Demonstrative Adjectives in English: A Complete Guide

Demonstrative adjectives are an important part of English grammar because they help speakers identify specific people, objects, and things. The four commonly taught forms are this, that, these, and those. Although they may seem easy to learn, students sometimes confuse them when choosing between singular and plural nouns or distinguishing demonstrative adjectives from demonstrative pronouns.

To use demonstrative adjectives correctly, learners need to understand their meanings, positions in sentences, and relationships with the nouns they describe. This guide explains the rules for using demonstrative adjectives in English, provides practical examples, and highlights common mistakes to avoid.

What Are Demonstrative Adjectives?

Demonstrative adjectives are words traditionally taught as adjectives that come before nouns to identify specific people, objects, or things. They help clarify exactly which person or thing a speaker is referring to.

In English, the four main demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these, and those. The choice depends primarily on two factors: whether the noun is singular or plural and whether the person or object is considered near or far in the context.

Examples:

• This bag is beautiful. – The speaker is referring to a specific bag nearby.
• That building is tall. – The speaker is referring to a particular building farther away.
• These flowers smell nice. – The speaker is referring to several flowers nearby.
• Those children are playing outside. – The speaker is referring to several children farther away.

In each example, the demonstrative word comes before a noun and helps identify the intended person or thing.

A useful rule to remember is that this and that generally accompany singular countable nouns, while these and those accompany plural nouns. In terms of distance, this and these usually refer to things considered near, whereas that and those usually refer to things considered farther away.

What Are the Four Demonstrative Adjectives?

The four demonstrative adjectives have different uses depending on number and context. Understanding each form will help you choose the correct word when speaking or writing in English.

This: Demonstrative Adjectives for Singular Nouns Nearby

This identifies one person or object that is near the speaker. It is commonly used with singular countable nouns. It can also refer to something happening now or something closely connected to the current conversation.

Structure: This + singular countable noun

Examples:

• This pen is mine. – The speaker is referring to a pen nearby.
• This restaurant serves delicious food. – The speaker is referring to a particular restaurant.
• This lesson is easy to understand. – The speaker is referring to the lesson being discussed.
• This idea sounds interesting. – The speaker is referring to an idea currently under consideration.

Notice that this does not always describe physical distance. In the sentence This idea sounds interesting, the word indicates that the idea is relevant to the current discussion.

That: Demonstrative Adjectives for Singular Nouns Far Away

That identifies one person or object that is considered farther away from the speaker. Like this, it usually appears before a singular countable noun.

Structure: That + singular countable noun

Examples:

• That car belongs to my uncle.
• That mountain looks beautiful.
• That answer is incorrect.
• That building belongs to the university.

The word that can also refer to information mentioned earlier or an idea viewed as more distant in the conversation.

For example, That sounds like a good plan refers to a suggestion or idea that someone has just mentioned. Here, that is used independently as a demonstrative pronoun rather than before a noun.

These: Demonstrative Adjectives for Plural Nouns Nearby

These is the plural counterpart of this. It identifies two or more people or objects that are near the speaker or relevant to the current situation.

Structure: These + plural noun

Examples:

• These apples are fresh.
• These students study English every day.
• These shoes are comfortable.
• These pictures look amazing.

When using these, make sure that the following noun is plural and that the verb agrees with the plural subject.

For example, These books are useful is correct. The sentence These book is useful is incorrect because both the noun and the verb are inconsistent with the plural subject.

Those: Demonstrative Adjectives for Plural Nouns Far Away

Those is the plural counterpart of that. It identifies two or more people or objects that are considered far from the speaker.

Structure: Those + plural noun

Examples:

• Those birds are flying south.
• Those houses are very expensive.
• Those people work at the same company.
• Those trees are hundreds of years old.

Like that, those may also refer to people, objects, or ideas mentioned previously in a conversation.

For example, Those problems are difficult to solve identifies a particular group of problems that the speaker and listener already know about.

How to Use Demonstrative Adjectives in English

Using demonstrative adjectives correctly requires you to identify whether the noun is singular or plural and consider how the object is positioned in the context.

Using Demonstrative Adjectives with Singular Nouns

Use this or that when referring to one person or object. Choose the appropriate form according to the context.

Examples:

• This teacher is very friendly.
• That teacher teaches mathematics.
• This computer works well.
• That computer is out of order.

In these sentences, teacher and computer are singular nouns. Therefore, this or that is appropriate, depending on the intended meaning.

Remember that singular countable nouns generally require a determiner in ordinary noun phrases. For example, you would usually say this book rather than simply book when identifying a particular book.

Using Demonstrative Adjectives with Plural Nouns

Use these or those when referring to two or more people or objects.

Examples:

• These books belong to me.
• Those trees are very old.
• These children are learning how to swim.
• Those shops close at nine p.m.

Plural nouns often end in -s or -es, but some nouns have irregular plural forms. Examples include children, people, and men. Recognizing these forms will help you select the appropriate demonstrative adjective.

Compare the following sentences:

• Correct: These children are playing outside.
• Incorrect: These child is playing outside.

The first sentence correctly uses the plural noun children and the plural verb are.

Using Demonstrative Adjectives for Time and Context

Demonstrative adjectives can refer to time periods, experiences, and situations rather than physical objects.

Examples:

• This morning, I went for a walk.
• This week is particularly busy.
• Those days were unforgettable.
• That moment changed my life.

These examples show that demonstrative adjectives are not limited to physical distance. Their meaning also depends on the speaker’s perspective and the context of the conversation.

For instance, this week usually refers to the week that includes the present moment, while those days often refers to a period in the past.

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns share the same four forms: this, that, these, and those. However, they perform different grammatical functions.

