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One of my favorite classroom moments happens when a student suddenly realizes that “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are doing a lot more than just pointing at things. I remember one learner saying, “Wait—so when I say ‘This is mine,’ the word ‘this’ is standing in for a whole object I don’t even have to name?” Exactly. That’s the power of demonstrative pronouns.
These four words are used dozens of times every day in conversations across the English-speaking world. They’re how we refer to things without endless repetition, how we establish distance (near vs. far), and how we manage clarity in writing. You’ll walks you through their forms, their subtle grammar rules, and the mistakes that trip up even intermediate learners.
Key Takeaways
- Four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, those — they point out specific people or things without naming them.
- Singular: this (near) and that (far) — use for one thing; plural: these (near) and those (far) — use for multiple things.
- Watch subject-verb agreement — say “These are” (not “These is”), “Those are” (not “Those is”).
- Don’t confuse with adjectives — “This book” uses “this” as an adjective; “This is a book” uses “this” as a pronoun.
- Distance can be physical or temporal — “This week we’re busy” (near in time); “Those days are behind us” (far in time).
What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?
A demonstrative pronoun is a word that points out a specific person, place, or thing. Unlike regular personal pronouns (he, she, it), demonstrative pronouns are deictic—they rely on context to show what they’re referring to. When you say “I like that,” everyone listening knows you’re pointing at a specific object, even if you haven’t named it.
There are exactly four demonstrative pronouns in English:
| Pronoun | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| this | Singular | Near | This is my favorite song. |
| that | Singular | Far | That is your car. |
| these | Plural | Near | These are my shoes. |
| those | Plural | Far | Those are his glasses. |
Example in context: “I’m looking at two paintings in a gallery. I like this one (the one close to me) better than that one (across the room).”
Number: Singular vs. Plural
Demonstrative pronouns change form based on whether they’re referring to one thing or multiple things. This is crucial for both accuracy and politeness in English.
Singular demonstrative pronouns: “this” and “that” refer to one person, place, or thing.
Example 1: This is my car. (One car, near me.)
Example 2: That is your phone. (One phone, far from me.)
Plural demonstrative pronouns: “these” and “those” refer to multiple people, places, or things.
Example 3: These are my books. (Multiple books, near me.)
Example 4: Are those your shoes? (Multiple shoes, far from me.)
A common student mistake is using singular pronouns with plural nouns (or vice versa). Remember: the pronoun must agree in number with what it’s referring to.
Distance: Near vs. Far
English demonstrative pronouns encode a sense of distance—physical, spatial, or even temporal. “This” and “these” indicate something close (near the speaker), while “that” and “those” indicate something distant (away from the speaker).
Physical distance
Example: This apple is delicious. (The apple I’m holding or next to.)
Example: That building is huge. (The building across the street or far away.)
Temporal distance (distance in time)
Example: These days are busy. (The current week or present moment.)
Example: Those memories are from my childhood. (Events from the distant past.)
Distance is relative: “Near” and “far” are subjective. In a classroom, if a student points to a desk 3 feet away and one 20 feet away, the closer one gets “this” and the farther gets “that.” Context and gesture make it clear.
Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives
One of the biggest sources of confusion is mixing up demonstrative pronouns with demonstrative adjectives. They use the same four words—this, that, these, those—but they function differently in a sentence.
Demonstrative adjectives modify a noun. They describe or point out which noun you mean:
Example: This book is interesting. (The word “this” modifies the noun “book.”)
Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun. They stand alone and refer to the noun without naming it:
Example: This is interesting. (The word “this” replaces “book” or whatever we’re discussing.)
| Demonstrative Adjective (+ noun) | Demonstrative Pronoun (stands alone) |
|---|---|
| This pen is mine. | This is mine. |
| Those cars are expensive. | Those are expensive. |
| That movie was terrible. | That was terrible. |
| These shoes fit well. | These fit well. |
Quick test: If you can remove the word and the sentence still refers to the same object, it’s a pronoun. If removing it leaves the sentence incomplete, it’s an adjective. “This book is mine” → remove “this” → “book is mine” (still clear, but adjective lost). “This is mine” → remove “this” → “is mine” (sentence breaks, so “this” is a pronoun).
Using Demonstrative Pronouns in Sentences
As the subject
Example: This is my favorite song.
Example: These are the books I borrowed from the library.
As the object
Example: I like that movie.
Example: Do you want those?
