English Demonstratives

We use demonstratives to refer to things based on two main factors:

• Distance: Is the object near or far from the speaker?

• Number: Is the object singular (one) or plural (more than one)?

How to Use Demonstratives

• This (singular, near): We use “this” when we talk about one object that is close to us. For example:

This is my book. (“This” refers to one book near the speaker.)

• That (singular, far): We use “that” when we talk about one object that is far from us.

That is your phone. (“That” refers to one phone far from the speaker.)

• These (plural, near): We use “these” when we talk about more than one object that is close to us.

These are my shoes. (“These” refers to multiple shoes near the speaker.)

• Those (plural, far): We use “those” when we talk about more than one object that is far from us.

Those are their jackets. (“Those” refers to multiple jackets far from the speaker.)

Demonstratives as Pronouns and Adjectives

This, that, these and those can be both demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives, depending on how they are used in a sentence.

Demonstrative Pronouns

When this, that, these and those replace a noun, they function as pronouns. In this case, they stand alone and point to something specific. For example:

This is my book. (“This” replaces the noun “book.”)

Those are my shoes. (“Those” replaces the noun “shoes.”)

Demonstrative Adjectives

When this, that, these and those are placed before a noun to describe or specify it, they function as adjectives (also called demonstrative determiners). In this case, they modify the noun by showing which one(s) the speaker is referring to. For example:

This backpack is mine. (“This” describes the noun “backpack.”)

Those pants look new. (“Those” describes the noun “pants.”)

We often use one or ones with demonstrative adjectives to identify specific items. For example:

I like this one better.

That one is really cool!

These ones are bigger than those ones.