Demonstrative Adjectives Come Before Nouns

When a demonstrative word comes before a noun to identify it, it is traditionally called a demonstrative adjective.

Examples:

• This dress is beautiful.
• That man is my teacher.
• These pictures are amazing.
• Those students are in my class.

In these sentences, the demonstrative words identify the nouns dress, man, pictures, and students.

The words do not replace the nouns. Instead, they help specify which dress, man, pictures, or students the speaker means.

Demonstrative Pronouns Stand Alone

When this, that, these, or those stands independently and represents a person, object, or group, it functions as a demonstrative pronoun.

Examples:

• This is my dress.
• That is my teacher.
• These are my pictures.
• Those are my classmates.

In these examples, the demonstrative pronouns function as the subjects of the sentences. They stand independently rather than directly preceding nouns.

Key Differences Between Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Quick tip: If this, that, these, or those is immediately followed by a noun, it is traditionally classified as a demonstrative adjective. If it stands independently, as in This is mine or Those are expensive, it functions as a demonstrative pronoun.

In modern grammar, words such as this and those before nouns are often called demonstrative determiners rather than demonstrative adjectives. However, the term demonstrative adjectives remains common in English-learning materials. Understanding how these words function in a sentence is more important than relying on terminology alone.

Common Mistakes When Using Demonstrative Adjectives

Although demonstrative adjectives follow straightforward rules, learners often make mistakes involving noun number, verb agreement, grammatical function, and context.

Confusing Singular and Plural Nouns

One common mistake is using a singular demonstrative with a plural noun or a plural demonstrative with a singular noun.

Examples:

• Incorrect: This books are interesting.
• Correct: These books are interesting.
• Incorrect: Those student is friendly.
• Correct: That student is friendly.

Remember that this and that generally accompany singular countable nouns, while these and those accompany plural nouns.

Using the Wrong Verb Form

The verb must agree with the subject of the sentence.

Examples:

• Incorrect: These students is friendly.
• Correct: These students are friendly.
• Incorrect: That girl are my sister.
• Correct: That girl is my sister.

As a general rule, this and that with singular countable nouns take singular verbs, while these and those with plural nouns take plural verbs.

Confusing Demonstrative Adjectives with Demonstrative Pronouns

Some learners assume that this, that, these, and those always serve the same function. In reality, their grammatical roles depend on the sentence structure.

Compare:

• Those shoes are expensive. – Those identifies the noun shoes.
• Those are expensive. – Those stands independently as a demonstrative pronoun.

Recognizing whether a noun follows the demonstrative word will help you identify its function.

Choosing the Wrong Demonstrative for the Context

Another common mistake is selecting a demonstrative without considering the speaker’s perspective or the situation.

For example, if a cup is next to you, you might say This cup is mine. If it is across the room, That cup is mine may be more appropriate.

However, distance is not always purely physical. Speakers may use this or these for something currently being discussed and that or those for information introduced earlier. The intended meaning and conversational context should guide your choice.

Tips for Learning Demonstrative Adjectives Effectively

To master demonstrative adjectives, combine grammar practice with real-life examples. This approach can help you remember the rules and use them naturally in everyday communication.

• Learn the words in pairs: Study this – these and that – those to connect singular and plural forms.
• Check the noun first: Identify whether the noun is singular or plural before choosing a demonstrative.
• Practice with nearby and distant objects: Describe items in your classroom, home, or workplace using the appropriate forms.
• Write example sentences: Create four sentences every day, using this, that, these, and those.
• Compare adjectives and pronouns: Practice contrasting This pen is mine with This is mine to understand the difference between the two functions.

You can also test your understanding by completing the following sentences.

1. ___ apple is fresh. (One apple nearby)
2. ___ buildings are tall. (Several buildings far away)
3. ___ students are in my class. (Several students nearby)
4. ___ house belongs to my aunt. (One house far away)

Answers: 1. This; 2. Those; 3. These; 4. That.

Understanding demonstrative adjectives will help you identify people, objects, and situations more precisely in English. Remember the basic relationship between this/that and singular countable nouns, and between these/those and plural nouns. Pay attention to distance, context, and verb agreement as well. With consistent practice, you will become more confident in using demonstrative adjectives and distinguishing them from demonstrative pronouns in both speaking and writing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Demonstrative Adjectives

What are the four demonstrative adjectives in English?

The four demonstrative adjectives commonly taught in English are this, that, these, and those. This and that generally accompany singular countable nouns, while these and those accompany plural nouns. This and these usually indicate proximity, whereas that and those usually indicate greater distance.

What is the difference between this and that?

This usually refers to a person or object near the speaker, while that generally refers to something farther away. Both are commonly used with singular countable nouns. For example, this book means a book near the speaker, whereas that book refers to a book perceived as farther away.

When should I use these and those?

Use these and those with plural nouns. These generally identifies people or objects nearby, while those usually refers to people or objects farther away. For example, these flowers refers to flowers nearby, whereas those flowers refers to flowers farther away or viewed as more distant in context.

What is the difference between demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns?

Demonstrative adjectives identify nouns and appear before them, as in This book is mine. Demonstrative pronouns stand independently and represent a person, object, or group, as in This is mine. Both use the same four forms, but their grammatical functions differ according to how they are used in a sentence.

Can demonstrative adjectives be used with uncountable nouns?

Yes. This and that can be used with uncountable nouns when referring to a particular substance, quantity, or piece of information. For example, This water is cold and That information is useful. In standard usage, these and those do not directly precede uncountable nouns unless the noun is being used in a countable sense.

Keywords:

• Demonstrative Adjectives in English
• How to Use This, That, These, and Those
• Demonstrative Pronouns in English
• Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Demonstrative Pronouns
• Demonstrative Adjectives Exercises with Answers