Demonstrative adjectives are essential linguistic tools used to identify or point out specific people, animals, or objects in relation to the speaker’s position in space and time. These versatile words, including this, that, these, and those, allow us to provide immediate clarity and context to our nouns without needing lengthy descriptions. By mastering these terms, English learners can communicate with greater precision, helping their audience understand exactly which items are being discussed in a given environment. Whether you are pointing to a nearby book or referencing a distant memory, demonstrative adjectives bridge the gap between abstract language and physical reality.
Table of Contents
- 1. Definition and Fundamental Purpose
- 2. Structural Breakdown and Grammar Rules
- 3. Categories of Demonstrative Adjectives
- 4. Singular Demonstratives: This and That
- 5. Plural Demonstratives: These and Those
- 6. Extensive Examples and Comparison Tables
- 7. Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Demonstrative Pronouns
- 8. Comprehensive Usage Rules and Nuances
- 9. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- 10. Advanced Topics: Emotional and Temporal Proximity
- 11. Practice Exercises with Answer Keys
- 12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- 13. Conclusion and Final Learning Tips
1. Definition and Fundamental Purpose
A demonstrative adjective is a specific type of determiner that modifies a noun to indicate its relative position in time or space. Unlike descriptive adjectives (like blue or large), which tell us about the qualities of a noun, demonstrative adjectives tell us which specific noun we are talking about. They function as “pointers” in the English language, directing the listener’s attention to a particular subject.
The primary function of these adjectives is to establish a frame of reference. When a speaker says, “I like this car,” they are distinguishing one specific car from all other possible cars in the world. This distinction is usually based on physical proximity—how close the object is to the person speaking. However, it can also refer to psychological or temporal proximity, such as a “near” idea versus a “distant” memory.
In terms of classification, demonstrative adjectives are part of the broader category of determiners. Determiners are words placed in front of nouns to clarify what the noun refers to. Because they function as adjectives, they must always be followed by the noun they are modifying. If the word stands alone without a noun, it transitions into a demonstrative pronoun, which is a key distinction we will explore later in this guide.
2. Structural Breakdown and Grammar Rules
The structure of a sentence using a demonstrative adjective is relatively straightforward but requires strict adherence to noun-adjective agreement. In English, most adjectives do not change their form based on whether the noun is singular or plural (e.g., “blue car” and “blue cars”). However, demonstrative adjectives are a rare exception to this rule. They must agree in number with the noun they modify.
The basic formula for using a demonstrative adjective is: Demonstrative Adjective + (Other Adjectives) + Noun. For example, in the phrase “these three expensive watches,” the demonstrative “these” modifies the noun “watches,” while “three” and “expensive” provide additional descriptive detail. The demonstrative always comes first in the sequence of adjectives.
Another structural rule involves the placement of the noun. A demonstrative adjective cannot function as an adjective if the noun is missing. If you say, “I want that,” the word “that” is a pronoun. If you say, “I want that sandwich,” the word “that” is an adjective. This distinction is vital for maintaining proper sentence structure and ensuring the listener knows exactly what “that” refers to.
3. Categories of Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives are categorized based on two main factors: Number (Singular or Plural) and Distance (Near or Far). This creates a simple 2×2 matrix that covers all four primary demonstratives used in modern English. Understanding this matrix is the first step toward mastery.
The “Near” category includes this and these. These are used for objects that are physically close enough to touch, or for events happening in the present moment. The “Far” category includes that and those. These are used for objects out of reach, or for events that occurred in the past or will occur in the future.
In addition to physical distance, we also use these categories for metaphorical distance. For example, a speaker might use “this” to describe an idea they support (“this brilliant plan”) and “that” to describe an idea they dislike or want to distance themselves from (“that ridiculous suggestion”). This subtle use of demonstratives adds layers of meaning to everyday conversation.
4. Singular Demonstratives: This and That
The word this is used to modify a single person, place, or thing that is close to the speaker. It is frequently used in introductions (“This is my friend Sarah”) or when holding an object (“This coffee is delicious”). In a temporal sense, “this” refers to the current time period, such as “this morning” or “this year.”
Conversely, that is used for a single noun that is at a distance. This distance can be physical, such as a bird in a tree (“that bird”), or it can be conceptual. We often use “that” to refer to something someone else just said (“That is a good point”). It creates a sense of separation between the speaker and the subject.
It is important to remember that “this” and “that” can only be paired with singular count nouns (e.g., this chair) or non-count nouns (e.g., that water). Using them with plural nouns is a common grammatical error that can disrupt the flow of communication.
5. Plural Demonstratives: These and Those
When dealing with more than one item, we transition to these and those. Much like their singular counterparts, these words are defined by proximity. These is the plural version of “this,” used for multiple items nearby. If you are holding a handful of keys, you would refer to them as “these keys.”
