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Demonstrative Adjectives: This, That, These,

and Those
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Demonstrative adjectives are a crucial part of the English language and are used to
indicate the location of a noun in relation to the speaker. In this article, we will
explore the different forms of demonstrative adjectives, including “this,” “that,”
“these,” and “those,” and provide examples of how to use them correctly in sentences.
We will also discuss the proper placement of demonstrative adjectives in a sentence
and cover any potential pitfalls to avoid. Whether you are a beginner learning about
demonstrative adjectives for the first time or a seasoned speaker looking to brush up
on your grammar skills, this article has something for everyone. So let’s get started on
our journey to mastering demonstrative adjectives!

Contents

 Demonstrative Adjectives
o What are demonstrative adjectives?
o Importance of demonstrative adjectives in the English language
 Different Forms of Demonstrative Adjectives
 Using Demonstrative Adjectives in Sentences
 Common Mistakes with Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative Adjectives
What are demonstrative adjectives?
Demonstrative adjectives are words that are used to indicate the location of a noun in
relation to the speaker. They help to specify which noun is being referred to in a
sentence. There are four demonstrative adjectives in English: “this,” “that,” “these,”
and “those.” “This” and “that” are used to refer to singular nouns, while “these” and
“those” are used to refer to plural nouns. For example:

 “This book is interesting.” (Referring to a singular noun, the book)

 “That car is fast.” (Referring to a singular noun, the car)
 “These cookies are delicious.” (Referring to a plural noun, the cookies)
 “Those dogs are cute.” (Referring to a plural noun, the dogs)

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Demonstrative adjectives are typically placed before the noun they are modifying.
They can also be used alone as pronouns, in which case they take the place of the
noun altogether. For example:

 “This is a great idea.” (Using “this” as a pronoun)

 “Those are my shoes.” (Using “those” as a pronoun)
I hope this helps to clarify the definition of demonstrative adjectives! Let me know if
you have any other questions.

Importance of demonstrative adjectives in the English language

Demonstrative adjectives are an important part of the English language because they
help to specify which noun is being referred to in a sentence. They provide context
and clarity to our communication and allow us to distinguish between different objects
or people. Without demonstrative adjectives, it would be difficult to convey the
location or proximity of a noun in relation to the speaker, leading to confusion and
misunderstandings.

Demonstrative adjectives are also commonly used in written and spoken English to
draw attention to a particular noun or to provide emphasis. For example:

 “This is the best movie I’ve seen all year.” (Emphasizing the singular noun
“movie”)
 “These are the only tickets left.” (Emphasizing the plural noun “tickets”)
Overall, demonstrative adjectives play a crucial role in the English language by
helping to specify, emphasize, and clarify the nouns we are talking about. Their
proper usage is important for effective communication and understanding.
Different Forms of Demonstrative Adjectives
There are four forms of demonstrative adjectives in English: “this,” “that,” “these,”
and “those.” These words are used to indicate the location of a noun in relation to the
speaker.

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“This” and “that” are used to refer to singular nouns that are nearby or farther away,
respectively. For example:

 “This book is on the table.” (Referring to a singular noun, the book, that is
nearby)
 “That car is parked in the driveway.” (Referring to a singular noun, the car,
that is farther away)
“These” and “those” are used to refer to plural nouns that are nearby or farther away,
respectively. For example:

 “These cookies are in the kitchen.” (Referring to a plural noun, the cookies,
that are nearby)
 “Those dogs are in the backyard.” (Referring to a plural noun, the dogs,
that are farther away)
It’s important to note that the forms of demonstrative adjectives must match the
number (singular or plural) of the noun they are modifying. For example:

 Incorrect: “This cookies are delicious.” (Should be “these cookies”)

 Correct: “These cookies are delicious.”
Using Demonstrative Adjectives in Sentences
Demonstrative adjectives are typically placed before the noun they are modifying in a
sentence. For example:

 “This book is interesting.” (Demonstrative adjective “this” modifying the

noun “book”)
 “Those cookies look delicious.” (Demonstrative adjective “those”
modifying the noun “cookies”)
It’s important to remember that demonstrative adjectives must match the number
(singular or plural) of the noun they are modifying. For example:

 Incorrect: “This cookies are delicious.” (Should be “these cookies”)

 Correct: “These cookies are delicious.”
Here are some additional examples of correct and incorrect usage of demonstrative
adjectives in sentences:

 Incorrect: “That car is my sisters.” (Should be “that car is my sister’s”)

 Correct: “That car is my sister’s.”
 Incorrect: “This dogs are friendly.” (Should be “these dogs”)
 Correct: “These dogs are friendly.”

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Common Mistakes with Demonstrative Adjectives

Here are some common mistakes people make with demonstrative adjectives:

1. Confusion between “this” and “that” – “This” is used to refer to something

that is nearby, while “that” is used to refer to something that is farther
away.
Example:

 This book is mine. (The book is nearby)

 That book is hers. (The book is farther away)
 2. Misuse of plural and singular forms – Make sure to use the correct form of
the demonstrative adjective based on the noun it is modifying.
Example:

 This car is mine. (Singular)

 These cars are mine. (Plural)
 That cat is hers. (Singular)
 Those cats are hers. (Plural)