What Are Demonstrative Pronouns? (with Examples)
What Are Demonstrative Pronouns? (with Examples)
The demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those. Like all pronouns, they replace nouns. Demonstrative pronouns are used to replace specific people or things that have been previously mentioned (or are understood from context).A demonstrative pronoun tells us whether it is replacing something singular or plural and whether that thing(s) is close by or farther away.
This and That Represent Singular Nouns
This and that replace singular nouns.This represents something close by. For example:
- This is very smelly.
- You can smell that from here.
These and Those Represent Plural Nouns
These and those replace plural nouns.These represents something close by. For example:
- These smell rotten.
- Do not paint those.
The Difference between Demonstrative Pronouns and Demonstrative Adjectives
The demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these, and those (i.e., the same words as the demonstrative pronouns). However, demonstrative adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. They cannot stand alone to play the role of a noun. For example:- This soup is very smelly.
- You smell that factory from here.
- These apples smell rotten.
- Do not paint those fences.