Demonstrative Adjectives in English Grammar The Complete Guide

When pointing to objects or people in English, we often use words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” to indicate exactly what we’re referring to. These powerful little words are called Demonstrative Adjectives in English , and they play a crucial role in making our communication precise and clear. Whether you’re a student learning English or someone looking to refine your grammar skills, understanding demonstrative adjectives will significantly enhance your language abilities.

Demonstrative adjectives help us specify which person, place, thing, or idea we’re talking about by indicating their position in relation to the speaker. They act as linguistic pointers that establish spatial, temporal, or conceptual relationships between the speaker and what’s being discussed.

What Are Demonstrative Adjectives?

Demonstrative Adjectives in English are words that modify nouns by indicating their position relative to the speaker. They appear before the noun they modify and help to identify specific items by pointing them out. The four primary demonstrative adjectives in English are:

This – Used for singular nouns that are physically or conceptually close to the speaker

That – Used for singular nouns that are physically or conceptually distant from the speaker

These – Used for plural nouns that are physically or conceptually close to the speaker

Those – Used for plural nouns that are physically or conceptually distant from the speaker

For example:

• This book belongs to me. (A book that is nearby)
• That car is expensive. (A car that is farther away)
• These flowers smell wonderful. (Multiple flowers that are nearby)
• Those buildings are very tall. (Multiple buildings that are farther away)

The Dual Nature of Demonstrative Words

It’s important to understand that “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” can function in two different ways in English:

1. As demonstrative adjectives when they modify nouns
   • This cake is delicious.
   • Those mountains are beautiful.
2. As demonstrative pronouns when they replace nouns
   • This is delicious. (replacing “this cake”)
   • Those are beautiful. (replacing “those mountains”)

The key difference is that demonstrative adjectives always appear with the noun they modify, while demonstrative pronouns stand alone and replace the noun entirely.

The Spatial Dimensions of Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Demonstrative adjectives are organized along two key dimensions:

1. Number: Singular vs. Plural
2. Distance: Near vs. Far

This two-dimensional system creates a clear framework for choosing the appropriate demonstrative adjective:

Understanding this framework helps you choose the right demonstrative adjective for any situation. For instance:

• “This computer” (singular and near) vs. “That computer” (singular and far)
• “These computers” (plural and near) vs. “Those computers” (plural and far)

Beyond Physical Distance

While demonstrative adjectives often indicate physical distance, their usage extends far beyond spatial relationships. They can also express:

Temporal Distance (Time)

Demonstrative adjectives can indicate proximity in time:

This/These – for present or future time references

• This week has been busy.
• These coming months will be challenging.

That/Those – for past time references

• That year was difficult for everyone.
• Those days of analog phones are long gone.

Emotional or Psychological Distance

Demonstrative adjectives can convey psychological closeness or distance:

This/These – for things the speaker feels connected to

• This passion for music has always been with me.
• These feelings are hard to express.

That/Those – for things the speaker feels disconnected from

• That fear of failure held me back for years.
• Those concerns no longer bother me.

Textual Reference

In writing, demonstrative adjectives can refer to ideas within the text:

This/These – often refers to something about to be mentioned or just mentioned

• This explanation will clarify the concept: [explanation follows]
• These examples illustrate the point I just made.

That/Those – typically refers to something mentioned earlier

• That concept we discussed earlier is fundamental.
• Those arguments presented in the introduction need further examination.

Common Usage Patterns of Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Understanding how demonstrative adjectives function in different contexts can help you use them more effectively. Let’s explore their various applications in everyday language.

Demonstrative Adjectives in Conversation

In face-to-face conversations, demonstrative adjectives often involve physical gestures:

• “Could you pass me this pen?” (The speaker might touch or point to the pen nearby)
• “Look at that bird on the branch!” (The speaker might point toward a distant bird)
• “I’ll take these apples.” (The speaker might hold or indicate nearby apples)
• “Are those your friends over there?” (The speaker might nod toward people at a distance)

This combination of verbal and non-verbal communication makes demonstrative adjectives particularly powerful in direct interactions.

Demonstrative Adjectives in Written Communication

In writing, where physical gestures aren’t possible, demonstrative adjectives rely on context:

• “This article explains demonstrative adjectives.” (The article being read right now)
• “That book I mentioned earlier is worth reading.” (A book referenced previously)
• “These suggestions will improve your writing.” (The suggestions being presented)
• “Those examples from Chapter 3 illustrate the concept well.” (Examples mentioned earlier)

Writers must establish clear references to ensure readers understand what this, that, these, or those refer to.

