Learn Demonstratives (this, that, these, those) in English
Point to people and things near or far using this, that, these, and those.
Grammar Focus
Demonstratives are special words in English used to point to specific people, objects, or ideas — either near to you or far away. The four demonstratives are this, that, these, and those. They tell the listener exactly which thing or person you are referring to, based on distance.
- Use this for a single thing or person that is near you: "This book is interesting."
- Use that for a single thing or person that is far from you: "That building is very old."
- Use these for multiple things or people that are near you: "These shoes are too small."
- Use those for multiple things or people that are far from you: "Those clouds look dark."
- Demonstratives can work as determiners (before a noun) or as pronouns (replacing a noun): "This is my bag" (pronoun) vs "This bag is mine" (determiner).
Form & Structure
Near vs Far (singular)
Near vs Far (plural)
As Pronouns
Common Mistakes
Using 'this' with a plural noun
Tip: Use 'these' — not 'this' — when the noun is plural and nearby.
Using 'those' with a singular noun
Tip: Use 'that' for a single item far away; 'those' is only for plural nouns at a distance.
Adding a noun after a demonstrative pronoun
Tip: When a demonstrative acts as a pronoun, it stands alone. When it acts as a determiner, it comes directly before the noun without 'here' or 'there'.
Why This Grammar Matters
Shopping and pointing to items
Introducing people or things
Giving directions or describing locations
Talking on the phone or in online calls
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This lesson content was created with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.
Quick Summary
| Use | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Near vs Far (singular) | Near: **this** + singular noun | Far: **that** + singular noun | **This** chair is comfortable. (near you) |
| Near vs Far (plural) | Near: **these** + plural noun | Far: **those** + plural noun | **These** oranges are fresh. (near you) |
| As Pronouns | **This/that/these/those** can replace a noun when the meaning is clear from context | Is **this** your jacket? (pointing at something near) |
Demonstratives are among the first words English learners encounter, yet they are also among the most frequently misused. The four demonstratives — this, that, these, and those — may seem simple on the surface, but knowing when to use each one with confidence takes a clear understanding of the rules behind them. Broadly speaking, demonstratives in English are used to point to people, objects, ideas, or situations, either physically in space or metaphorically in a conversation. The key distinction between the four demonstratives comes down to two factors: number and distance. Number determines whether you use a singular form (this or that) or a plural form (these or those). Distance determines whether you use a near form (this or these) or a far form (that or those). When you understand these two axes — singular versus plural, near versus far — the whole system becomes logical and easy to remember. Demonistratives serve a variety of functions in everyday English. In shops, you use them to point to items you want to buy. In introductions, you use them to present people. On the phone, you use them to identify yourself. In stories and descriptions, you use them to direct attention. They appear in questions, statements, and instructions with equal frequency. Learners who skip over this topic often produce sentences like 'This books are interesting' or 'Those child is sleeping,' both of which are incorrect. These errors arise from confusing the singular and plural forms, or from not matching the demonstrative to the number of the noun. With a clear guide to the rules and plenty of examples, however, these mistakes are entirely avoidable. This article walks you through the complete demonstrative system in English. You will learn what demonstratives are, how to choose between this, that, these, and those, how to use them as both determiners and pronouns, and how to avoid the most common errors. You will also find a detailed FAQ section to answer any remaining questions.
What Are Demonstratives in English?
Demonstratives are a small but important group of words in English grammar used to point to or identify specific nouns — whether people, objects, or abstract ideas. The four demonstratives are this, that, these, and those. They belong to a class of words known as determiners, but they can also function as pronouns, standing in place of a noun entirely. When used as determiners, demonstratives come before a noun and tell the listener which specific one the speaker is referring to. For example: 'This bag is heavy' or 'Those houses are beautiful.' The demonstrative pinpoints the exact bag or the exact houses being discussed. When used as pronouns, demonstratives replace a noun entirely when the context makes the meaning clear. For example: 'This is delicious' (said about a dish of food) or 'Those are my keys' (said while pointing to keys on a table). In both cases, no noun follows the demonstrative because the listener already knows what is being referred to. Understanding this dual role — determiner and pronoun — is essential to using demonstratives correctly and naturally in English. Native speakers switch between these uses effortlessly, and once you understand the distinction, you will be able to do the same.
Read the full grammar guide
This vs That: Near and Far in English
The most fundamental rule governing the use of this and that is distance. This is used for something near the speaker — something you can reach out and touch, or something immediately present in the situation. That is used for something farther away — something across the room, on the other side of the street, or not physically within easy reach. This distance can be physical, as in 'This pen on my desk is out of ink' (the pen right in front of you) versus 'That pen on the shelf over there is new' (a pen farther away). It can also be used in more abstract or conversational ways. For instance, 'This is a great idea' (an idea just introduced) versus 'That was a mistake' (referring to something said or done earlier in the conversation). Both this and that are used only with singular nouns or as singular pronouns. You cannot say 'This books' — that would require 'These books.' This is a common error, especially among learners whose native language does not distinguish singular and plural demonstratives. On the telephone, this is conventionally used to identify the speaker: 'Hello, this is James.' The word that is then used to refer to the other person: 'Is that Sarah?' This convention is so consistent in English that breaking it would sound distinctly unnatural. Keeping the near-versus-far and singular-versus-plural rules clear in your mind will allow you to choose correctly between this and that in any context.
