Demonstratives show where an object, event, or person is in relation to the speaker. They can refer to a physical or a psychological closeness or distance. When talking about events, the near demonstratives are often used to refer to the present while the far demonstratives often refer to the past.
| | Near the speaker | Far from the speaker |
|---|
| Adverb | Here | There |
Demonstrative with singular nouns
& uncountable nouns | This | That |
Demonstrative with
plural countable nouns | These | Those |
Demonstrative usage
Examples
| Near the speaker | Far from the speaker |
|---|
| Is this John's house? | Is that John's house over there? |
| This is a nice surprise! | That must have been a nice surprise for you. |
| These apples are mine. | Those apples are yours. |
| What are you up to these days? | Those days are long gone. |
| This time I won't be late. | We really surprised you that time. |
| This sugar is for my crepes. | You can use that sugar for your cake. |
Sentence placement
Demonstratives can be placed before the noun or the adjective that modifies the noun.
Examples
- This blue car needs to be washed next.
- Those people were here first.
- That metal rod should work.
- These oranges are delicious.
Demonstratives can also appear before a number by itself when the noun is understood from the context.
Examples
- I'd like to try on that one.
- This one is broken.
- I'll take these three.
- Those two are not as pretty as these two.
Demonstratives can be used by themselves when the noun they modify is understood from the context.
Examples
- I'll never forget this.
- That has nothing to do with me.
- I didn't ask for these.
- Those aren't mine.
