You demonstrative pronouns are part of one of the different classifications of pronouns in English. They are commonly used to “point to” something particular in prayer. there are only four demonstrativepronouns: this, that, these and those.
This type of pronoun is used according to the position of the object in relation to the speaker, that is, whether it is near or far. In addition, the demonstrativepronounsthey can appear either in the singular or in the plural.
In the following topics, we'll explore the different demonstrativepronouns, the proper use and then we will compare with the demonstrativeadjectives. Come on!
What are the demonstrativepronouns?
Unlike Portuguese, we have four demonstrativepronouns and they are divided only into singular or plural, that is, there is not even demonstrativepronoun female nor male in English language. Note the following table:
demonstrative pronouns | |
SINGULAR |
PLURAL FORM |
this = this, this, this. |
these = these, these. |
that = that, that, that. |
those = those, those. |
Examples:
• This is a very nice school.
It is it's a really cool school.
• Who are those?
Who are those ones?
• Yes, thatYou're right.
Yea, that same.
Read more: reflexive pronouns - express who practiced and who suffered the action
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Rules for the use of demonstrativepronouns
The use of demonstrativepronouns one wakes up spatially and/or temporally with the speaker, that is, if the reference point, the "thing" it points to, is it near or far. Then, we observe whether it is singular or plural:
• This is my father.
This one and my dad. (The father is close to the speaker.)
• That is my father.
That one and my dad. (The father is away from the speaker.)
• These belong to me.
These belong to me. (Objects are close to the speaker.)
• Those looked just like mine.
Those ones looked like mine. (Objects are temporally distant from the speaker.)
You demonstrative pronouns can also be used to resume something that was mentioned earlier:
• I didn’t have time. this was the problem.
I did not have time. This one was the problem.
this (This one) refers to the first sentence: I didn’t have time.
► – Sheila adopted a pet.
– Really? I didn’t know that.
– Sheila adopted a pet.
– Seriously? I did not know from that.
thatIt reminds us of the fact that the interlocutor does not know that Sheila has adopted a pet.
use the demonstrativepronounsin the following contexts:
• On the phone
► – Hello, this is Lara.
– Hello, it's Lara.
• To introduce someone
► – Hi Chris, this is my friend Laura.
– Hi Chris, this is my friend Laura.
► – Hello Laura. Nice to meet you.
- Hello laura. Nice to meet you.
See too: Possessivepronouns – indicate ownership to the people of the speech
Difference between demonstrativepronouns and demonstrativeadjectives
For English language learners, it is common to confuse the demonstrativepronouns with demonstrativeadjectives. This is mainly because they are the same (this, that, these, those) and vary according to the number and distance of the speaker. However, their use is different.
while the demonstrativepronouns point to something and appear "alone" in the prayer, the demonstrativeadjectives will always accompany some noun or nominal phrase, because they are modifiers or determinants of the noun:
• Do you like this photo?
You like of this Photograph?
• Do you like those?
You like of those?
See that, in the first example, this accompanies the noun photo, forming the nominal group this photo / This picture. In the second example, those remains alone. those could refer to photos or to any other object, in the plural.
• This book is wonderful.
This one book is wonderful.
• That was a wonderful meal.
That (that) was a wonderful meal.
In the first example, the book is located close to the speaker and is unique; in the second, we have a distance in time with that.
So, don't forget that the main difference between demonstrativepronouns and the demonstrativeadjectives is in use. You demonstrativeadjectives always accompany a noun, modifying it.
Also know: What is the difference between I'm and for?
solved exercises
Question 1 (UERJ - Adapted)
this sums up autofiction. (l. 31) The underlined pronoun refers to:
A) the summary of the term proper.
B) the life of the autobiography writer.
C) the feature of the concerned genre.
D) the content of the preceding quotation.
Solution
Alternative D, because thistakes up the previous quote “this is me and this is not me”.
Question 2 (Quadrix SEDF)
The singular form of “These” (line 3) is either This or That.
A) right
B) wrong
Solution
Alternative B, since the singular of these can be this. that is the singular of those, because of the distance between the speaker and the object.
By Mrs. Patricia Veronica Moreira
English teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
MOREIRA, Patricia Veronica. "Demonstrative Pronouns"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/ingles/demonstrative-pronouns.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
