DEMONSTRATIVES

1. DEMONSTRATIVES
THIS/ THAT/ THESE /THOSE
MISS. BRAVO
LENGUA EXTRANJERA

2. DEFINITION
• These are words that show which person or thing is being referred to. In the
sentence:
This/that / These/Those+ VB+ complement.
• This is my brother.
• That is a laptop.
• These are my books.
• Those are windows.

3. USE OF THE DEMONSTRATIVES
•Demonstratives differ according to:
•distance: near or far,
•or number: singular or plural.

5. MAIN DISTINCTIONS
• This modifies or refers to singular nouns that are near to the speaker.
• That modifies or refers to singular nouns that are far from the speaker.
• These modifies or refers to plural nouns that are near to the speaker.
• Those modifies or refers to plural nouns that are far from the speaker.

6. RULES
• Demonstrative pronouns always identify nouns, whether those nouns are named specifically or not.
For example: “I can’t believe this.” We have no idea what “this” is, but it’s definitely something the
writer cannot believe. It exists, even though we don’t know what it is.
• Demonstrative pronouns are usually used to describe animals, places, or things, however they can
be used to describe people when the person is identified, i.e., This sounds like Mary singing.
• Do not confuse demonstrative adjectives with demonstrative pronouns. The words are identical, but
demonstrative adjectives qualify nouns, whereas demonstrative pronouns stand alone.