What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are words that stand alone in a sentence to point to specific things, people, or ideas. In English, there are four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those. Unlike demonstrative adjectives (which appear before a noun), demonstrative pronouns replace the noun entirely. They tell us two things at once: whether the item is singular or plural, and whether it is near or far from the speaker.
We use demonstrative pronouns constantly in everyday conversation — when we point to an object on a table, when we answer the phone, when we introduce people to each other, and when we refer back to something already mentioned. Mastering these four small words will make your English clearer, more natural, and more precise.
The key idea is simple: if the noun has already been mentioned or if the context makes it obvious what we are talking about, we do not need to repeat the noun. Instead, we use a demonstrative pronoun to replace it.
This → singular + near
That → singular + far
These → plural + near
Those → plural + far
Near and far can refer to physical distance (in space) or to distance in time (recent vs. past events).
| Near | Far | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | this | that |
| Plural | these | those |
A demonstrative pronoun stands alone: "This is delicious."
A demonstrative adjective comes before a noun: "This cake is delicious."
The words are the same, but the grammar role is different. This article focuses on the pronoun use.
This & That as Pronouns
This and that are the singular demonstrative pronouns. We use this when we refer to something that is close to us in space or time, and that when we refer to something that is farther away. Because they are pronouns, they completely replace the noun — there is no noun after them.
This → something near the speaker (in space or time)
That → something far from the speaker (in space or time)
Both replace a singular noun. The choice between them depends entirely on the distance between the speaker and the thing being referred to.
| Pronoun | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| This | Near — physical | This is my favourite pen. |
| This | Near — time (now) | This is the best day of my life. |
| This | Near — current topic | This is what I was talking about. |
| This | Near — introducing | This is very interesting. |
| That | Far — physical | That is the Eiffel Tower over there. |
| That | Far — time (past) | That was a wonderful holiday. |
| That | Far — previous topic | That is exactly what she said yesterday. |
| That | Far — emotional distance | That was a terrible mistake. |
Do not confuse "this" and "that" when referring to time:
✘ That is what I am doing right now. (Use "this" for the present moment.)
✔ This is what I am doing right now.
English speakers sometimes use that to create emotional distance. Saying "That was embarrassing" (with "that") puts the event psychologically further away, as if to distance yourself from it. Using "This is embarrassing" (with "this") suggests the situation is still happening or still very close emotionally.
These & Those as Pronouns
These and those are the plural forms of the demonstrative pronouns. These refers to things that are near, while those refers to things that are far away. Just like their singular counterparts, they stand alone and replace the noun completely.
These → plural things near the speaker
Those → plural things far from the speaker
They can refer to physical objects, ideas, events, or groups of people. The noun they replace must be plural or uncountable in a collective sense.
| Pronoun | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| These | Near — physical objects | These are my new shoes. |
| These | Near — current items | These are the files you requested. |
| These | Near — introducing people | These are my colleagues from London. |
| These | Near — current times | These are difficult times for everyone. |
| Those | Far — physical objects | Those are the mountains of Switzerland. |
| Those | Far — distant items | Those are the books I left at the library. |
| Those | Far — past events | Those were the happiest days of my childhood. |
| Those | Far — other people's ideas | Those are not my words — they are his. |
Do not use "this" or "that" when referring to plural items:
✘ This are my friends.
✔ These are my friends.
This and that take a singular verb. These and those take a plural verb:
✘ These is very expensive.
✔ These are very expensive.
✘ That are my favourite songs.
✔ Those are my favourite songs.
When using these or those as pronouns, the noun they replace should be clear from context. Compare:
"I baked two cakes. These are for the party." — "these" clearly replaces "cakes."
"Look at the stars! Those are beautiful tonight." — "those" clearly replaces "stars."
Demonstrative Pronouns as Subjects
One of the most common uses of demonstrative pronouns is as the subject of a sentence. When a demonstrative pronoun is the subject, it comes at the beginning of the sentence (or clause) and is followed by a verb. This is the most natural position for demonstrative pronouns in English.
Demonstrative Pronoun + Verb + ...
The demonstrative pronoun acts as the subject and controls the verb form. "This" and "that" require a singular verb; "these" and "those" require a plural verb.
| Subject | Verb | Full Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| This | is (singular) | This is the correct answer. |
| That | was (singular) | That was an incredible performance. |
| These | are (plural) | These are the documents we need. |
| Those | were (plural) | Those were the rules of the game. |
| This | looks (singular) | This looks amazing! |
| That | sounds (singular) | That sounds like a great idea. |
| These | belong (plural) | These belong to the art museum in Paris. |
| Those | need (plural) | Those need to be repaired immediately. |
| This | tastes (singular) | This tastes even better than I expected. |
| That | seems (singular) | That seems too good to be true. |
The pattern "This is..." is one of the most frequently used structures in English. We use it to identify, introduce, or present something:
"This is my brother, James."
