Introduction

We use "this" / "that" / "these" / "those" as demonstrative adjectives and pronouns to identify the thing or things we are talking about.

Demonstrative adjectives:

• I like this book.
• That book is expensive.
• She loves these books.
• I want those books.

Demonstrative pronouns:

• Whose book is this?
• That is my book.
• These are mine.
• I want these, not those.

	Singular	Plural
near	this	these
far	that	those

Form 1 – demonstrative adjectives

We use "this" / "that" / "these" / "those" as demonstrative adjectives with a noun:
demonstrative adjective + noun.

• We use "this" and "these" for things that are close to us in place and time ("near").
• We use "that" and "those" for things that are far from us or that we can't see ("far").

Examples:

• Singular / near:
  • This food is expensive.
• Plural / near:
  • Are these shoes yours?
• Singular / far:
  • That film is very long.
• Plural / far:
  • Those books aren’t mine.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct demonstrative adjective:
.

1)

Whose is    bag on the floor? (near)

 

2)

I love    flowers in the garden. (far)

 

3)

How much are    cakes? (near)

 

4)

I want to buy    leather chair. (far)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

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Form 2 – demonstrative pronouns

We use "this" / "that" / "these" / "those" as demonstrative pronouns:

• without a noun, if the noun we are talking about is clear, for example because you can see it:
  • Singular:
    • I own this.
  • Plural:
    • My sister loves these.
  • Singular:
    • Sarah doesn’t like that.
  • Plural:
    • My brother has those.
    
    
• with "be" before the noun:

  • 	Singular	Plural
    Positive	this is ... that is ...	these are ... those are ...
    Negative	this isn't ... that isn't ...	these aren't ... those aren't ...
    question	is this ... ? is that ... ?	are these ... ? are those ... ?

  • Singular:
    • This is a good book.
  • Plural:
    • These are pretty flowers.
  • Singular:
    • That is a good book.
  • Plural:
    • Those are pretty flowers.
  
  
• with "be" and possessive adjectives and pronouns:
  • Singular:
    • This is mine.
  • Plural:
    • These aren't hers.
  • Singular:
    • Is that her bag?
  • Plural:
    • Are those your shoes?

We can use "this" / "these" to separate from "that" / "those" and to avoid repeating the noun:

• Singular:
  • I don't like that. I prefer this.
• Plural:
  • "Are these books yours?" "No, those are mine."

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the correct demonstrative pronoun:
.

1)

Which of    are yours? (near)

 

2)

   isn't my umbrella. (far)

 

3)

   is my mother's house. (near)

 

4)

My sister bought all of    . (far)

 

Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

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Further practice

Complete the sentences with the correct answer from a, b, c or d:
.

1)

I loved ____ we saw yesterday.
 

this films

these film

those film

that film

 

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2)

____ the best film you've ever seen?
 

Is these

Are those

Is that

Are this

 

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3)

We bought ____ in 1992.
 

those house

these house

this house

that houses

 

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4)

These aren't Michael's suitcases. ____ his.
 

Those are

These is

That are

This are

 

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5)

____ my favourite jacket.
 

Those are

These is

This is

That are

 

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6)

Where ____ dresses you bought yesterday?
 

are that

is these

are those

is this

 

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Please submit the missing answers shown in red
 

Submit