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Demonstrative Pronouns
What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Even though the word demonstrative sounds like it has to do with monsters, it actually comes from the word demonstrate, which means to show or indicate.
That’s exactly what demonstrative pronouns do - they demonstrate things in distance or time, whether near or far.
There are four main demonstrative pronouns, each corresponding with the questions How many? and How far?
| How far? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| How many? | Near | Far | |
| One | This | That | |
| More than one | These | Those | |
How Do I Use Demonstrative Pronouns?
They are used to replace things and tell proximity and quantity. That’s the key.
AND
They replace a noun.
Here are some examples:
1) This smells incredible.
2) Have you ever heard of that?
3) These are fantastically designed.
4) Do you think those will fit in my car?
QUICK TIP!
Don’t confuse Demonstrative Pronouns with Demonstrative Adjectives! Demonstrative adjectives are the same words but specifically describe the noun that comes after them. Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun.
Check out the difference:
| Demonstrative pronoun | That is definitely bigger than I thought. (That replaces the word cake in the sentence below.) |
|---|---|
| Demonstrative adjective | That cake is definitely bigger than I thought. |
Just remember that a demonstrative adjective ALWAYS has a noun after it!
