What Are Demonstrative Determiners? Definition & Examples
Demonstrative determiners in English grammar help us point to specific people or things. Words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” make our meaning clear in writing and speech. Understanding demonstrative determiners is essential for school exams, daily English, and confident speaking.
| Determiner | Number | Distance | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This book is interesting. |
| That | Singular | Far | That building is new. |
| These | Plural | Near | These apples are sweet. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those cars are fast. |
What Are Demonstrative Determiners?
Demonstrative determiners are words placed before a noun to show which specific person or thing we are talking about. They answer “which one?” and express if something is near or far, or singular or plural. For example, in “These students are ready,” “these” points to the group of students nearby.
How to Use Demonstrative Determiners: Rules and Usage
Choosing the correct demonstrative determiner is based on number (singular/plural) and proximity (near/far). Follow these simple rules:
- This: One thing/person; near (this pen)
- That: One thing/person; far (that mountain)
- These: More than one; near (these books)
- Those: More than one; far (those stars)
Use demonstrative determiners before nouns to make your sentences precise and clear.
Examples of Demonstrative Determiners in Sentences
- This chair is comfortable.
- That cat across the street is black.
- These flowers smell lovely.
- Those dogs are barking loudly.
- I don’t like that movie.
- This information is useful for the test.
- These children are playing football.
- Those questions were difficult.
- This answer is correct.
- These days are very hot.
Difference Between Demonstrative Determiners and Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative determiners are always followed by a noun (“this bag”), while demonstrative pronouns stand alone and replace a noun (“This is mine”).
| Determiner | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Determiner | Before noun | I want that book. |
| Pronoun | Stands alone | That is my favorite. |
Worksheet: Demonstrative Determiners Practice
Fill in the blanks using “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those”:
- ________ shoes are dirty. (near, plural)
- ________ umbrella belongs to me. (far, singular)
- ________ boys are waiting. (near, plural)
- ________ painting is beautiful. (far, singular)
- ________ questions are important. (far, plural)
Try more practice on our determiners worksheet page.
Common Mistakes in Using Demonstrative Determiners
- Using “this” or “these” for things that are far away.
- Mixing up singular (“this/that”) and plural (“these/those”).
- Using a determiner without a noun (“I want this” should be “I want this one” or “I want this book”).
- Forgetting “those” is only for plural and far things.
Tip: Always match the number and the distance with the correct word.
Demonstrative Determiners Summary Table
| Word | Number | Proximity | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This cake tastes good. |
| That | Singular | Far | That train is late. |
| These | Plural | Near | These pencils are sharp. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those children are singing. |
Related Grammar Topics
- All Determiners Explained
- Demonstrative Pronouns
- Possessive Determiners
- Types of Adjectives
- Interrogative Determiners
- Indefinite Determiners
Demonstrative determiners—this, that, these, those—help us show exactly which people or things we mean. Using them correctly improves writing, exam answers, and everyday speaking. Review their rules, check your examples, and use this quick table for reference. At Vedantu, we make learning grammar clear, practical, and simple for every student.
FAQs on Demonstrative Determiners in English Grammar
1. What is a demonstrative determiner in English?
Demonstrative determiners are words like "this," "that," "these," and "those" that come before nouns to point out specific things. They show the noun's position (near or far) and number (singular or plural).
2. What are 10 examples of demonstrative pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns, unlike demonstrative determiners, stand alone and don't modify nouns. Here are five examples of each to highlight the difference: Determiners: This book, that pen, these apples, those cars, this information; Pronouns: This is mine, That's correct, These are ripe, Those belong to him, This is delicious.
3. What is the difference between demonstrative determiners and demonstrative pronouns?
The key difference lies in their function. Demonstrative determiners modify nouns (e.g., "this car"), while demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and stand alone in a sentence (e.g., "This is mine").
4. What is a demonstrative determiner with example?
A demonstrative determiner points to a specific noun. For example, in the sentence "This cake is delicious," "this" is the demonstrative determiner, identifying a particular cake.
5. What are 10 determiners examples?
Determiners specify nouns. Here are ten examples, including demonstratives: This, that, these, those, my, your, his, her, its, our.
6. What are the rules for using demonstrative determiners?
Choosing the correct demonstrative determiner depends on proximity and number: * Use "this" for a singular noun nearby. * Use "that" for a singular noun further away. * Use "these" for plural nouns nearby. * Use "those" for plural nouns further away.
7. When to use this vs that?
Use "this" to refer to a singular noun near you and "that" to refer to a singular noun further away. For example: "This pen is mine," "That building is tall."
8. How many demonstrative determiners are there in English?
There are four demonstrative determiners in English: this, that, these, and those.
9. Give examples of demonstrative determiners in sentences.
Here are some examples: "This book is interesting." "That chair is broken." "These shoes are expensive." "Those flowers are beautiful."
10. What is the difference between demonstrative determiners and pronouns?
Demonstrative determiners always precede a noun (e.g., "this apple"), while demonstrative pronouns stand alone and replace a noun (e.g., "This is delicious").
11. When do we use 'these' and 'those'?
Use "these" for plural nouns that are near and "those" for plural nouns that are far away. For example: "These books are mine," "Those mountains are majestic."
