Demonstrative Pronouns

Posted By Manjusha in English Grammar

Demonstrative pronouns direct attention to a specific person, place, or thing. There are only four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these and those.

• This is better than that.
• Put those down – they are dirty.
• Hello. This is Alice. Is that Ruth?
• Who is that?

We use this/these to talk about people and things which are close to the speaker.

• This is very nice – can I have some more?

This/these can refer to situations and experiences which are going on or just about to start.

• Listen to this. You will like this.
• Watch this. This is a police message.

We use that/those to talk about people and things which are more distant from the speaker, or not present.

• That smells great – is it for lunch?
• Get that cat off the piano.

That/those can refer to experiences which have just finished, or which are most distant in the past.

• Did you see that? Who said that?

Get the latest updates

 Subscribe in a reader