what part of speech is these

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This , that , these , those

This, that, these and those are demonstratives . We use this, that, these and those to point to people and things. This and that are singular. These and those are plural. We use them as determiners and pronouns.

This , that , these , those as determiners

Pointing to things.

We use this and that with singular and uncountable nouns:

Try to repeat this exercise every morning and evening. ( this + singular countable noun)

What does this music make you think of? ( this + singular uncountable noun)

I’ve never been to that part of France. ( that + singular countable noun)

Can I have some of that juice, please? ( that + singular uncountable noun)

We use these and those with plural nouns:

You can use any one of these computers. ( these + plural noun)

I need to paint those windows. ( those + plural noun)

Time phrases

We often use this with words describing time and dates like morning, afternoon, evening, week, month, year to refer to ‘the one that’s coming’ or ‘the one we’re currently in’:

I’ll be with you some time this evening .

Johan seemed very happy this afternoon .

Ian is in Germany all this week .

This , that , these , those as pronouns

Referring to things or ideas.

We normally use this, that, these and those as pronouns to refer to things or ideas:

Put the butter, chocolate and sugar in a saucepan. Heat this over a low flame until it melts.

We’re going to eat first and then go to the film. Are you happy with that ? (Are you happy with the idea of eating first, then going to the film?)

[talking about the TV]

Can you turn that off if you’re not watching it?

[talking about shoes]

What colour are those ? Black or dark blue. I can’t see.

Referring to people

We can use this and that as pronouns to refer to people when we want to identify ourselves or others, or to ask the identity of other speakers:

Linda, this is my mother, Anne.

Is that your brother over there?

We often do this in telephone calls and in answer-phone messages:

Hello, is that Ken Orm? This is Jane Bromham here.

This and these , that and those : uses

Physical closeness and distance.

We use this and these most commonly to point to things and people that are close to the speaker or writer, or things that are happening now:

Shall I use this knife here?

[pointing to something]

Is this what you mean?

I’ll post these letters on my way home.

[pointing to a pile of books]

Do these belong to the Bradshaws?

We use that and those most commonly to point to things and people which are not easy to identify in a situation. They are often more distant from the speaker, and sometimes closer to the listener:

What’s in that bottle over there?

Could you blow out those candles near you?

Sometimes they are not visible to either the speaker or listener:

Budapest! That ’s my favourite place!

Emotional distance

We sometimes use this, these, that, those to identify emotional distance. We use this and these to refer to things that we feel positive about, that we are happy to be associated with, or we approve of:

I love these new woollen mobile phone covers that you can get.

We use that and those to create distance:

What are you going to say to that sister of yours?

[talking about a restaurant]

I didn’t like the decoration. It had those awful paintings.

Shared knowledge and new information

We sometimes use that instead of the to refer the listener to shared knowledge, often when we are telling a story or explaining something:

You know that old shop on the corner? Well, they’re going to turn it into a restaurant.

We sometimes use this instead of a/an to refer to something important or recent, or to introduce a new person or thing in a story:

This guy knocked on the door and asked if I wanted new windows.

Then suddenly she pulled out this big pile of papers from her briefcase and threw them on the table.

It , this and that in paragraphs

Determiners ( the, my , some , this )

Substitution with that, those

In formal contexts, we can use that and those as substitutes meaning ‘the one(s)’:

The most important information is that given at the beginning of the manual. ( that substitutes for the information )

The methods employed are those familiar to researchers. (more formal than The methods employed are the ones familiar to researchers .)

In formal contexts, especially in academic style, we use that of/those of instead of the one of/the ones of or the … one/the … ones . This is preferred to the possessive X ’s one/X’s ones :

The proton has a similar mass to that of a neutron. (preferred to The proton has a similar mass to the neutron’s .)

The emotions in the poems are those of loss and grief.

Not: The emotions in the poem are loss and grief ones .

We normally only use that as a substitute for a thing, not for a person or animal:

A: Have you met Mr Kelly? B: The one who works at the town hall, or his brother? A: The one at the town hall .

Not: That who works at the town hall .

We can use those as a substitute for persons, animals or things:

There are sports facilities for guests. Those interested in golf can enjoy our eighteen-hole course.

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What part of speech is the word these?

The word 'these' is a demonstrative pronoun and an adjective.

A demonstrative pronoun takes the place of a noun indicating near or far in place or time.

The demonstrative pronouns are: this, that, these, and those.

The adjective 'these' is placed before a noun to describe that noun.

These are my favorite flowers . (demonstrative pronoun)

These flowers are my favorite. (adjective)

The word 'these' is an adjective and a demonstrative pronoun.

The adjective 'these' is placed just before the noun it describes as being the ones that are present or near in place, time, or thought. Example:

• These apples are the best looking of the bunch.

The demonstrative pronoun 'these' take the place of a plural noun (or two or more nouns) indicating nearness in place or time. Example:

• These are the best looking apples of the bunch.

These refers, generally to a noun; those people, objects or animals. Example: "Why don't you introduce me to these others in the group?"

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The part of speech that the word my is used as is an adjective.

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The word power is a noun. The plural form is powers.

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Demonstrative Pronouns Definition and Examples – This, That, These, Those

| Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

This, that, these, and those are what we call demonstrative pronouns because they point to certain nouns depending on the distance.

Keep reading as I explain the definition and even provide a complete list of demonstrative pronouns in English. This guide also explains the correct pronoun usage and then provides a practice worksheet to test your understanding.

Demonstrative Pronoun Definition

A demonstrative pronoun is a kind of pronoun used to point to something explicit in the same sentence. Remember that a pronoun replaces people, things, places, or events in sentences.