Those acts as the plural version of “that.” It points to multiple items that are further away. For example, if you are looking at stars in the night sky, you would say, “Look at those stars.” It is also commonly used to refer to groups of people who are not present or are standing across the room.
The transition from singular to plural demonstratives requires the speaker to be mindful of the noun’s ending. Because English nouns typically add an “-s” or “-es” to become plural, the demonstrative must change to match. Failing to match “these” with a plural noun (e.g., saying “these book”) is a hallmark of early language learning that should be corrected through practice.
6. Extensive Examples and Comparison Tables
To truly understand how these words function, it is helpful to see them organized by their specific roles. The following tables provide a wide variety of examples across different contexts, including physical distance, time, and abstract concepts.
Table 1: Singular Demonstratives (This and That)
This table illustrates the use of singular demonstrative adjectives in various sentence structures, highlighting the difference between near and far proximity.
| Demonstrative | Noun (Singular) | Example Sentence | Context/Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Apple | This apple is very sweet. | Near (Physical) |
| This | Idea | This idea could change everything. | Near (Conceptual) |
| This | Week | I am very busy this week. | Near (Temporal) |
| This | Song | Do you like this song playing now? | Near (Auditory) |
| This | Person | This person next to me is my brother. | Near (Physical) |
| This | Problem | We need to solve this problem immediately. | Near (Current focus) |
| This | Weather | This weather is quite unpredictable. | Near (Current state) |
| This | Book | I am currently reading this book. | Near (Physical) |
| This | House | This house was built in 1920. | Near (Location) |
| This | Key | This key doesn’t fit the lock. | Near (Handheld) |
| That | Mountain | That mountain is covered in snow. | Far (Physical) |
| That | Movie | That movie we saw last night was great. | Far (Temporal/Past) |
| That | Car | Who owns that car parked across the street? | Far (Physical) |
| That | Dream | I still remember that dream I had. | Far (Mental) |
| That | Restaurant | That restaurant serves the best pasta. | Far (Location) |
| That | Cloud | Look at that cloud shaped like a dog. | Far (Physical) |
| That | Mistake | I won’t make that mistake again. | Far (Past action) |
| That | Girl | That girl over there is a famous actress. | Far (Physical) |
| That | Plan | That plan sounds a bit risky to me. | Far (Someone else’s) |
| That | Building | That building is the tallest in the city. | Far (Physical) |
Table 2: Plural Demonstratives (These and Those)
The following table demonstrates how plural demonstratives are used to point out multiple objects or people, maintaining agreement with plural nouns.
| Demonstrative | Noun (Plural) | Example Sentence | Context/Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| These | Flowers | These flowers in my hand smell lovely. | Near (Physical) |
| These | Days | These days, everyone uses a smartphone. | Near (Temporal) |
| These | Shoes | These shoes are a bit too tight. | Near (Physical) |
| These | People | These people here are my colleagues. | Near (Physical) |
| These | Instructions | Please follow these instructions carefully. | Near (Handheld/Current) |
| These | Cookies | I baked these cookies myself. | Near (Physical) |
| These | Changes | These changes will take effect tomorrow. | Near (Immediate) |
| These | Photos | These photos in the album are very old. | Near (Physical) |
| These | Students | These students have worked very hard. | Near (Proximity) |
| These | Minutes | These last few minutes were intense. | Near (Temporal) |
| Those | Birds | Those birds are flying south for winter. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Mountains | Those mountains in the distance are huge. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Years | Those years in college were the best. | Far (Temporal/Past) |
| Those | Trees | Those trees need to be trimmed. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Children | Those children playing in the park are loud. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Buildings | Those buildings were designed by a famous architect. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Times | We often talk about those times we traveled. | Far (Memory) |
| Those | Stars | Those stars are millions of miles away. | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Boxes | Can you help me move those boxes? | Far (Physical) |
| Those | Decisions | Those decisions led to our current success. | Far (Past/Abstract) |
Table 3: Demonstratives with Non-Count Nouns
Non-count nouns (mass nouns) always take the singular form of demonstrative adjectives, regardless of the quantity they represent. This table highlights this specific rule.
| Demonstrative | Non-Count Noun | Example Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Water | This water is cold. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Furniture | That furniture is antique. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Information | This information is vital. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Advice | That advice was helpful. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Music | This music is too loud. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Traffic | That traffic was terrible. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Equipment | This equipment is new. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Luggage | That luggage belongs to me. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Knowledge | This knowledge is powerful. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Software | That software is outdated. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Research | This research took years. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Evidence | That evidence is conclusive. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Weather | This weather is perfect. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Garbage | That garbage smells bad. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Rice | This rice is overcooked. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Luck | That luck won’t last. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Progress | This progress is encouraging. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Courage | That courage inspired us. | Singular form for mass noun |
| This | Milk | This milk has expired. | Singular form for mass noun |
| That | Sugar | That sugar is organic. | Singular form for mass noun |
7. Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Demonstrative Pronouns
One of the most confusing aspects of English grammar is distinguishing between demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns. The words themselves (this, that, these, those) are identical. The difference lies entirely in their grammatical function and their position within a sentence.
