Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative Pronouns in English cover words like 'this,' 'that,' 'these,' and 'those.' This module teaches how to use them correctly to point to specific items in context.
Concept
Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun and identify which item or items the speaker means. English uses 'this' and 'these' for items that are near and 'that' and 'those' for items that are farther. The choice also depends on whether we are talking about one item or more than one item. In conversation, 'near' often means close to the speaker, and 'far' often means not close to the speaker.
| Rule |
|---|
 Use 'this' to refer to one item that is near the speaker. |
 Use 'these' to refer to more than one item that is near the speaker. |
 Use 'that' to refer to one item that is not near the speaker. |
 Use 'those' to refer to more than one item that is not near the speaker. |
Singular vs. Plural
'This' and 'that' are singular demonstrative pronouns. 'These' and 'those' are plural demonstrative pronouns. The pronoun must match whether you are talking about one thing or more than one thing.
| Word/Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| this |  'This' is the singular form used for something near. |
| that |  'That' is the singular form used for something far. |
| these |  'These' is the plural form used for things near. |
| those |  'Those' is the plural form used for things far. |
Distance
In English, 'near' usually means physically close to the speaker and may also mean close in attention or focus. 'Far' usually means physically farther away or less immediate in the conversation. Speakers may use gestures, eye contact, or shared context to show what is 'near' or 'far' in a situation.
| Rule |
|---|
 'Near' means the item is close to the speaker or the main focus. |
 'Far' means the item is away from the speaker or less central. |
Reference
Demonstrative pronouns can point to physical objects, ideas, or parts of a conversation. In speech and writing, they replace a noun when it is clear which item or idea you mean. The listener understands the reference by context, shared knowledge, or what was mentioned earlier.
| Rule |
|---|
 A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun when the reference is clear. |
 Context tells the listener which item or idea the pronoun identifies. |
Summary
Use 'this' and 'these' for items that are near and match singular or plural. Use 'that' and 'those' for items that are not near and match singular or plural. Demonstrative pronouns work best when the reference is clear from the context.