This type of pronoun represents an object that is either near or far in time or distance. They include this, these, that, and those. For example:

• These are nice shoes, but the heels are too high.

These is the subject of the sentence, representing shoes . The speaker or writer may be currently wearing the shoes as they are narrating.

The previous sentence example shows how important context is when using a demonstrative pronoun in writing. Using it in speech makes it easy to point to the object and use other body language signals. But when writing, you need to be more descriptive.

Demonstrative pronouns sometimes function as demonstrative adjectives because they modify nouns and pronouns. For instance, in the phrase this apple, this modifies the object apple. Therefore, it is in adjective form.

Pronouns come in other forms, such as personal pronouns, indefinite pronouns, reflexive pronouns, interrogative pronouns, possessive pronouns, reciprocal pronouns, and intensive pronouns.

What are the Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns?

Here is my list of demonstrative pronoun examples. These pronouns can be singular or plural.

Singular Demonstrative Pronouns

Here’s a list of demonstrative pronouns in singular forms.

• This (points to a close object, person, place, or event).
• That (points to a faraway object, person, place, or event).

Plural Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns also have plural forms.

• These (points to close objects, persons, places, or events).
• Those. (points to faraway objects, persons, places, or events).

Demonstrative pronouns are gender-neutral pronouns. However, in other foreign languages like Spanish, demonstrative pronouns include female pronouns and masculine pronouns.

How to Use Demonstrative Pronouns

Visual distance is critical to the use of demonstrative pronouns. Here are some examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentences.

• These flowers are so beautiful.
• That is an amazing sweatshirt you’re wearing.

In the first sentence, these refers to the noun flowers, which is in its plural form. It’s also safe to assume that the speaker is currently holding the flowers because they are saying these instead of those.

Sometimes, demonstrative pronouns are not specifically named in the sentence. For example:

• I can’t believe this is happening.

The sentence doesn’t show what this means. However, we’re sure that it’s something that the writer cannot believe is happening. The use of this also implies that it is currently happening.

A demonstrative pronoun can also describe a proper noun, especially an identified person. For example:

• That looks like Taylor.

Here, that refers to Taylor, a proper noun for a person.

You might notice that some AI editors or grammar tools ask you to add the antecedent for demonstrative pronouns in your sentences. But this isn’t always necessary, especially if your message is clear.

For instance, it’s okay to say I can’t believe this is happening without mentioning what’s happening in the same sentence. As long as you mention it in the previous or following sentences, then you don’t need to worry.

That as a Demonstrative Pronoun and Relative Pronoun

Aside from being a demonstrative pronoun and adjective, that also functions as a relative pronoun. That becomes a relative pronoun when it introduces a specific type of clause. For example:

• I went to the store that offered 50% off on school supplies.

The sentence above uses that to introduce the relative clause, that offered 50% off on school supplies.

Can You End a Sentence with a Demonstrative Pronoun?

Yes, you can end your English sentences with demonstrative pronouns. For example:

• Joan gave me those.

A preposition is the only part of speech you should not use at the end of sentences.

What is the Importance of Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns are types of pronouns that help avoid repetition when writing or talking in the English language. It represents an exact noun or a string of noun phrases already mentioned in the sentence.

Unlike personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns also imply some sort of distance in length or time.

These pronouns are also essential for young English speakers and writers to develop more grammar skills. It’s a huge step toward producing complex sentences and any other sentence structure.

Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns in a Sentence

Here are more examples of demonstrative pronouns in sentences.

• This is not what I expected.
• The towel is wet. What should I do with this?
• That is my favorite vegetable.
• That’s the way to the lake.
• These are the thickest books I’ve ever seen.
• I want to get five of these.
• Could you bring those for me?
• Those were my wishes when I was young.

Demonstrative Pronouns are Important

Numerous languages have their own demonstrative pronouns, all working to point to specific things in terms of distance or time. This class of pronouns includes this, that, these, and those in English .

Now you know the demonstrative pronoun’s definition and correct usage. Use them correctly in sentences and differentiate them from demonstrative adjectives.

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Demonstratives (This, That, These, Those)

Table of Contents

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.

Use Of Demonstratives In English

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

• “This helps a lot.”
• “That worked perfectly well.”
• “These are my friends.”
• “These jeans are cheap; those are very expensive.”
• “This is John.”
• “This is Linda speaking.”

Demonstrative Pronouns Vs Demonstrative Adjectives

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

• “This apple is delicious.”
• “I like those houses.”
• “This is delicious.” (replacing the noun “apple”)
• “I like those.” (replacing the noun “houses”)

Placement Of Demonstratives

Here are different placements of demonstratives:

• Example: “This house needs renovation.”
• Example: “This big house needs renovation.”
• Example: “This needs to be renovated.”
• “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”

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.

this/that, these/those

The demonstrative determiners this/that , these/those point to something that is close or distant. The closeness can be in:

• space (next to the speaker, 20 metres from the speaker, 1000km from the speaker)
• time (now, yesterday, last week, next year)

Like all determiners, demonstrative determiners come at the beginning of a noun phrase, so they come in front of any adjective(s).

Look at these example sentences:

• I like this food.
• I use these pens.
• I have to do it this morning.
• We don't meet these days.
• Look at that big cloud.
• Can you see those birds?
• Do you remember that man we met last week?
• Those days on holiday were enjoyable.

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• This book is very long.
• That hat 's nice. Is it new?
• Those shoes are beautiful. Are they comfortable?
• ‘ Where are those people from? ’   ‘ They're from Spain. ’
• This coffee 's cold.
• These cups are dirty.
• That cafe 's open.
• Those trees are tall.
• This book 's exciting.
• This music 's really good.
• That jacket 's fantastic.
• These apples are nice.
• I like those chocolates .
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