Practice
Demonstrative pronouns: rules and examples
You are holding one form and looking at several forms on another table. English gives you four choices: this, that, these, and those. The useful first step is simple: Are you referring to one thing or more than one?
Choose this, that, these, or those as a pronoun by checking number, distance, time, or the idea you are referring to.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
this, that, these, and those /ðɪs, ðæt, ðiːz, ənd ðoʊz/
The short answer
Use this for one nearby thing and these for nearby plural things. Use that for one thing farther away or already mentioned, and those for plural things farther away or already mentioned. They are pronouns when they stand alone instead of coming before a noun.
These are the notes from today's meeting.
Why it works: These refers to more than one note. No noun follows these, so it is a pronoun here.
5 more examples
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This is the document I need to sign.
This refers to one document that is close or current in the conversation.
Not this:
Theseare the documents I need to sign. What changes: These is plural, so it refers to more than one document. -
That was a useful suggestion.
That refers to one idea that someone mentioned earlier.
Not this:
Thosewere useful suggestions. What changes: Those is plural because several suggestions were mentioned. -
These belong on the top shelf.
These refers to several nearby objects. The objects are understood from the situation.
Not this:
Thosebelong on the top shelf. What changes: Those refers to several objects that are farther away or separated from the speaker. -
I remember that clearly.
That can point to a past event or idea as well as a physical object.
Not this:I can explain
thisclearly. What changes: This presents the idea as current or close in the conversation. -
This jacket is mine, but that one is yours.
That one points to one jacket farther away. One replaces the repeated noun jacket.
Not this:These jackets are mine, but
thoseare yours. What changes: Those stands alone and refers to several jackets, so one is not needed.
Read the full guide
Check number before you check distance. This and that are singular. These and those are plural. Then decide whether the person or idea feels close to the speaker or farther away. The distance can be physical, but it can also be about time or an earlier part of the conversation.
Choose singular or plural first
Start with the number of people, things, or ideas you mean. This and that are singular. These and those are plural. This choice does not change because the object is near or far. Number comes first.
This is the last available seat.
This refers to one seat. Use these if you are referring to several seats.
Which word fits three files beside you: this or these?
Use these because files is plural. These can point to several nearby files.
Show what feels near or far
After choosing singular or plural, choose near or far. This and these often point to something in the speaker's hand, on the current page, or under discussion now. That and those often point across a room, to an earlier time, or to something the speaker treats as less immediate.
Could you pass me that folder on the desk?
That is singular and points to a particular folder away from the speaker.
Which plural word can point to several boxes across the room?
Use those. It is the plural form for things that feel farther away.
Use the pronoun without a following noun
A demonstrative pronoun can be the subject or object of a sentence. The listener understands the missing noun from context. This is expensive can refer to a phone, a ticket, or another singular thing that both speakers can identify.
Those were the easiest questions on the test.
Those is the subject. It replaces the noun questions because the sentence already makes the reference clear.
Can you say I prefer this when the listener knows which option you mean?
Yes. This is a singular demonstrative pronoun and can be the object of prefer.
Do not confuse pronouns and determiners
The same four words can come before a noun. In that restaurant, that tells us which restaurant, so it is a demonstrative determiner. In That is expensive, no noun follows that, so it is a demonstrative pronoun. The meaning is similar, but the sentence structure is different.
These instructions are clear.
These comes before instructions, so it is a demonstrative determiner in this sentence.
In Those are clear, does those have a noun after it?
No. Those stands alone, so it is a demonstrative pronoun.
Point to times, ideas, and experiences
Demonstrative pronouns can refer to more than objects. This can introduce an idea you are explaining. That can refer back to something that happened. These and those can refer to several reasons, experiences, or choices. Look for the noun or idea in the earlier conversation.
Those are the reasons I chose the later train.
Those refers to several reasons already given. It does not need to point to physical objects.
Can that refer to one event that happened yesterday?
Yes. That can refer to one past event when the listener knows which event you mean.
Before you go
Remember this
Use this and that for one referent, and these and those for more than one. This and these usually point to something close or current. That and those often point to something farther away, earlier, or less immediate. When the word stands alone, it works as a demonstrative pronoun.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Demonstrative pronouns: rules and examples"
What are demonstrative pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those when they point to a specific person, thing, place, event, or idea without a noun after them. They help a speaker identify what they mean from the situation or from an earlier part of the conversation.
This is the document I need to sign.
What is the difference between this and that?
Both words refer to one thing. Use this when the referent feels near, current, or newly introduced. Use that when it feels farther away, earlier, or less immediate. The difference can be about physical distance, time, or the flow of a conversation.
These are the documents I need to sign.
What is the difference between these and those?
These and those both refer to more than one thing. Use these for things that feel near or current, and use those for things that feel farther away or previously mentioned. Check the number first, because neither word can refer to only one thing.
That was a useful suggestion.
When is this a pronoun and when is it a determiner?
This is a demonstrative pronoun when it stands alone, as in This is mine. It is a demonstrative determiner when a noun follows it, as in this notebook. The same pattern applies to that, these, and those. The word's position shows its job.
Those were useful suggestions.
Can demonstrative pronouns refer to ideas and events?
Yes. A demonstrative pronoun can point to a statement, plan, memory, reason, or event as well as to a physical object. This often introduces a current idea, while that often refers back to an earlier event. The listener needs enough context to identify the referent.
These belong on the top shelf.