Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns: This, That, These, Those
This page provides a comprehensive overview of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in English, focusing on the words this, that, these, and those. It explains their dual function as both adjectives and pronouns, depending on their usage in a sentence.
Definition: Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns are words used to indicate specific people, animals, or things in relation to their distance from the speaker.
The page outlines the following key points:
- Function: This, that, these, and those can serve as both demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns.
- Usage as adjectives: When these words are followed by a noun or noun phrase, they function as demonstrative adjectives.
- Usage as pronouns: When used alone without a following noun, they act as demonstrative pronouns.
- Proximity: This and these are used for objects that are near, while that and those are used for objects that are farther away.
- Number agreement: This and that are used with singular nouns, while these and those are used with plural nouns.
Example:
- This is a rabbit. (demonstrative pronoun)
- This rabbit is white. (demonstrative adjective)
The page includes a table that illustrates the use of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns with various nouns, showing both singular and plural forms.
Highlight: The plural form of "this" is "these," and the plural form of "that" is "those."
Examples provided in the table demonstrate the correct usage of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in different contexts, such as:
- This is a pilot.
- This man is an engineer.
- These are school buildings.
- These magazines are English.
Vocabulary:
- Singular: referring to one person, thing, or instance
- Plural: referring to more than one person, thing, or instance
The information presented on this page helps learners understand the proper use of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in English, enhancing their ability to indicate specific objects or people in their communication.
