A1 Grammar Determiners

Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those

Demonstratives point to things in space, time or conversation. They tell us whether something is near or far and whether it is singular or plural — this book, that car, these shoes, those trees.

The English demonstratives are this, that, these and those. They are pointing words: they single out a particular person or thing and locate it relative to the speaker. Choosing the right one depends on two questions: is the thing near or far, and is it one or more than one?

Demonstratives are among the first words learners meet, but using all four accurately — and knowing when they act as determiners and when as pronouns — takes a little practice. They also do useful work beyond physical pointing, signalling distance in time and referring back to ideas in a conversation.

The Four Demonstratives

The system is neatly organised by number and distance.

Near (here) Far (there)
Singular this — this apple that — that mountain
Plural these — these apples those — those mountains

Use this/these for things close to you, and that/those for things further away. Use the singular forms (this, that) with one item, and the plural forms (these, those) with more than one.

Demonstratives as Determiners and Pronouns

Demonstratives have two jobs. As determiners, they come before a noun. As pronouns, they stand alone, replacing the noun entirely.

As a determiner (+ noun) As a pronoun (alone)
This pen is mine. This is mine.
Those flowers smell nice. Those smell nice.

On the phone: English uses demonstratives in a fixed way for introductions. To say who you are, use this: Hello, this is Anna. To ask who the other person is, use that: Is that Mr Lee?

Distance in Time and Conversation

Beyond physical space, demonstratives mark psychological distance. We use this/these for what is present, recent or about to come, and that/those for what is distant, past or already mentioned.

Common Mistakes

Practice Exercises

Grammar Quiz

Choose this, that, these or those in each sentence.

Cloze Dropdown

Select the right demonstrative for near or far.

Complete the Sentence

Type the correct demonstrative in each gap.

Matching Pairs

Match singular forms with their plural partners.

Unjumble

Reorder words into sentences using demonstratives.

Flash Cards

Drill near/far and singular/plural demonstratives.

Master English Grammar

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Explore related grammar topics:

All Grammar Topics Determiners Pronouns Articles Possessives

Frequently Asked Questions

What are demonstratives in English?
Demonstratives are the pointing words this, that, these and those. They identify a particular person or thing and show whether it is near or far and whether it is singular or plural: this book, that car, these shoes, those trees.
What is the difference between 'this' and 'that'?
Both are singular. Use this for something near you (this cup in my hand) and that for something further away (that house across the street). The same near/far contrast applies to their plurals: these (near) and those (far).
When do I use 'these' and 'those'?
Use these and those with plural nouns — more than one item. These is for things near you (these books on my desk) and those for things further away (those clouds in the sky). They are the plural partners of this and that.
Can demonstratives be used without a noun?
Yes. When they replace a noun rather than coming before one, they act as demonstrative pronouns: This is mine; Those smell nice. When they come before a noun, they are demonstrative determiners: This pen is mine. The four words are the same in both roles.
How do demonstratives show distance in time?
They mark psychological distance. Use this/these for what is present or recent (this morning) and that/those for what is past or distant (that summer). We also use this to introduce something new and that to refer back to something already mentioned.
How do I use demonstratives on the phone?
In British English, say who you are with this: Hello, this is Anna. Ask who the other person is with that: Is that Mr Lee? This is a fixed convention, so avoid I am Anna or Are you John? in this context.
Do demonstratives agree with the noun?
Yes, in number. Singular nouns take this or that; plural nouns take these or those: this car, these cars. A common mistake is saying this books; the correct form is these books.
Can I say 'this one' and 'those ones'?
This one and that one are correct and common: I'll take this one. In the plural, use these and those alone (I'll take these); these ones and those ones are heard informally but are often considered non-standard in writing.
What is the difference between demonstratives and articles?
Articles (a, an, the) simply mark a noun as specific or general. Demonstratives do more: they point to a specific item and add information about distance and number. The book identifies which book; this book also tells you it is near and singular.
Are demonstratives the same as determiners?
Demonstratives are one type of determiner, alongside articles, possessives and quantifiers. When this, that, these or those sit before a noun, they function as demonstrative determiners. When they stand alone, they are demonstrative pronouns instead.