Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Demonstrative adjectives are an integral part of language, helping you indicate the location of a noun or pronoun in relation to the speaker or listener. You will learn about what they are, different types of  demonstrative adjectives, and how they are used.

You’ll also see how demonstrative adjectives differ from demonstrative pronouns. This reference covers common errors with demonstrative adjectives and includes practice problems to help you improve your skills. Additionally, you can look at frequently asked questions to deepen your understanding.

Understanding Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives help you identify specific nouns or pronouns by showing their position and quantity. They describe nouns as near or far, in terms of both space and time.

Examples include:

• This: Used for something nearby.
  • This train takes passengers to London.
• That: Used for something farther away.
  • I think that book is mine.
• These: Used for multiple items nearby.
  • These cakes are very quick and easy to make.
• Those: Used for multiple items farther away.
  • Let me give you a hand with those bags.

These adjectives provide clarity, making your sentences more specific. For instance, rather than saying, “the book is interesting,” you can specify with a demonstrative adjective: “This book is interesting.” This helps your reader or listener understand exactly which book you’re talking about.

Types of Demonstrative Adjectives

This & That

This and that are used with  singular nouns. Singular nouns refer to a single person, place, thing, or idea.

For example:

• this apple
• that table

This is used with someone or something near the speaker.

For example:

• This car is cheap.
• This dog bit me.

That is used with someone or something far from the speaker.

For example:

• That man irritates me!
• That car parks here every day.

These & Those

These and those are used with  plural nouns. Plural nouns refer to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.

For example:

• These boys
• Those books

These indicates someone or something near the speaker.

For example:

• These shoes need to be repaired.
• These books are good, but those books are not good.

Those indicates someone or something far from the speaker.

For example:

• Do you need any help with those boxes?
• Those shoes are more comfortable than these ones.

Considerations When Using Demonstrative Adjectives

Using demonstrative adjectives correctly is crucial for clear communication. Here are a few guidelines to follow:

• Proximity: Use this and these for objects or people that are near, while that and those for objects or people that are farther away.
• Time: Demonstrative adjectives can also describe time. For example, this week refers to the current week, while that week refers to a different one.
• Clarity: Use demonstrative adjectives to distinguish between multiple objects or people in a conversation.

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative adjectives modify a noun by indicating which one is being referred to. They come before the noun. For example:

• This car is fast.
• That dog is friendly.
• These books are heavy.
• Those apples are ripe.

Demonstrative pronouns stand alone and replace a noun. They serve as the subject or object of a sentence. Examples include:

• This is a course in mechanics.
• That‘s a nice dress.
• These are great shoes for  muddy weather.
• I’m not joking. Those were his actual words.

The key difference is that demonstrative adjectives come before a noun, while demonstrative pronouns stand alone and do not modify a noun. Both types are important in English grammar.

Learn more about demonstrative pronouns  here and about pronouns  here. For more on adjectives, visit  this link.

Common Errors with Demonstrative Adjectives

Confusion Between Singular and Plural Forms

A typical mistake is mixing up singular and plural forms of demonstrative adjectives. These adjectives point to specific people or objects, and they come in forms like this, that, these, and those. Using the right form is crucial for sentence clarity:

• Correct: I like this book.
• Incorrect: I like these book.

Using Incorrect Demonstrative Adjectives with Uncountable Nouns

Another error happens when using demonstrative adjectives with  uncountable nouns. Uncountable nouns are items you can’t count, like water, air, or information. When using demonstrative adjectives here, use this or that instead of these or those:

• Correct: This information is helpful.
• Incorrect: These information is helpful.

Confusing Demonstrative Adjectives with Demonstrative Pronouns

It’s also common to mix up demonstrative adjectives and pronouns. Demonstrative adjectives modify a noun, while demonstrative pronouns replace a noun. For example:

• Adjective: This book is mine.
• Pronoun: This is mine.

To avoid this mix-up, always ensure there’s a noun after a demonstrative adjective. This keeps the difference clear and the sentence coherent.

By following these guidelines, you can use demonstrative adjectives correctly and make your sentences clearer and more precise.

Practice Problems with Demonstrative Adjectives

Identify the correct demonstrative adjective for each sentence below:

• ___ bicycle is mine. (The bicycle is close to you)
• ___ pencils are yours. (The pencils are far from you)

Answer:

• This bicycle is mine.
• Those pencils are yours.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate demonstrative adjective:

• ___ cap is yours, but ___ hat is mine. (The cap is close to you, the hat is farther away)
• ___ cookies are fresh, and ___ ones are stale. (The fresh cookies are close to you, the stale ones are farther away)

Answer:

• This cap is yours, but that hat is mine.
• These cookies are fresh, and those ones are stale.

Match the following sentences with the right demonstrative adjectives:

• This cake is delicious.
• Those mountains look beautiful.

Answer:

1. This ___
2. Those ___

Answer:

1. This cake is delicious.
2. Those mountains look beautiful.