Demonstrative pronouns
A demonstrative pronoun is a word, this, that, these or those, that replaces a noun and points to a specific person, thing or idea, showing whether it is near or far and singular or plural. It stands alone in a sentence instead of the noun, for example: "This is my favourite book" or "Those were difficult years."
Types of demonstrative pronouns
Singular, near (this)
Refers to one item close to the speaker in distance or time.
e.g. This is delicious., This belongs to me.
Singular, far (that)
Refers to one item away from the speaker in distance or time.
e.g. That was an excellent film., Is that yours?
Plural, near (these)
Refers to more than one item close to the speaker.
e.g. These are my keys., These taste amazing.
Plural, far (those)
Refers to more than one item away from the speaker.
e.g. Those are too expensive., Those were the best days of my life.
Rules to remember
- Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun completely; they do not sit directly before a noun (when they do, they become demonstrative adjectives/determiners, e.g. 'this book').
- Use this/these for people, things or ideas that are physically or psychologically close; use that/those for ones that are further away.
- This and that are singular; these and those are plural, and the verb must agree, for example: 'This is' not 'This are'.
- Demonstrative pronouns can refer forward or backward to an idea already mentioned or about to be mentioned, for example: 'That is exactly what I meant.'
- In speech, that/this can also introduce a general statement or reaction, such as 'That sounds great.'
Examples in sentences
| Example | How it works |
|---|---|
| This is the report I finished yesterday. | 'This' replaces a specific singular item close to the speaker. |
| That looks like an interesting museum. | 'That' refers to something at a distance. |
| These are the results of the survey. | 'These' replaces a plural, nearby set of items. |
| Those were the most challenging exams I have ever taken. | 'Those' refers to plural items distant in time. |
| I did not expect that from him. | 'That' refers back to a previously mentioned action or idea. |
| Can you pass me this? I need it for the presentation. | 'This' stands alone as the object of the sentence, replacing a specific noun. |
Common mistakes
Incorrect: This are my documents.
Correct: These are my documents.
Incorrect: Those was a great holiday.
Correct: That was a great holiday.
Incorrect: I like this book, that book is boring.
Correct: I like this book; that one is boring. (Use 'one' with an adjective before a repeated noun to avoid awkward repetition.)
Why this matters for IELTS
Accurate use of demonstrative pronouns helps you avoid repeating nouns and lets you refer back to earlier ideas smoothly, which examiners reward under cohesion and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Using this, that, these and those correctly with proper subject-verb agreement, for example "these are" rather than "these is", shows control of basic grammar, while using them to link ideas across sentences (such as "That explains why...") demonstrates more advanced, natural-sounding English in both Writing and Speaking.
Frequently asked questions
What is a demonstrative pronoun?
It is a pronoun, this, that, these or those, that replaces a noun and points to a specific thing, showing distance (near or far) and number (singular or plural), such as 'This is mine' or 'Those are theirs.'
What is the difference between a demonstrative pronoun and a demonstrative adjective?
A demonstrative pronoun stands alone in place of a noun, as in 'This is heavy', while a demonstrative adjective (also called a determiner) comes directly before a noun, as in 'This box is heavy.'
How many demonstrative pronouns are there in English?
There are four: this and these for items that are near (singular and plural), and that and those for items that are far (singular and plural).
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