Demonstrative pronouns and adjectives
What are demonstrative pronouns?
I"m sure all of you use THIS, THESE, THAT, THOSE every time you have an English conversation.
- Give me that pen.
- I"m going to wear this t-shirt today.
- Plesae pass me those sweets.
Today we will learn the difference between these demonstratives and how do we use them correctly in English.
THIS, THESE, THAT, THOSE are referred to as demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in English Grammar books. In English we use demonstrative adjectives when we want to refer to specific people or objects. THIS, THESE, THAT, THOSE always go before the nouns they modify.
Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
A distinction must be made between demonstrative adjectives (or demonstrative determiners) and demonstrative pronouns (or independent demonstratives).
A demonstrative adjective modifies a noun:
- This apple is good.
- I like those houses.
(This modifies 'apple' and those modifies 'houses')
A demonstrative pronoun stands on its own, replacing rather than modifying a noun:
- This is good.
- I like those.
(This and those don't modify any nouns, they stand alone and replace other nouns)
Use of demonstratives
Demonstratives differ according to:
- distance: near or far,
- or number: singular or plural.
We Use THIS
1) For people and things that are near to the speaker (listener)
- This is really good coffee.
2) To introduce someone
- Mary, this is John.
3) On the phone to introduce yourself
- Hi, this is Sarah, can I speak to Jane please?
4) To talk about things that are near in time
- We are going to Spain this summer.
Note:
We often use this with in time phrases such as this summer, this winter, this week, this year, etc.
5) To refer to something that is going to happen in the future, or something that we are going to say or do
- I don’t really like to say this, but the service here is absolutely appalling.
- I like watching this programme. (=the programme is on TV right now)
- It’s always a good idea to make a grocery list. This way, you’ll be able to remember exactly what to buy.
We Use THAT
1) For people and things that are not near to the speaker (listener)
- Do you want to sit down on that bench over there?
- Is that a bird or a plane over there?
2) To talk about things that are further away in time
- That dinner we had last night was gorgeous.(=the dinner in the past)
3) To refer back to something that has just happened
- What was that noise? Did you hear it?
We Use THESE
1) For people and things that are near to the speaker (listener)
- These trousers are really dirty. Why don’t you put them in the wash?
- These are the books I brought from Jane.
2) To talk about things that are near in time
- I love these long summer evenings. It stays bright outside till around 10 p.m.
We Use THOSE
1) For people and things that are not near us
- Those boys are waiving at you. Are they your friends?
2) To talk about things that are further away in time
- Do you remember those cycling trips we went on with Dad? Those were the days!
Exercises & examples on demontrations:
- Those are curtains.
- This is a dictionary.
- That over there is a window.
- Those over there are scissors.
- These are desks.
- How can you buy something like that.
- These cherries are delicious.
- I should have worn those shoes I bought in Spain last month.
- Could you bring me that book lays over the bed.
- To have and to hold from this day forward.
- Those are my pencils.
- This is my wife.
- That’s it, it is working now.
- That’s ok.
- That’s that. We’ve finished.
- That’s it, I quit!
0 Comments