They’re very easy to use once you understand what they are. The demonstrative adjectives are ‘this,’ ‘that,’ ‘these,’ and ‘those’. So, now you’ve seen how to use demonstrative adjectives, it’s time to practice! Look around the area where you’re sitting now and make some of your own examples for this, that, these and those.A demonstrative adjective is a special adjective (often called a determiner) that identifies a noun or pronoun by expressing its position as near or far (including in time).ĭemonstrative adjectives are words that modify nouns and identify a specific noun or nouns. However, when we introduce someone and identify ourselves on the phone, we can use ‘this’ as a pronoun for people. Shall we have a coffee break? – Yes, that ’s a great idea! What’s this ? – It’s my new specialty, rice with mushrooms. Generally we only use ‘this’ and ‘that’ as pronouns with things and not people. We can also use ‘this’ and ‘that’ as pronouns, meaning that we can use them without a noun. For example:Īre those glasses on the table yours? This and That as Pronouns The same difference is true for these and those. I’d like that green shirt in the window please. That gentleman in reception has an appointment at 10:00.

When we refer to someone or something not near the speaker, we use ‘that’. On this slide you can see how sales increased last year. Look at this photo! This man on the left is my Uncle. When we refer to someone or something near the speaker, we use ‘this’. Whose are those documents on the photocopier? What’s the Difference Between This and That? Those cars over there belong to the company. For plural nouns we use the plural forms of this and that which are these and those. That car over there belongs to the company.Īs adjectives, this and that go before a singular noun. We use these two words to help us indicate which person or thing we are referring to. The two main demonstrative adjectives in English are this and that.

There are two very important words that we need to use frequently in English – what are they and why are they so useful? Read on to find out! What are Demonstrative Adjectives?

What is demonstrative adjective