Demonstrative Pronouns

Pointing Pronouns

This, that, these, and those are demonstrative pronouns. Some people call them "pointing pronouns" because they seem to point out the person or thing being referred to, distinguishing it from others.

  • This is an amazing world.
  • That is a flying squirrel.
  • These are hedgehogs.
  • Those are army ants.
  • That is a printer.
  • These are computers.
  • Those are disks.
  • This is a prolific writer.
  • That is H.G. Wells.
  • These are samples of his work.
  • Those have already been categorized.
  • This is a portrait of James Madison.
  • That is his estate.

A demonstrative pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent (the noun to which it points or refers).

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

SINGULAR:
PLURAL:

This is a plateau.
These are plateaus.

That is a meteorite.
Those are meteorites.

This is a skateboard.
These are skateboards.

That is a surfboard.
Those are surfboards.

This is a classic.
These are classics.

That is a time machine.
Those are time machines.

This is a grizzly bear.
These are grizzly bears.

That is a grisly photograph.
Those are grisly photographs.

This, These

We use this and these to point out persons or things that are nearby in space, time, or awareness.

This is a calico cat.
These are my ideas.
This has been a busy week.
This is Montpelier.
These are antiques.

That, Those

We use that and those to point out persons or things that are farther away.

That was a foolish idea.
Those were the exciting games.
Those were the good old days.
That is a Labrador retriever.
Those are dachshunds.
That is typical colonial dress.
Those are boots worn by colonial men.

Errors to Avoid

We never add "here" or "there" to a demonstrative pronoun.

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

This here is my plan.
This is my plan.

That there is the silliest young man.
That is the silliest young man.

This here is H.G. Wells's novel.
This is H.G. Wells's novel.

That there combines science and politics.
That combines science and politics.

This here is Madison's handwriting.
This is Madison's handwriting.

That there looks like his pen.
That looks like his pen.

We do not use "them" in place of "these" or "those."

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

NO:
YES:

Them are the ripe ones.
These are the ripe ones.

Them taste sour.
Those taste sour.

Them make me sick.
Those make me sick.

Them things make me laugh.
Those things make me laugh.

Them represent our heritage.
These represent our heritage.

Them wigs seem uncomfortable.
Those wigs seem uncomfortable.

Adjective or Pronoun?

The demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, and those also function as demonstrative adjectives.

It is easy to tell the difference. If they stand alone, they are demonstrative pronouns. If they come before a noun, they are demonstrative adjectives.

  • These are too big. (pronoun)
  • These shoes are too big. (adjective)
  • He wrote this. (pronoun)
  • He wrote this story. (adjective)
  • The librarian recommended this. (pronoun)
  • The librarian recommended this book. (adjective)
  • These are primal. (pronoun)
  • These drafts are primal. (adjective)
  • James Madison penned this. (pronoun)
  • James Madison penned this draft. (adjective)

Examples

Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun for each sentence, and write the noun to which it points.

  1. (This, These) are the shoes I like best.
  2. (Them, Those) are the ones I wore yesterday.
  3. (This here, This) is an author whose novels were made into motion pictures.
  4. Is (that, those) the reason people thought Earth was being invaded by Martians?
  5. (This, These) are the fantasies that launched the science fiction genre.
  6. (Them, Those) are novels devoted to space travel.
  7. (This, These) are my dreams for the future.
  8. (Them, Those) are her aspirations.

Solutions

  1. These shoes A demonstrative pronoun must agree in number with its antecedent.
  2. Those ones
  3. This author. We do not add "here" to demonstrative pronouns.
  4. that reason
  5. These fantasies
  6. Those novels
  7. These dreams
  8. Those aspirations