Unit 9.2
Demonstrative Pronouns
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Introduction
Pronouns are words used to avoid repetitions of a noun.
Demonstrative pronouns are determiners used instead of nouns to refer to things and identify their position and distance from the speaker.
Form
Demonstrative pronouns are used to avoid repetitions of nouns. We do not use articles or other determiners before pronouns.
Demostrative pronouns are:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near | This | These |
| Far | That | Those |
Example
- This tastes good.
- This is funny.
- These are beautiful days.
- These are expensive clothes.
- That is my sister’s house.
- That smells amazing.
- Those are very nice.
- Those are cheap snacks.
Use
We use demonstrative pronouns to replace a noun and avoid repetitions.
- Near: we use this (singular) and these (plural) for things and people that are near to the speaker (here).
- Far: we use that (singular) and those (plural) for things and people that are far (there).
Summary
Demonstrative pronouns are used instead of nouns, to avoid repetitions, to refer to things and identify their position in relation to their distance from the speaker.
There are two types of positions in relation to its distance from the speaker:
- when the object is near, we can use this for singular and these for plural nouns;
- when the object is far, we can use that for singular and those for plural nouns.
For example:
— “This is very nice.” = A thing is near the speaker.
— “These are very nice.” = Some things are near the speaker.
— “That is very nice.” = A thing is far from the speaker.
— “Those are very nice.” = Some things are far from the speaker.
Do not confuse demonstrative pronouns with demonstrative adjectives, which precede a noun. They have the same forms, but they have different functions in a sentence.
For example:
— “This is very nice.” = We use the pronoun this to show the distance of something and to avoid repeating the noun.
♦ “This shirt is very nice.” = We use the adjective this to show the distance of the shirt and to introduce the noun.
NOTE: We don’t use determiners before pronouns.
Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.
Exercises
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