A demonstrative adjective always modifies a noun and is placed immediately before it. It acts as an identifier for that noun. For example: “I want that cake.” Here, “that” is an adjective because it tells us which cake is being discussed. It cannot stand alone; if you remove “cake,” the sentence becomes incomplete or changes the word’s function.
A demonstrative pronoun, on the other hand, stands alone because it replaces the noun entirely. It is used when the noun is already understood from the context. For example: “I want that.” In this case, “that” is a pronoun representing the cake. This distinction is important because pronouns often function as the subject or object of a verb, whereas adjectives are merely modifiers.
To identify which one is being used, look at the word immediately following the demonstrative. If it is a noun, you have an adjective. If it is a verb or the end of a sentence, you have a pronoun. This simple check will help you navigate complex sentence structures with ease.
Table 4: Adjectives vs. Pronouns Comparison
| Sentence as Adjective | Sentence as Pronoun | Grammatical Difference |
|---|---|---|
| This book is mine. | This is mine. | Adjective modifies “book”; Pronoun stands alone. |
| Give me that pen. | Give me that. | Adjective modifies “pen”; Pronoun replaces “pen.” |
| These apples are ripe. | These are ripe. | Adjective modifies “apples”; Pronoun stands alone. |
| Look at those stars. | Look at those. | Adjective modifies “stars”; Pronoun replaces “stars.” |
| That car is fast. | That is fast. | Adjective modifies “car”; Pronoun is the subject. |
8. Comprehensive Usage Rules and Nuances
While the basic rules of proximity and number are easy to grasp, there are several nuanced usage rules that advanced learners should understand. These rules govern how demonstratives interact with time, emotion, and sentence flow.
Rule 1: Temporal Proximity. We use “this/these” for things happening now or in the very near future. We use “that/those” for things that happened in the past. Example: “I am enjoying this party” (happening now) vs. “I enjoyed that party last week” (finished in the past).
Rule 2: Introducing People. When introducing people, we use “this” regardless of whether the person is standing right next to us or is being introduced over the phone. Example: “Hi Mom, this is my friend, Dave.” However, when identifying someone at a distance, we might switch to “that.” Example: “Is that your sister over there?”
Rule 3: Emotional Distance. Speakers often use “that” or “those” to create emotional distance from something unpleasant. If someone is complaining about a bad experience, they might say, “I hated that job,” even if they are still technically employed there. Conversely, “this” often implies a sense of ownership or positive connection.
Rule 4: Telephone Etiquette. In British English and some forms of American English, when you answer the phone, you say, “This is [Your Name].” When asking who is on the other end, you say, “Who is that?” This follows the logic of “this” for the speaker (near) and “that” for the listener (far).
9. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even native speakers occasionally stumble over demonstrative adjectives, particularly when dealing with collective nouns or complex sentence structures. Recognizing these common errors is the first step toward correcting them.
Mistake 1: Number Disagreement. This is the most frequent error. Learners often use “this” with plural nouns or “these” with singular nouns. Incorrect: “I want these cookie.” Correct: “I want these cookies” or “I want this cookie.” Always double-check that your noun matches your demonstrative in number.
Mistake 2: Using Demonstratives with “The”. You should never use a demonstrative adjective and the definite article “the” together for the same noun. Incorrect: “This the book is good.” Correct: “This book is good.” The demonstrative already acts as a determiner, so “the” is redundant and grammatically incorrect.
Mistake 3: Misusing Non-Count Nouns. As mentioned earlier, non-count nouns like “water,” “advice,” or “furniture” must use the singular demonstratives (“this” or “that”). Incorrect: “Those furnitures are expensive.” Correct: “That furniture is expensive.” Note that “furniture” does not take an “-s” and remains a singular concept.
Table 5: Common Errors and Corrections
| Incorrect Sentence | Correct Sentence | Rule Violated |
|---|---|---|
| This shoes are new. | These shoes are new. | Number Agreement (Plural) |
| I like that apples. | I like those apples. | Number Agreement (Plural) |
| That the car is fast. | That car is fast. | Redundant Determiner |
| These information is helpful. | This information is helpful. | Non-count Noun Rule |
| I want those milk. | I want that milk. | Non-count Noun Rule |
| This books belong to me. | These books belong to me. | Number Agreement (Plural) |
| Look at this birds in the sky. | Look at those birds in the sky. | Distance & Number Agreement |
| That people are waiting. | Those people are waiting. | Number Agreement (Plural) |
10. Advanced Topics: Emotional and Temporal Proximity
In literature and advanced rhetoric, demonstrative adjectives are used to manipulate the reader’s perspective. This is often referred to as “deictic centering.” By choosing “this” over “that,” an author can bring a distant object into the reader’s immediate psychological space, making the description feel more vivid and urgent.