Demonstrative Adjectives with “One” and “Ones”

Demonstrative adjectives can be used with “one” (singular) or “ones” (plural) to avoid repetition:

• “I prefer this one to that one.” (Referring to previously mentioned items)
• “These ones are ripe, but those ones need more time.” (Comparing two groups)

While “these ones” and “those ones” are grammatically correct, they’re often considered redundant in formal writing. Many style guides recommend simply using “these” and “those” as pronouns instead:

• “I’ll take these instead of those.” (More concise than “these ones” and “those ones”)

However, in conversational English, “these ones” and “those ones” remain common and acceptable.

Advanced Concepts in Demonstrative Adjectives

Going beyond basic usage, demonstrative adjectives have several nuanced applications worth exploring.

Emphatic Use of Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives can add emphasis or emotional weight:

• “This very moment is crucial.” (Emphasizing immediacy)
• “That particular decision changed everything.” (Highlighting significance)
• “These exact specifications must be followed.” (Stressing precision)
• “Those specific requirements are non-negotiable.” (Underscoring importance)

The demonstrative adds a layer of intensity that “the moment” or “the decision” wouldn’t convey.

Comparative Use of Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives excel at creating comparisons:

• “This approach is more effective than that approach.”
• “These methods are superior to those methods.”

This pattern helps establish clear contrasts between different items or concepts.

Demonstrative Adjectives in Questions

In questions, demonstrative adjectives help seek clarification:

• “What is this device used for?”
• “Who owns that building across the street?”
• “How much do these services cost?”
• “When were those policies implemented?”

The choice between “this/these” and “that/those” often depends on what the questioner assumes about the listener’s relationship to the subject.

Cultural and Regional Variations

The use of demonstrative adjectives can vary between English dialects:

• In some American dialects: “This here book” or “That there house”
• In certain British contexts: “This book here” or “That house there“

While these forms are considered redundant in standard written English, they’re common in colloquial speech in specific regions.

Common Challenges and Mistakes

Even native speakers sometimes struggle with demonstrative adjectives. Here are some common issues to avoid:

Ambiguous References

When a sentence contains multiple nouns, unclear demonstrative references can confuse readers:

• Unclear: “John gave Tom his book, and this assignment was due tomorrow.” (What does “this assignment” refer to?)
• Clear: “John gave Tom his book. This book contained the assignment that was due tomorrow.”

Always ensure your demonstrative adjectives have clear referents.

Overuse of Demonstratives

Excessive use of demonstrative adjectives can make writing feel repetitive and imprecise:

• Overused: “This person told that woman about these problems, and those issues were addressed.”
• Improved: “The manager informed the client about the system failures, and the underlying issues were promptly addressed.”

Use demonstratives strategically, not habitually.

Mismatched Number

The demonstrative adjective must match the number (singular or plural) of the noun it modifies:

• Incorrect: “This books are interesting.”
• Correct: “These books are interesting.”
• Incorrect: “Those car belongs to my neighbor.”
• Correct: “That car belongs to my neighbor.”

This agreement is essential for grammatical correctness.

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Other Determiners

Demonstrative adjectives belong to a broader category called determiners, which also includes articles, possessive adjectives, and quantifiers. Understanding how demonstrative adjectives differ from and interact with these other determiners helps clarify their unique role.

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Articles

Both demonstrative adjectives and articles (a, an, the) introduce nouns, but with different levels of specificity:

Compare these sentences:

• “I read a book.” (Any book, not specified)
• “I read the book.” (A specific book, understood from context)
• “I read this book.” (A specific book, explicitly pointed out)

While “the” identifies a specific item understood by both speaker and listener, demonstrative adjectives go further by explicitly pointing out which specific item.

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Possessive Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives in English  indicate position relative to the speaker, while possessive adjectives (my, your, his, her, its, our, their) indicate ownership:

• “This computer is fast.” (Position: near the speaker)
• “My computer is fast.” (Ownership: belongs to the speaker)

These determiners can be combined in specific orders:

• “This my book” is incorrect
• “This book of mine” is correct

The conventional order is: demonstrative → possessive → noun

Combining with Other Adjectives

When demonstrative adjectives appear with descriptive adjectives, they always come first in the sequence:

• “This interesting book” (Not “interesting this book”)
• “Those beautiful red roses” (Not “beautiful those red roses” or “red those beautiful roses”)

The standard order is: demonstrative → opinion → size → age → shape → color → origin → material → purpose → noun

For example: “These fascinating small ancient circular blue French crystal decorative pieces”

Expanded Contexts for Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Demonstrative Adjectives in English  appear in various specialized contexts that weren’t covered in the competitor’s article.

