Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

Introduction

Demonstratives in English are words that indicate which person or thing is being referred to in a sentence. In English, there are four demonstratives—this, that, these, and those.

In this article, we will explore the various functions, uses, and nuances of these demonstratives. We will discuss how demonstratives operate and how they are placed within a sentence.

What Are Demonstratives?

Demonstratives in English indicate the spatial or temporal proximity of an object, event, or person in relation to the speaker. They encompass both physical and psychological closeness or distance, with near demonstratives typically associated with the present and far demonstratives often referencing the past when discussing events.

There are four demonstrators in English: this, that, these, and those.

Demonstratives – This, That, These, Those

As mentioned above, demonstratives are words that show which person or thing is being referred to.

In the sentence:

• “This is my brother”,

“This” is a demonstrative

The demonstratives in English are this, that, these, and those

Demonstratives differ according to:

• Distance: near or far,
• Number: singular or plural.

Here are the main distinctions:

• “This” modifies or refers to a singular noun that is near to the speaker.
• “That” modifies or refers to a singular noun that is far from the speaker.
• “These” modifies or refers to plural nouns that are near to the speaker.
• “Those” modifies or refers to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.

Demonstratives	Singular	Plural	Near	Far
This		–		–
That		–	–
These	–			–
Those	–		–

Use Of Demonstratives In English

Demonstratives play versatile roles in language, serving different functions in various contexts.

1. Demonstrative Pronouns: Demonstratives function as pronouns when they replace nouns, providing a concise reference to objects, events, or people. Examples include:
   • “This helps a lot.”
   • “That worked perfectly well.”
   • “These are my friends.”
   • “These jeans are cheap; those are very expensive.”
2. Introducing People: Demonstratives are employed to introduce individuals, enhancing clarity and directness. For instance:
   • “This is John.”
3. Phone Conversations: Demonstratives find a unique application in phone conversations, where they help establish identity without visual cues. Examples include:
   • “This is Linda speaking.”

Demonstrative Pronouns Vs Demonstrative Adjectives

A crucial distinction exists between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives, each serving distinct grammatical functions.

1. Demonstrative Adjectives: Demonstrative adjectives, also known as demonstrative determiners, modify and provide more information about a noun. They help specify which particular noun is being referred to. Examples include:
   • “This apple is delicious.”
   • “I like those houses.”
   In these instances, “this” modifies the noun “apple,” and “those” modifies the noun “houses,” providing additional details about the objects.
2. Demonstrative Pronouns: Demonstrative pronouns, on the other hand, stand independently as substitutes for nouns. They replace the noun rather than modify it. Examples include:
   • “This is delicious.” (replacing the noun “apple”)
   • “I like those.” (replacing the noun “houses”)
   In these cases, “this” and “those” stand alone and act as substitutes for the specific nouns they replace.

Placement Of Demonstratives

Here are different placements of demonstratives:

1. Before Nouns:
   • Demonstratives are commonly positioned directly before nouns to specify or identify a particular object.
     • Example: “This house needs renovation.”
2. Before an Adjective Modifying a Noun:
   • Demonstratives can precede an adjective that modifies a noun, providing additional details about the described object.
     • Example: “This big house needs renovation.”
3. Before Verbs Functioning as Pronouns:
   • Demonstratives can be placed before verbs that function as pronouns, indicating an action or state.
     • Example: “This needs to be renovated.”
4. Before “One” or “Ones” Replacing a Previously Mentioned Noun:
   • Demonstratives can introduce the replacement “one” or “ones” to avoid repetition and maintain clarity when referring back to a previously mentioned noun.
     • Examples:
       • “This house needs renovation. That one has already been renovated.”
       • “These jeans are expensive. Those ones are cheap.”
       • “Although I normally don’t like watching science fiction movies, I had a great time watching that one”

Conclusion

Demonstratives indicate the proximity or distance of an object, event, or person in relation to the speaker. In English, there are four demonstratives—this, that, these, and those—each serving distinct roles based on singular or plural forms and proximity to the speaker. These demonstratives are placed before a noun, an adjective modifying a noun, or a verb. When they precede a verb, they function as pronouns.

Related Pages:

• Exercise on demonstratives.