After a preposition
Example: I’m interested in that. (After the preposition “in.”)
Example: We can talk about this later. (After the preposition “about.”)
In all these positions, the demonstrative pronoun points out a specific thing without naming it, allowing the listener to infer what you’re talking about from context.
Referring to Previously Mentioned Ideas
One of the most useful functions of demonstrative pronouns is referring back to ideas or things already mentioned. This helps avoid repetition and keep writing flowing smoothly.
Example: Sarah bought a new car. This is her third car in five years.
(The pronoun “this” refers back to the earlier noun “car.”)
Example: The company released three new products last quarter. Those sold out in two weeks.
(The pronoun “those” refers back to “products.”)
Example: I spent the afternoon organizing my files, updating my resume, and applying to three jobs. These are things I should have done months ago.
(The pronoun “these” refers back to all the activities just listed.)
Common Mistakes with Demonstrative Pronouns
✗ Incorrect: These is my favorite books.
✓ Correct: These are my favorite books.
Why: “These” is plural, so the verb must be plural (“are,” not “is”).
✗ Incorrect: That are my shoes.
✓ Correct: Those are my shoes.
Why: “That” is singular, so use it only with singular nouns. For multiple shoes, use “those” (plural).
✗ Incorrect: This is belong to me.
✓ Correct: This belongs to me.
Why: You don’t need an extra “is” before the main verb. The demonstrative pronoun “this” is the subject; “belongs” is the verb.
✗ Incorrect: I don’t like that one. Those is better.
✓ Correct: I don’t like that one. This is better.
Why: If you’re comparing two singular things, use “that” and “this” (both singular), not “this” and “those”.
Dialogue: Demonstrative Pronouns in Shopping
Customer: Do you have this in a larger size?
Sales associate: This one here? Let me check. We have it in medium and large. That is our most popular color.
Customer: Great. Can I also see those jeans over there?
Sales associate: Of course. Those are on sale this week, actually.
Customer: Excellent. These two items—what’s the total?
Practice Quiz
Choose the Correct Demonstrative Pronoun
- I like _______ (singular, near me). That one is too big.
- _______ are the best photos from the trip. (Plural, far from me.)
- Are _______ yours? (Plural, held in my hand.)
- I can’t find my keys. Have you seen _______? (Singular, unknown antecedent.)
- We should buy _______ apples from the farmer’s market. They’re fresher. (Plural, nearby.)
Answers: 1. this · 2. Those · 3. these · 4. them or it (depending on context; if asking about keys in general, “them” works; if assuming one set, “it” works) · 5. these
Related Articles
- ↑ Master Pillar: English Grammar
- Possessive Pronouns: Is My a Pronoun?
- Personal Pronouns: Subject and Object Forms
- They/Them Pronouns: A Comprehensive Guide
- ↑ Back to pillar: English Pronouns (Pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use “this” and “that” with plural nouns?
No. “This” and “that” are singular—they must pair with singular nouns when used as adjectives (“this book,” “that car”). When you have multiple items, use the plural forms: “these books,” “those cars.”
Is “that” always used for something far away?
Not strictly. “That” indicates distance, but distance is relative. In a conversation, “that” can mean “the thing you mentioned earlier” (temporal distance) or “something we’re both looking at but I’m emphasizing separately” (psychological distance). Context matters.
When should I use a demonstrative pronoun instead of a personal pronoun like “it”?
Use a demonstrative pronoun when you want to emphasize distance, point something out, or refer back to something just mentioned for clarity. “This is amazing” (emphasizing closeness or immediacy) vs. “It is amazing” (more neutral). Both are correct; the choice depends on your tone and emphasis.
Can demonstrative pronouns refer to people?
Technically yes, but it can sound rude. Saying “That is my friend” (pointing) is okay, but saying “This person is lazy” uses “this” as an adjective, not a pronoun. Avoid using demonstrative pronouns to refer to people unless you’re literally pointing or emphasizing position.
How do I use demonstrative pronouns with abstract ideas?
You can use them with abstract nouns just as easily as concrete ones. “This is a good idea,” “That was a mistake,” “These are the reasons I left.” The pronouns don’t care whether they’re pointing at tangible objects or abstract concepts.
What’s the difference between “that” and “which”?
“That” is a demonstrative pronoun (pointing something out). “Which” is an interrogative or relative pronoun (asking a question or connecting clauses). “That is mine” vs. “Which one is yours?”—different functions, different words.
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