In Academic Writing

In scholarly texts, demonstrative adjectives often establish textual relationships:

• “This paper examines the effects of climate change.” (Referring to the current document)
• “That study by Johnson et al. contradicts our findings.” (Referring to previously cited research)
• “These results suggest a correlation.” (Referring to just-presented data)
• “Those conclusions were later disproven.” (Referring to earlier-mentioned information)

Academic writers must be particularly careful to ensure clear antecedents for demonstratives to maintain precision.

In Legal Language

Legal documents use demonstrative adjectives with extreme precision:

• “This contract (‘the Agreement’) is entered into by…”
• “That property described in Exhibit A…”
• “These terms shall remain in effect until…”
• “Those parties identified in Section 2.3…”

In legal contexts, demonstratives often work alongside defined terms to eliminate ambiguity.

In Technical Instructions

Instructional texts rely heavily on demonstrative adjectives to guide users through processes:

• “Press this button to continue.”
• “Connect that cable to the port.”
• “Follow these steps in order.”
• “Avoid those common mistakes listed below.”

Clear demonstratives are essential for effective instruction.

Beyond the Basic Four: Additional Demonstrative Forms

While English primarily uses four main demonstrative adjectives, several related forms deserve attention.

“Such” as a Demonstrative

The word “such” can function as a demonstrative adjective when it means “this kind of” or “that kind of”:

• “Such behavior is unacceptable.” (This kind of behavior)
• “We’ve never experienced such problems before.” (These kinds of problems)

“Such” differs from standard demonstratives by indicating type rather than specific instance.

Archaic and Literary Demonstratives

Older English used additional demonstrative forms, some of which appear in literature and formal writing:

• “Yon” or “yonder” (for distant objects): “What light through yonder window breaks?”
• “Said” (in legal writing): “Said documents must be filed within 30 days.”

These forms add stylistic variety or formality in specific contexts.

Demonstrative Adverbs

While not adjectives, demonstrative adverbs like “here” and “there” often work alongside demonstrative adjectives to reinforce distance:

• “This book here is fascinating.”
• “That building there is the oldest in town.”

This pattern is especially common in spoken English for emphasis.

Practice Exercises for Mastering Demonstrative Adjectives in English

To truly understand demonstrative adjectives, practice is essential. Try these exercises:

1. Fill in the blank with the appropriate demonstrative adjective:
   • _____ cars in the parking lot belong to the employees. (referring to cars far from you)
   • _____ painting I’m touching is worth millions. (referring to a painting you’re in contact with)
2. Identify whether the demonstratives in these sentences are functioning as adjectives or pronouns:
   • This is my favorite book.
   • This book is my favorite.
   • Those seem expensive.
   • Those shoes seem expensive.
3. Correct the errors in these sentences:
   • This shoes are too small.
   • That buildings need renovation.
   • Can you pass me those pencil?
   • These is the moment we’ve been waiting for.
4. Rewrite these sentences using demonstrative adjectives to make them more specific:
   • The report contains valuable information.
   • The flowers smell nice.
   • The problem needs immediate attention.
   • The methods have proven effective.

Conclusion on Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Demonstrative Adjectives in English  may seem simple at first glance, but they contain surprising complexity and power. By mastering “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” you gain precision tools for indicating location, time, and abstract relationships in your communication.

Whether you’re writing an academic paper, drafting a legal document, creating technical instructions, or simply having a conversation, proper use of demonstrative adjectives ensures your meaning is clear and specific. They help you point exactly to what you mean, eliminating ambiguity and enhancing understanding.

Remember that demonstrative adjectives are not just about physical distance—they establish temporal, emotional, and textual relationships as well. This multidimensional quality makes them versatile tools in the English language.

As you continue to develop your English grammar skills, pay attention to how demonstrative adjectives function in the speech and writing you encounter. Notice the subtle differences between “this perspective” and “that perspective,” or between “these considerations” and “those considerations.” These small words carry significant meaning when used with intention and precision.

With practice and awareness, you’ll use demonstrative adjectives with confidence and clarity, enhancing both your written and spoken communication.

Additional Resources

For those interested in learning more about demonstrative adjectives and related grammar concepts, consider exploring:

• Grammar reference books focusing on determiners
• Online English language learning platforms with interactive exercises
• Academic writing guides that address precise language use
• Comparative linguistics resources examining demonstratives across languages