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Demonstrative Pronouns - Definition, Types, Uses, Examples And Worksheet

Demonstrative Pronouns are the word that helps point out a person, place, animal, or thing. Read more about Demonstrative Pronouns Definition, Types, Uses and Examples in the article given below.
authorImageManoj Kumar19 Oct, 2023
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Demonstrative Pronouns - Definition, Types, Uses, Examples And Worksheet

Demonstrative Pronouns: A demonstrative pronoun is a word that helps point out a person, place, animal, or thing. These Pronouns come in both singular and plural forms. The key thing to remember when using demonstrative pronouns is to match them with verbs that match their singular or plural form.

Demonstrative Pronouns Definition

Demonstrative pronouns are a type of pronoun in the English language used to point to specific things, people, or objects. They help indicate which particular item is being referred to and whether it's near or far in relation to the speaker. The four primary demonstrative pronouns in English are "this," "that," "these," and "those." They take the place of nouns in sentences and help make the meaning clear by showing what the speaker is referring to.

What Are Demonstrative Pronouns

In English, we have four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those. These pronouns help to emphasize something that was talked about earlier or is easily understood based on the situation.

Also Read: Reflexive Pronouns

Think of demonstrative pronouns as the language version of pointing. They direct your focus to the specific thing or person you're talking about. These pronouns also give information about whether you're talking about one thing or more (singular or plural) and where that thing is in relation to you.

Demonstrative Pronouns Types, Uses And Examples

Check Demonstrative pronoun types, Uses and examples in the table given below:
Demonstrative Pronouns Examples
Demonstrative Pronouns Types Uses Examples
This Singular Refers to a singular object or person that is close to the speaker. This book is interesting.
That Singular Refers to a singular object or person that is farther away from the speaker. That car is fast.
These Plural Refers to multiple objects or people that are close to the speaker. These shoes are comfortable.
Those Plural Refers to multiple objects or people that are farther away from the speaker. Those birds are beautiful.

Some More Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns

  • This is my new phone.
  • I love the smell of those fresh flowers.
  • That was an amazing concert.
  • Please pass me these sandwiches.
  • I need to return this library book soon.
  • These shoes are on sale.
  • Those mountains in the distance are beautiful.
  • Can you hand me that remote control?
  • This coffee tastes delicious.
  • I can't decide between these two dresses.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Determiners

Demonstrative pronouns are quite similar to demonstrative determiners , which are sometimes referred to as demonstrative adjectives. In English, the words "this," "that," "these," and "those" serve both roles. Collectively, we call them demonstrations.

Also Read: Possessive Pronouns

A demonstrative pronoun stands independently as the subject or object of a sentence, taking the place of a noun.

On the other hand, a demonstrative determiner works with a noun, providing information about it before the noun. For a better understanding consider the examples given below:
  1. "That is a misconception." (Demonstrative pronoun)
  2. "I recommend reading this article to understand the topic better." (Demonstrative
  3. determiner)
  4. "These are very good chocolates, but I still prefer these peanuts." (Demonstrative determiner)
  5. "I’m afraid I can’t answer that question." (Demonstrative pronoun)
  6. "This is a classified investigation." (Demonstrative pronoun)
In the sentences given above, you can see how demonstrative pronouns and determiners are used to replace or describe nouns, making your communication more precise and concise.

Demonstrative Pronouns vs Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives are two closely related parts of speech in English grammar. While they share similarities, they serve different functions and are used in distinct ways. Demonstrative pronouns, on the other hand, are used to replace nouns in a sentence. Instead of modifying a noun, they stand in for the noun and function as the subject or object of the sentence. The same words that serve as demonstrative adjectives—“this,” “that,” “these,” and “those”—also function as demonstrative pronouns.

For Examples:

  • This is my car. (Demonstrative pronoun stands alone as the subject.)
  • I like those; they are comfortable. (Demonstrative pronoun stands in for "shoes.")

Also Read: Relative Pronouns

Demonstrative adjectives, often referred to as determiners or demonstrative adjectives, are words that modify or describe a noun. They help specify which noun you are talking about in a sentence by indicating its proximity to the speaker. In English, the primary demonstrative adjectives are "this," "that," "these," and "those."

For Examples:

  • This book is fascinating.
  • I prefer those shoes.

Demonstrative Pronouns Worksheet

Solve the Demonstrative Pronouns questions given below:
  1. ___ is the book I was talking about."
  2. Which demonstrative pronoun can replace "the red car" in the sentence, "I prefer the red car"?
  3. Identify the demonstrative pronoun in the sentence: "Those cookies are delicious."
  4. Complete the sentence: "___ are my favorite shoes in the store."
  5. Replace the underlined noun with the appropriate demonstrative pronoun: "This laptop is brand new."
  6. Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun to fill in the blank: "I can't decide between __ two desserts on the menu."
  7. Which of the following is a demonstrative pronoun: "these," "quickly," "walking"?
  8. Fill in the blank with the correct demonstrative pronoun: "___ are the keys to the car."
  9. Identify the demonstrative pronoun in the sentence: "That movie was really entertaining."
  10. In the sentence, "I have two dogs, and they love playing with each other," what demonstrative pronoun can replace "two dogs"?
English Related Links
Parts of Speech Nouns
Abstract Nouns Common Nouns
Collective Nouns Uncountable Nouns
Possessive Nouns Proper Nouns

Demonstrative Pronouns FAQs

What is a Demonstrative Pronoun and types?

A Demonstrative Pronoun is a word that helps point out a person, place, animal, or thing."this," "that," "these," and "those are types of Demonstrative Pronoun.

What is a Demonstrative Pronoun and Adjective?

A demonstrative pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun and helps specify which noun is being referred to in a sentence. Common demonstrative pronouns include "this," "that," "these," and "those." On the other hand, a demonstrative adjective (also called a determiner) is a word that provides information about a noun, indicating which one is being referred to and how close or far it is from the speaker. Demonstrative adjectives use the same words as demonstrative pronouns but always come before a noun.
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