Compare these two sentences:
- This cookie is delicious, but that cookie looks dry.
- This cookie is delicious, but that looks dry.
What’s the difference? In the first sentence, the word “that” describes the noun “cookie”—making it a demonstrative adjective. In the second sentence, “that” replaces the noun “cookie” entirely, making it a demonstrative pronoun. They use the same words, but their function changes based on how they are used.
Demonstrative pronouns vs adjectives
Here’s another example to make the distinction clear:
- Demonstrative Adjective: You should buy this car.
- Demonstrative Pronoun: You should buy this.
Both sentences point to a specific car. However, the demonstrative adjective “this” modifies the noun “car,” coming directly before it. By contrast, the demonstrative pronoun “this” stands alone, completely replacing the noun.
This, that, these, those (the four demonstratives)
There are only four demonstratives in English. They are defined by number (singular or plural) and proximity (near or far).
- This (Singular, Near): Used for a single item that is close by.
Example: This is my favorite song. - That (Singular, Far): Used for a single item that is at a distance.
Example: That is not what I meant. - These (Plural, Near): Used for multiple items that are close by.
Example: These are my friends. - Those (Plural, Far): Used for multiple items that are at a distance.
Example: Those were the days.
Demonstratives in context
To avoid sounding repetitive when comparing items, we often pair demonstratives with the words “one” (for singular nouns) or “ones” (for plural nouns). This makes your writing more concise and straightforward.
For example, rather than say, “I don’t want this coat; I want that coat,” it’s more natural to say, “I don’t want this coat; I want that one.” The word “one” acts as a substitute for “coat.” The same principle applies to plurals: “Don’t buy these apples; buy those ones over there.”
Common mistakes: number agreement
A frequent error is mismatching the number of the demonstrative with the number of the noun. The rule is simple: singular demonstratives (this, that) must be used with singular nouns, while plural demonstratives (these, those) must be used with plural nouns. Mixing them up is grammatically incorrect.
- Incorrect: I want to buy these shirt.
- Correct: I want to buy this shirt. (or these shirts).
- Incorrect: Look at that shoes.
- Correct: Look at those shoes. (or that shoe).
Other adj. and pro.
| Types of pronouns | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. personal | I, you, he, she, it, we, they |
| 2. possessive | mine, yours, his, hers, its, ours, theirs |
| 3. relative | who, whom, whose, which, that |
| 4. reflexive | myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves |
| 5. indefinite | someone, anyone, everyone, nobody |
| 6. demonstrative | this, that, these, those |
| 7. interrogative | who, whom, which, what |
| 8. intensive | myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself |
| Types of adjectives | Examples |
|---|---|
| 1. proper | French, Shakesperean, Japanese |
| 2. descriptive | pleasant, smart, shorter, most intelligent |
| 3. demonstrative | this, that, these, those |
| 4. possessive | my, your, his, her, its, our, their |
| 5. interrogative | which, what, whose |
| 6. quantitative | some, a lot, two, several, whole, first |
| 7. numeral | one, two, five, ten, first, second, third |
| 8. compound | absent-minded, happy-go-lucky, two-year-old, well-known, open-minded, French-speaking |
