Demonstrative adjectives
A demonstrative adjective is a word (this, that, these, those) that comes directly before a noun to point out which specific person, thing or group is meant, and to show whether it is near or far in space or time. Unlike demonstrative pronouns, demonstrative adjectives always modify a noun rather than replacing it.
Types of demonstrative adjectives
Singular, near (this)
Points to one singular or uncountable noun that is close to the speaker in space or time.
e.g. this book, this water, this morning
Singular, far (that)
Points to one singular or uncountable noun that is distant from the speaker in space or time.
e.g. that building, that idea, that year
Plural, near (these)
Points to more than one noun that is close to the speaker.
e.g. these shoes, these students, these days
Plural, far (those)
Points to more than one noun that is distant from the speaker.
e.g. those mountains, those decisions, those countries
Rules to remember
- A demonstrative adjective must directly precede the noun it modifies (or precede an adjective plus noun), unlike a demonstrative pronoun which stands alone.
- The demonstrative must agree in number with the noun: this/that for singular and uncountable nouns, these/those for plural nouns.
- This and these indicate closeness in physical distance, time or relevance; that and those indicate distance or something already mentioned.
- This/that can also refer to an idea, situation or clause mentioned earlier or about to be introduced, not only physical objects.
- Never add an extra determiner such as 'a' or 'the' before a demonstrative adjective; it already specifies the noun on its own.
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| This report shows a sharp rise in unemployment. | 'This' modifies the singular noun 'report', indicating something close or currently being discussed. |
| I have never tasted food as spicy as that dish we had last night. | 'That' points to a specific dish already mentioned, distant in time. |
| These statistics come from a government survey. | 'These' modifies the plural noun 'statistics', showing they are close or currently relevant. |
| Those factories closed down during the recession. | 'Those' modifies the plural noun 'factories', referring to something distant in time or place. |
| This kind of problem is common among first-year students. | 'This' precedes 'kind', a singular noun, showing the demonstrative agrees with the head noun, not with 'problem'. |
| Can you pass me that pen on the table? | 'That' shows physical distance from the speaker. |
| These days, most people rely on smartphones for news. | 'These' is used in a fixed time expression meaning 'currently'. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: I like this shoes.
Correct: I like these shoes.
Incorrect: That informations are useful for my essay.
Correct: That information is useful for my essay.
Incorrect: This are my main arguments.
Correct: These are my main arguments.
Why this matters for IELTS
Using demonstrative adjectives correctly, especially matching 'this/that' with singular or uncountable nouns and 'these/those' with plural nouns, signals control over basic agreement, which examiners expect even at higher bands. In Writing and Speaking, demonstratives also help you refer back to ideas smoothly (for example, 'this trend', 'those factors'), improving cohesion, which is assessed alongside grammatical range and accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What is a demonstrative adjective?
It is a word, this, that, these or those, placed directly before a noun to show which specific thing or things are meant and whether they are near or far.
What is the difference between a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun?
A demonstrative adjective modifies a noun that follows it, such as 'this car', while a demonstrative pronoun replaces the noun entirely, such as 'This is mine.'
Why is 'this information' correct but 'this informations' wrong?
Information is an uncountable noun with no plural form, so it always takes the singular demonstrative 'this' or 'that', never 'these' or 'those'.
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