Definition
Demonstrative pronoun can be defined as “A demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun that is used to point to something specific within a sentence. They can indicate items in space or in time, and they can be either singular or plural.”
Explanation
Demonstrative pronoun is a pronoun which we use in the sentence to point something specific such as items in space or in time. Demonstrative pronoun can be either singular (this, that) or plural (these, those). They are used to identify nouns (whether specified or not) or can be used in place of a noun.
Thing or things can be either close or far away in space or in time. Some other words like such, none, and neither are also used sometimes as demonstrative pronouns.
The singular (this) and plural (these) demonstrative pronouns indicate that a person (or persons) or a thing (or things) is near to the speaker.
And, the singular (that) and plural (those) demonstrative pronouns indicate that a person (or persons) or a thing (or things) is far away from the speaker. You can be more clear through following examples:
- This is smelling very bad. (‘this’ represents a thing close to the speaker)
- That is looking very nice. (‘that’ represents a thing far away to the speaker)
- These smell very bad like a rotten egg. (‘these’ represents some things close to the speaker)
- Those are very beautiful. (‘those’ represents some things are far away to the speaker)
Examples of Demonstrative Pronoun
Some more examples of the demonstrative pronouns are:
- This is my mother’s sweet home.
- That looks like fox.
- These are nice flowers but smell bad.
- Those are wild animals and very dangerous.
- This is my school where I come daily to learn.
- That is not a playground but kids play.
- These are my favorite dishes.
- Those are mine clothes.
Difference between Demonstrative Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives
Generally, we get confused between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives. So, we have to be very clear about the difference and use of both.
Demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives words are same however both are used differently in the sentence. Demonstrative pronoun is used alone (do not qualify a noun) in the sentence in place of a noun whereas, demonstrative adjective is used in the sentence with a noun (always qualify a noun and do not stand alone).
For Example:
- I love this. (in this sentence, ‘this’ is used as a demonstrative pronoun that stands alone)
- I always loved that. (in this sentence, ‘that’ is used as a demonstrative pronoun that stands alone)
- These smell really nice. (in this sentence, ‘these’ is used as a demonstrative pronoun that stands alone)
- Those are unknown. (in this sentence, ‘those’ is used as a demonstrative pronoun that stands alone)
- I love this song. (in this sentence, ‘this’ is used as a demonstrative adjective that qualifies a noun)
- I always loved that person. (in this sentence, ‘that’ is used as a demonstrative adjective that qualifies a noun)
- These flowers smell really nice. (in this sentence, ‘these’ is used as a demonstrative adjective that qualifies a noun)
- Those people are unknown. (in this sentence, ‘those’ is used as a demonstrative adjective that qualifies a noun)
Exercises for You
We have provided below some exercises in order to help you to improve your knowledge about demonstrative pronoun. You need to get detail information about demonstrative pronoun provided above and check your skill by doing following exercises.
Choose the correct demonstrative pronouns from the following sentences given below and match with the given answer:
- I really love to eat this.
- This smell is good.
- That is very costly and I can not afford.
- I heard that yesterday.
- These are looking perfect.
- I will surely buy these.
- Those are from village.
- I owned those in last month.
- These are very nice.
- Is this yours?
- Did you saw that?
- That is the thing we need to do.
- Is this clear?
- Is that clear?
- That is surely incorrect.
- This is very yummy.
- I like those very much.
- I am sure about that.
- These are really very comfortable.
- Could you please give me that?
- This is really a crazy act.
- Those are very funny.
- Could you please help me to get out of these?
- That is mine and not yours.
- I want all those.
- This tastes very yummy.
- Have you ever seen this?
- These are my good times.
- Do you like eating those.
- That is amazingly beautiful.
- Those were really nice.
Answers: 1 – this, 2 – this, 3 – that, 4 – that, 5 – these, 6 – these, 7 – those, 8 – those, 9 – these, 10 – this, 11 – that, 12 – That, 13 – this, 14 – that, 15 – that, 16 – this, 17 – those, 18 – that, 19 – these, 20 – that, 21 – this, 22 – those, 23 – these, 24 – that, 25 – those, 26 – this, 27 – this, 28 – these, 29 – those, 30 – that, 31 – those.
Related Information:
Pronoun
Personal Pronoun
Possessive Pronoun
Compound Personal Pronoun
Indefinite Pronoun
Distributive Pronoun
Reciprocal Pronoun
Relative Pronoun
Interrogative Pronoun