Demonstrative pronouns in English : complete course

Demonstrative pronouns are the small words English uses to point at a thing or a person without naming it, such as this, that, these and those. This lesson explains how to choose between them according to distance and number, and how to tell a pronoun apart from a demonstrative adjective. You will also find a comparison with other languages, a worked example and a summary of key points to remember.

What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

A demonstrative pronoun is a word used to point to something or someone. It replaces a noun and tells us whether the thing is near or far. In English, there are four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those.

• This is my bag.
• That is her house.
• These are good apples.
• Those were great memories.

Understanding Demonstrative Pronouns in English

Let us look at the main elements of demonstrative pronouns. There are two key ideas to understand: distance (near or far) and number (singular or plural).

Near or Far?

We use this and these for things that are close to us. We use that and those for things that are farther away.

• This is delicious! (the food is right in front of you)
• That looks good. (the food is on another table)
• These shoes are comfortable. (you are wearing them)
• Those shoes are expensive. (you see them in a shop window)

Singular or Plural?

The choice of pronoun also depends on how many things you are talking about.

• This is a cat. (one cat, nearby)
• These are cats. (several cats, nearby)
• That is a dog. (one dog, far away)
• Those are dogs. (several dogs, far away)

Demonstrative Pronouns vs Demonstrative Adjectives

Be careful! This, that, these, and those can also be used as adjectives. The difference is simple: a demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun, while a demonstrative adjective describes a noun.

• Pronoun: This is heavy. (we do not name the object)
• Adjective: This box is heavy. (we name the object: box)

Why Demonstrative Pronouns Matter

Demonstrative pronouns are very common in everyday English. You use them when you go shopping, when you point at something on a map, or when you talk about an idea someone just mentioned. Without them, your sentences would be longer and more complicated.

They also help you sound more natural. Native speakers use this, that, these, and those all the time in conversations, emails, and messages. Learning them well will make your English clearer and more confident.

Comparison with Other Languages

If you speak French or Spanish, you already know the idea of demonstrative pronouns. But there are some important differences with English.

In French and Spanish, demonstrative pronouns change depending on the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine). In English, there is no gender. You always use the same four words, no matter what you are talking about. This makes English simpler in this area!

Also, Spanish has three levels of distance (near, medium, and far), while English only has two (near and far). This is a small but useful thing to know.

A Complete Example

Here is a short conversation using all four demonstrative pronouns:

• A: Can I try this? (pointing to a jacket next to them)
• B: Of course! And that is also nice. (pointing to a jacket on the other side of the room)
• A: What about these? (holding two scarves)
• B: Yes, and those are on sale too! (pointing to scarves on a shelf far away)

Notice how the pronouns replace the nouns. We do not need to repeat the words ‘jacket’ or ‘scarf’ every time.

Key Points to Remember

• This = one thing, close to you
• That = one thing, away from you
• These = several things, close to you
• Those = several things, away from you
• Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun; they do not describe it
• English has no gender for demonstrative pronouns, much simpler than French or Spanish!
• Use them every day to sound more natural in English

Sources

• Quirk, R., Greenbaum, S., Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (1985) : A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman.
• Swan, M. (2005) : Practical English Usage (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Huddleston, R., & Pullum, G. K. (2002) : The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge University Press.