Demonstrative Pronouns in English! Learn definition, usage and examples of demonstrative pronouns with ESL printable infographic.
Contents
Demonstrative Pronoun
What is a demonstrative pronoun?
Demonstrative Pronouns are used to show or identify one or a number of nouns that may be far or near in distance or time. They are only four in number: This, That, These and Those.
This and That are singular demonstrative pronouns and These and Those are plural demonstrative pronouns. They can also be used to show an unspecified quantity in a sentence.
- That is a beautiful house.
That is a demonstrative pronoun that is referring to a specific noun (house). This is a singular pronoun as it is referring to only one house.
- These were made by me.
These is showing an unspecified quantity of something that was made by a person. This is a plural demonstrative pronoun as it’s referring to a number of objects.
- Everyone remembers those days.
Those is showing a particular time or period of days in the past; it is being used in place of a noun that could be – school, summer, college, etc. Here also those is a plural demonstrative pronoun as it’s indicating a number of days.
- This is what he is charging?
This is used as a pronoun in place of a number and it is also acting as a quantifier by referring not only to the noun but to the amount/number of the noun as well. This is a singular demonstrative pronoun.
Demonstrative Pronouns Examples
- This is the one I want.
- Harry, this is Joan.
- Come and look at this.
- That’s a very good idea.
- Is that your brother over there?
- Hello, is that Ken Orm? This is Jane Bromham here.
- We’re going to eat first and then go to the film. Are you happy with that?
- Can I have one of these?
- These are nice shoes, but they look uncomfortable.
- Those look like riper than the apples on my tree.
- What colour are those? Black or dark blue. I can’t see.