Demonstrative Pronouns

demonstrate (verb): to show; to indicate; to point to

A demonstrative pronoun represents a thing or things:

• near in distance or time (this, these)
• far in distance or time (that, those)

	near •	far ⇒
singular 📗	this	that
plural 📗📗📗	these	those

Here are some examples with demonstrative pronouns, followed by an illustration:

• This tastes good.
• Have you seen this?
• These are bad times.
• Do you like these?
• That is beautiful.
• Look at that!
• Those were the days!
• Can you see those?
• This is heavier than that.
• These are bigger than those.

Do not confuse demonstrative pronouns with demonstrative adjectives. They are identical, but a demonstrative pronoun stands alone, while a demonstrative adjective qualifies a noun.

• That smells. (demonstrative pronoun)
• That book is good. (demonstrative adjective + noun)

Normally we use demonstrative pronouns for things only. But we can use them for people when the person is identified. Look at these examples:

• This is Josef speaking. Is that Mary?
• That sounds like John.