For example, consider the difference between “That war changed the world” and “This war changed the world.” The first sentence treats the war as a historical event, safely tucked away in the past. The second sentence, by using “this,” implies that the effects of the war are still being felt today, or perhaps that the speaker is currently living through it. This shift in demonstratives changes the entire tone of the statement.
Furthermore, “that” is often used in storytelling to introduce a character or object that the audience should already be familiar with. This is known as “anaphoric reference.” If a narrator says, “And then that dog appeared again,” they are signaling to the reader that this is the same dog mentioned earlier in the story. It creates a cohesive narrative thread without needing to repeat the dog’s full description.
11. Practice Exercises with Answer Keys
To solidify your understanding, complete the following exercises. These are designed to test your knowledge of number agreement, proximity, and the distinction between adjectives and pronouns.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (This, That, These, Those)
Choose the correct demonstrative adjective based on the context provided in parentheses.
- Can you see _______ (far) mountains over there?
- I am wearing _______ (near) shirt today.
- _______ (near) cookies I’m eating are delicious.
- Who left _______ (far) backpack in the hallway?
- _______ (near) days are much shorter in winter.
- I remember _______ (far) summer we spent in Italy.
- Please hand me _______ (near) pencil on the desk.
- _______ (far) stars are very bright tonight.
- _______ (near) movie we are watching is boring.
- Did you hear _______ (far) noise outside?
Exercise 2: Identification Task
Identify whether the bolded word is a Demonstrative Adjective or a Demonstrative Pronoun.
- This is my favorite part of the song.
- I really want that blue bicycle.
- Are those your children playing outside?
- These are the best tacos I’ve ever had.
- That car belongs to my neighbor.
- I can’t believe this is happening!
- Put those boxes in the garage.
- These instructions are very confusing.
- That was a very kind thing to do.
- I need this report on my desk by noon.
Answer Key
| Exercise 1 Answers | Exercise 2 Answers |
|---|---|
| 1. Those | 1. Pronoun |
| 2. This | 2. Adjective |
| 3. These | 3. Adjective |
| 4. That | 4. Pronoun |
| 5. These | 5. Adjective |
| 6. That | 6. Pronoun |
| 7. This | 7. Adjective |
| 8. Those | 8. Adjective |
| 9. This | 9. Pronoun |
| 10. That | 10. Adjective |
12. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use “this” and “that” with plural nouns if I’m talking about a group?
No. Even if you are thinking of a group as a single unit, the demonstrative must agree with the grammatical number of the noun. If the noun is plural (e.g., “groups”), you must use “these” or “those.” For example, “These groups are working hard.” If you use a collective noun that is singular in form, you use the singular demonstrative: “This team is winning.”
Is there a difference between “that” and “which” in demonstrative contexts?
While both can be used to identify things, “that” as a demonstrative adjective points to a specific noun (“that house”). “Which” is an interrogative adjective used to ask for a choice among several options (“Which house is yours?”). They serve different grammatical purposes and are not interchangeable.
How do I know if an object is “near” or “far” enough to change the adjective?
Proximity is often subjective. Generally, if you can touch it or it is within your immediate personal space, it is “near” (this/these). If you have to point to it or it is across the room, it is “far” (that/those). In conversation, the speaker’s perspective determines the choice.
Can demonstrative adjectives be used with abstract nouns?
Yes, they are frequently used with abstract nouns to refer to ideas, emotions, or situations. For example, “This happiness won’t last” or “That anger was justified.” The rules of proximity still apply, usually referring to how recently the emotion was felt or the idea was discussed.
Do demonstrative adjectives change for gender?
No. Unlike some other languages (such as Spanish or French), English demonstrative adjectives are gender-neutral. “This” can refer to a man, a woman, an object, or an animal without any change in form.
13. Conclusion and Final Learning Tips
Demonstrative adjectives are the anchors of clear communication in English. By correctly applying this, that, these, and those, you provide your listeners with the spatial and temporal context they need to follow your thoughts. Remember the golden rule: match the adjective to the number of the noun and its distance from you. To improve, try narrating your day using these words—point to “this coffee” in your hand and “those birds” out the window. Consistent practice will make these distinctions second nature. Pay close attention to how native speakers use these terms to signal emotional distance or to reference past events, as these subtle nuances will truly elevate your English proficiency from intermediate to advanced. Happy learning!
