Demonstrative adjectives point to a specific noun and show which one you mean. They answer “which?” and always come right before the noun they modify. English demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these, and those. They do not change for gender, but they do change for number and often imply distance.

Use this to point to one noun that feels near in space, time, or the conversation. Use that to point to one noun that feels farther away, earlier, less immediate, or already established. Distance can be physical, emotional, or contextual, not only literal location.

Rule	Example
Use this for one near or immediate thing	This book is mine.
Use that for one farther or less immediate thing	That book on the top shelf is mine.
Use this for the current moment or situation	This week is busy.
Use that for a different time or previously mentioned situation	That week we traveled a lot.

Use these to point to multiple nouns that feel near or immediate. Use those to point to multiple nouns that feel farther away, less immediate, or already separated from the speaker’s current focus. Like this and that, the idea of distance can be literal or contextual.

Rule	Example
Use these for plural nouns that feel near	These cookies smell great.
Use those for plural nouns that feel farther	Those houses across the street are expensive.
Use these for items you are presenting or introducing now	These are the documents you need.
Use those for items in a different set or group	Those documents belong to another client.

Demonstrative adjectives must match the noun in singular or plural. Use this and that with singular count nouns. Use these and those with plural count nouns. With noncount nouns, use singular forms this or that because the noun is treated as one amount or substance.

Rule	Example
Singular count noun takes this or that	This chair is comfortable.
Plural count noun takes these or those	Those chairs are comfortable.
Noncount noun usually takes this or that	This information is helpful.
Use a plural noun if you want these or those with a substance	These facts are helpful.

Demonstrative adjectives come before the noun and usually before any other descriptive adjectives. They are determiners, so they occupy the “determiner slot” at the start of the noun phrase. This means you generally choose a demonstrative instead of other determiners like a, an, the, my, or some.

Rule	Example
Put the demonstrative directly before the noun phrase	That idea makes sense.
Put the demonstrative before other adjectives	These new shoes hurt.
Do not combine a or an with a demonstrative	This plan works.
Usually choose either a demonstrative or a possessive determiner	That laptop is slow.

Demonstratives can be adjectives or pronouns. They are demonstrative adjectives when they modify a noun that appears right after them. They are demonstrative pronouns when they stand alone and replace the noun. The forms are the same, so the difference is whether a noun follows.

Rule	Example
Adjective when followed by a noun	This movie is long.
Pronoun when it replaces a noun	This is long.
Adjective clarifies which item within a set	Those students are early.
Pronoun points without naming the noun	Those are early.

Demonstrative adjectives help organize information in speech and writing. This often introduces or highlights something you are focusing on right now in the text or conversation. That often refers back to something already mentioned, something the listener should already recognize, or something you are distancing yourself from emotionally.

Rule	Example
Use this to introduce a point you are developing now	This problem has two causes.
Use that to refer back to a previous idea	That problem affects many people.
Use that to create emotional distance or evaluation	I do not like that attitude.
Use this to sound more engaged or immediate	I love this feeling.

Demonstrative adjectives often point to time periods and events. This tends to connect to the present or the speaker’s current period. That tends to point to a more distant time or a period separated from now. Context decides what counts as near or far.

Rule	Example
Use this with a current period	This morning I had meetings.
Use that to point to a more distant or separate period	That morning we missed the train.
Use this to refer to an upcoming moment you feel close to	This weekend we are hiking.
Use that to refer to a past event as a completed chunk	That weekend changed everything.

Demonstrative adjectives often appear with location phrases to help identify the noun. This and these pair naturally with here, and that and those pair naturally with there, especially in spoken English. The location phrase is optional, but it strengthens the sense of distance.

Rule	Example
Near demonstratives often go with here	This restaurant here is good.
Far demonstratives often go with there	Those people there look lost.
The location phrase can be omitted if context is clear	That restaurant is good.
Use a longer phrase to identify which noun	This book on the table is yours.

Choose the demonstrative based on number and the kind of “distance” you want to express. Use this and these for near, immediate, or currently focused nouns, and that and those for farther, less immediate, or previously mentioned nouns. Place the demonstrative before the noun, and use it as your main determiner in the noun phrase.