You demonstrative pronouns demonstrate the position of any element in relation to the people in the discourse, placing them in space, time or in the discourse itself.
They perform in variable shapes (gender and number) and non-variables.
| Demonstrative pronouns |
| First person | this, these, this, these, this |
| second person | This, these, this, these, this |
| Third person | that, that, that, that, that |
- The ways of first person indicate proximity to whoever speaks or writes:
This one sir beside me is my grandfather.
the statements of first person can also indicate the present tense in relation to who speaks or writes.
in these last hours have I felt more tired than ever.
- the forms of second person indicate proximity of the person to whom one speaks or writes:
That photo that you have in the hand is it old?
- the pronouns of third person mark position close to the person you are talking about or a distant position from the two interlocutors.
That one photo that he have in hand is old.
Use of demonstrative pronoun
Demonstrative pronouns, in addition to marking position in space, mark position in time.
- This one (and inflections) marks a current tense to the speech act.
In this instant my sister is working.
- That (and inflections) marks an earlier time relatively close to the speech act.
Last month I was promoted at work. In that same month I bought my apartment.
- That one (and inflections) marks a time remotely prior to the speech act.
My grandfather was born in the 1930s. At that At that time you could walk safely at night.
Demonstrative pronouns serve to refer to what has already been said and what is going to be said, within the discourse.
- This one (and inflections) refers to what will be said later.
I sincerely hope this: to be very happy.
- That (and inflections) refers to what has already been said in the speech.
May it be very happy: it is that that I hope.
- This one as opposed to that one when you want to refer to elements already mentioned, This one refers to the closest, that one, to the farthest.
Romance and Suspense are genres that I like, This one makes me anxious, that one, sensitive.
- O (a, os, as) are demonstrative pronouns when referring to that one (s), that one (s), that, that.
I refuse O that they speak. (that one)
- Same and own, demonstrative pronouns, designate a term equal to another that has already occurred in the discourse.
Complaints to the liquidator do not change: they are always the same.
*are used to reinforce personal pronouns.
He same he ironed the clothes.
*as pronouns, they agree with the name they refer to.
Is it over there own came to the meeting.
They own came to the meeting.
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
By Marina Cabral
Specialist in Portuguese Language and Literature
Brazil School Team
Grammar - Brazil School
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SILVA, Marina Cabral da. "Demonstrative pronouns"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/pronomes-demonstrativos.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.