"This is where we first met."
"This is the restaurant I told you about."
"This" and "it" are both pronouns, but they are not always interchangeable:
"This is my car." — You are pointing at the car or presenting it for the first time.
"It is my car." — The car has already been mentioned. You are simply confirming ownership.
Use "this" to introduce or point; use "it" to refer back to something already established in the conversation.
Demonstrative Pronouns as Objects
Demonstrative pronouns can also function as the object of a verb or after a preposition. In this position, they come after the verb (or preposition) and replace a noun that the listener already knows about.
Subject + Verb + Demonstrative Pronoun (as direct object)
Subject + Verb + Preposition + Demonstrative Pronoun (after preposition)
In both cases, the demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun that has already been mentioned or is understood from context.
As Direct Objects:
| Pronoun | Example as Object | What It Replaces |
|---|---|---|
| this | I really like this. | a painting, a song, a dish, etc. |
| that | Who said that? | a comment, a rumour, a statement |
| these | Can I try these? | shoes, glasses, earrings, etc. |
| those | She bought those at a market in Berlin. | souvenirs, spices, antiques, etc. |
| this | Please sign this before you leave. | a form, a document, a contract |
| that | I did not mean that. | a remark, a comment, an insult |
| these | We need to finish these by Friday. | reports, tasks, assignments |
| those | Have you read those yet? | articles, chapters, emails |
After Prepositions:
| Preposition | Example |
|---|---|
| about | I know nothing about that. |
| with | What are you going to do with these? |
| for | This is not for that — it is for something else. |
| after | What happened after that? |
| without | We cannot start without those. |
| between | There is no difference between these. |
| from | I heard about it from those who were there. |
| in | There is something special in this. |
Many everyday English phrases use demonstrative pronouns as objects:
"I like this." / "I do not like that."
"Give me those." / "Take these."
"Look at that!" / "Listen to this!"
These phrases are extremely natural and are used thousands of times a day by native speakers.
Special Uses — Phone, Introductions & Referring Back
Demonstrative pronouns have several special uses in English that go beyond simply pointing to physical objects. Understanding these special uses will help you sound much more natural and fluent.
1. On the Phone
In English, when you answer the phone or identify yourself, you use "this" for yourself and "that" to ask about the other person. This is a fixed convention in English phone etiquette:
| Situation | What to Say | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identifying yourself | This is + name | Hello, this is Sarah speaking. |
| Asking who is calling | Who is this? | Who is this, please? |
| Confirming identity | Is that + name? | Is that Dr. Wilson? |
| Formal greeting | This is + name + from + company | This is Mark from the Berlin office. |
Do not say "I am" when identifying yourself on the phone:
✘ Hello, I am Sarah. (incorrect for phone calls)
✔ Hello, this is Sarah. (correct phone English)
2. Making Introductions
When introducing people to each other, we use "this" for the person standing near us and "these" for a group of people nearby:
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Introducing one person | This is my friend, Emma. |
| Introducing a colleague | This is our new manager, Mr. Johnson. |
| Introducing a group | These are my classmates from university. |
| Introducing family | These are my parents, David and Helen. |
3. Referring Back to Ideas or Situations
One of the most powerful uses of demonstrative pronouns is referring to an entire idea, statement, or situation that has just been mentioned. In this case, "this" and "that" do not replace a single noun — they replace an entire concept:
| Context | Example with Demonstrative Pronoun |
|---|---|
| Referring to a statement | "We need to leave early." — "Who said that?" |
| Referring to a situation | The company is closing down. This is terrible news. |
| Referring to an event | She won first prize at the science fair. That was unexpected. |
| Referring to a plan | We could fly to Tokyo and then take a train to Kyoto. This sounds perfect. |
| Referring to an experience | Living in New York for a year changed my life. I will never forget that. |
| Referring to multiple events | The delays, the cancellations, the lost luggage — those were the worst parts of the trip. |
When referring back to something just said, both "this" and "that" can often be used. However, there is a subtle difference:
This — keeps the topic alive, suggests you want to continue discussing it.
That — closes the topic, suggests it is finished or you are moving on.
"This is a serious problem." (Let us talk more about it.)
"That is a serious problem." (I am acknowledging it, but moving on.)
When introducing people, always use "this" or "these," never "it" or "he/she" alone:
✘ It is my brother, Tom.
✔ This is my brother, Tom.
✘ He is my colleague from Tokyo. (when first introducing)
✔ This is my colleague from Tokyo.
Four small words — this, that, these, those — hold the power to point across rooms, reach across time, and connect ideas with a single gesture of language.
— The Grammar GazetteExample Sentences
Demonstrative Pronouns in Context — Dialogues
The best way to understand demonstrative pronouns is to see them in real conversations. The following dialogues show how native speakers naturally use this, that, these, and those in everyday situations.
