demonstrative pronouns stand-alone, and replace nouns directly, while demonstrative adjectives modify nouns by providing additional information. For example:

In the sentence “This book is interesting,” “this” is a demonstrative pronoun because it replaces the noun “book,” whereas in the sentence “I like this book,” “this” is a demonstrative adjective because it describes the noun “book.”

Demonstrative Pronouns Examples

1. This is my favorite song.
2. These are delicious cookies.
3. This is my house.
4. Is that yours?
5. Those are expensive.
6. These belong to me.
7. Those are beautiful flowers.
8. I need this right now.
9. This is the one I want.
10. Those were incredible fireworks.
11. This seems easy.
12. Are those (chairs) comfortable?
13. I choose this one.
14. These need to be fixed.
15. I love this (color).
16. What are these for?
17. I can’t find this (book).
18. These shoes are stylish.
19. I love this room’s color.
20. Do you like those (headphones)?

Demonstrative Pronouns Exercises

Choose the correct answer from the options provided (this, that, these, those) to check your knowledge:

Q1: Which of the following is a demonstrative pronoun?

1. The
2. That
3. Some
4. His

Q2: “___ is my favorite color.”

1. They
2. These
3. Those
4. It

Q3: “___ are my friends.”

1. Those
2. Many
3. Few
4. Every

Q4: Which word is a demonstrative pronoun?

1. Her
2. Them
3. Here
4. This

Q5: ___ are the best days of our lives.

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

Q6: “___ is a beautiful day.”

1. His
2. That
3. Few
4. Any

Q7: I can’t believe ___ is happening right now!

1. this
2. that
3. these
4. those

Q8: “___ is my favorite movie.”

1. Their
2. Them
3. That
4. Each

Q9: “___ are my favorite shoes.”

1. Those
2. They
3. Both A and B
4. Neither A nor B

Q10: “___ are the best flowers in the garden.”

1. Many
2. Some
3. These
4. Every

Answers:

1. b) That
2. c) Those
3. a) Those
4. d) This
5. c) These
6. b) That
7. a) This
8. c) That
9. a) Those
10. c) These

FAQs

Q1: What are demonstrative pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are words that replace nouns and point out specific people, places, or things in a sentence. They indicate whether the noun being referred to is near or far in distance, and they include words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”

Q2: How do demonstrative pronouns differ from demonstrative adjectives?

Demonstrative pronouns differ from demonstrative adjectives in their function within a sentence. For example: demonstrative pronouns replace nouns entirely, standing alone to point out specific objects or people (I want this right now). Demonstrative adjectives, on the other hand, modify nouns, providing more information about the noun (I like this book).

Q3: What are the 4 demonstrative pronouns

There are four main types of demonstrative pronouns: “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” They can vary in number and distance, referring to singular or plural nouns and indicating proximity or distance from the speaker.

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