Dialogue 1 — At a Shop
Dialogue 2 — On the Phone
Dialogue 3 — At a Museum
Dialogue 4 — Meeting New People
Notice how the same object can be called "this" by one speaker and "that" by the other. The customer holds up a shirt and says "How much is this?" (near to them). The shopkeeper, who is further away, refers to the same shirt as "That is 25 pounds." The distance is relative to each speaker.
In conversations, demonstrative pronouns often shift between speakers. What is "this" for you may be "that" for the person you are speaking with. Always think about distance from the speaker's perspective, not from a fixed point.
Common Mistakes
Demonstrative pronouns are simple in theory, but learners often make mistakes with them. Here are the most common errors and how to avoid them:
| Mistake Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Singular/Plural mix-up | ✘ This are my books. | ✔ These are my books. |
| Wrong verb agreement | ✘ Those is too expensive. | ✔ Those are too expensive. |
| Phone identification | ✘ I am David. (on phone) | ✔ This is David. (on phone) |
| Using "it" for introductions | ✘ It is my teacher, Mrs. Green. | ✔ This is my teacher, Mrs. Green. |
| Near/far confusion | ✘ That is what I am holding. (item in hand) | ✔ This is what I am holding. |
| Using "that" for nearby things | ✘ That is my coffee. (cup in front of you) | ✔ This is my coffee. |
| Adding a noun after the pronoun | ✘ This book is mine. (if "this" is a pronoun) | ✔ This is mine. (pronoun — no noun needed) |
| Forgetting plural form | ✘ That are my parents. | ✔ Those are my parents. |
| Mixing tenses with "that" | ✘ That is great fun yesterday. | ✔ That was great fun yesterday. |
| Using "these" for singular | ✘ These is the right answer. | ✔ This is the right answer. |
A useful memory trick: this/these go with here (near), and that/those go with there (far):
✔ This here is my desk. (pointing to something near)
✔ That over there is the library. (pointing to something far)
Notice how "this" shares letters with "here" and "that" shares letters with "there."
In English, demonstrative pronouns always need a verb. Unlike some other languages, you cannot use a demonstrative pronoun on its own as a complete sentence (except in very informal speech like answering "What do you want?" with "This."):
✘ This my house.
✔ This is my house.
Before using a demonstrative pronoun, ask yourself three questions:
1. Is the thing I am referring to singular or plural? (this/that vs. these/those)
2. Is it near me or far from me? (this/these vs. that/those)
3. Does my verb agree? (is/was for singular, are/were for plural)
If all three match, your sentence is correct!
Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives
This is one of the most important distinctions to understand. The words this, that, these, and those can be either pronouns or adjectives, depending on how they are used in a sentence. The word itself does not change — only its grammatical function changes.
Demonstrative Pronoun → stands ALONE (replaces the noun)
Demonstrative Adjective → comes BEFORE a noun (describes the noun)
If a noun follows the demonstrative word, it is an adjective. If no noun follows, it is a pronoun.
| Feature | Demonstrative Pronoun | Demonstrative Adjective |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Replaces a noun | Describes a noun |
| Position | Stands alone (no noun after it) | Comes before a noun |
| Example with "this" | This is delicious. | This cake is delicious. |
| Example with "that" | That was expensive. | That necklace was expensive. |
| Example with "these" | These are mine. | These shoes are mine. |
| Example with "those" | Those were beautiful. | Those flowers were beautiful. |
| Replaces noun? | ✔ Yes | ✘ No (modifies it) |
| Followed by a noun? | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Phone usage | This is Sarah. (pronoun) | — |
| Introductions | This is my friend. (pronoun) | — |
Here are more side-by-side comparisons to help you see the difference clearly:
| Pronoun (stands alone) | Adjective (before a noun) |
|---|---|
| This is my favourite. | This song is my favourite. |
| That smells wonderful. | That perfume smells wonderful. |
| These are too tight. | These trousers are too tight. |
| Those cost a fortune. | Those paintings cost a fortune. |
| I prefer this to that. | I prefer this colour to that colour. |
| Can you pass me those? | Can you pass me those plates? |
| These are from Tokyo. | These souvenirs are from Tokyo. |
| That was unforgettable. | That experience was unforgettable. |
To determine whether a demonstrative word is a pronoun or an adjective, look at what comes immediately after it:
Noun after it? → It is an adjective. ("This car is fast.")
Verb after it? → It is a pronoun. ("This is fast.")
This test works every time!
Understanding the difference is important for two reasons:
1. Grammar tests and exams often ask you to identify whether a word is being used as a pronoun or an adjective.
2. Clear communication — when you use a pronoun, the listener must already know what you are referring to. If there is any confusion, use the adjective form (with the noun) to be clearer.
this = singular + near → pronoun or adjective
that = singular + far → pronoun or adjective
these = plural + near → pronoun or adjective
those = plural + far → pronoun or adjective
The same four words, two different jobs. Context tells you which role they are playing.