These vs Those: Plural Demonstratives
These and those are the plural counterparts of this and that. The same distance principle applies: these is used for things near the speaker, while those is used for things farther away. The critical difference from the singular forms is that these and those must always accompany plural nouns or replace plural nouns as pronouns. For example: 'These apples on the counter are ripe' (apples close to you) versus 'Those apples at the far end of the market are cheaper' (apples farther away). As pronouns: 'These are the files you need' (files nearby) versus 'Those were the best years of my life' (referring to a distant time or abstract group). One of the most common errors learners make is pairing these or those with a singular noun — for instance, 'These information is incorrect' or 'Those child is running.' Both are wrong because information is uncountable and child is singular. You must match the demonstrative to the number of the noun: 'This information is incorrect' and 'That child is running.' Learning to consistently identify whether a noun is singular or plural — and to pair it with the correct demonstrative — is an important step in producing grammatically accurate English. Practising with real objects in your environment, pointing to things and labelling them with the correct demonstrative, is one of the most effective ways to build this habit.
Common Mistakes with Demonstratives
Even learners who understand the theory behind demonstratives often fall into a few predictable traps when speaking or writing. Knowing what these mistakes are — and why they happen — makes them much easier to avoid. The first and most common mistake is using a singular demonstrative with a plural noun. Sentences like 'This books are interesting' or 'That cars are expensive' are incorrect because the singular forms this and that cannot modify plural nouns. The correct forms are 'These books are interesting' and 'Those cars are expensive.' The second common mistake is the reverse: using a plural demonstrative with a singular noun. 'These child is crying' or 'Those building is tall' are both wrong. Use 'This child is crying' and 'That building is tall' instead. The demonstrative must always agree in number with the noun it modifies or replaces. A third mistake involves adding unnecessary words after demonstratives when they are used as pronouns. Some learners say 'This here book' or 'That there chair,' perhaps influenced by constructions in their own language. In standard English, these additions are unnecessary and sound awkward. The correct forms are simply 'This book' (determiner) or 'This is mine' (pronoun). Finally, some learners confuse demonstratives with personal pronouns, using 'it' where a demonstrative would be more natural. For example, when pointing to an object and asking what it is, 'What is that?' is more natural than 'What is it?' Understanding when to use demonstratives versus pronouns takes practice but becomes intuitive with exposure to real English conversations.
Using Demonstratives as Pronouns vs Determiners
Demonstratives have two distinct grammatical roles in English: they can function as determiners or as pronouns. Understanding this distinction allows you to use them more flexibly and accurately in both speaking and writing. As determiners, demonstratives come directly before a noun and modify it — in other words, they specify which particular noun is being referred to. In 'This coffee is cold' and 'Those students passed the exam,' the demonstratives this and those are determiners modifying the nouns coffee and students respectively. As pronouns, demonstratives stand alone and take the place of a noun. In 'This is cold' (pointing at a cup of coffee) and 'Those passed the exam' (referring to a group of students), the demonstratives replace the nouns entirely. The listener understands the reference from context — either from something visible in the environment or from information given earlier in the conversation. The ability to switch between these two roles makes demonstratives particularly versatile in everyday communication. You can say 'Is this your bag?' (pronoun) or 'Is this bag yours?' (determiner) — both are correct, but each has a slightly different emphasis. Developing an ear for which role sounds most natural in a given situation is one of the hallmarks of advanced English fluency.
Practice In This Page
1. _____ chair is comfortable. (near you)
Show answer
This
2. _____ oranges are fresh. (near you)
Show answer
These
3. This books are mine.
Show answer
These books are mine.
4. Those child is crying.
Show answer
That child is crying.
5. This here book is mine.
Show answer
This book is mine. / This is mine.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between 'this' and 'that' in English?
- The main difference is distance. 'This' is used for something close to the speaker — something nearby or immediately present. 'That' is used for something farther away. Both are singular, so they are used with singular nouns or as singular pronouns. For example: 'This chair here is mine' (nearby) versus 'That chair over there is broken' (far away).
- When do I use 'these' and 'those'?
- 'These' and 'those' are the plural forms of 'this' and 'that.' Use 'these' for multiple people or things that are close to you, and 'those' for multiple people or things that are farther away. For example: 'These shoes fit perfectly' (shoes you are trying on) and 'Those shoes in the window look expensive' (shoes in a shop display far from you).
- Can I use 'this' and 'that' without a noun?
- Yes. When the meaning is clear from context, 'this,' 'that,' 'these,' and 'those' can all be used as pronouns — meaning they stand in place of a noun. For example: 'This is delicious' (said about food in front of you), 'Is that your car?' (pointing to a car), or 'Those are the files you need' (referring to visible documents).
- Why is 'This books are mine' incorrect?
- 'This books are mine' is incorrect because 'this' is singular but 'books' is plural — they do not agree in number. The correct sentence is 'These books are mine.' Always match the demonstrative to the number of the noun: use 'this' or 'that' for singular nouns, and 'these' or 'those' for plural nouns.
- How are demonstratives used on the telephone?
- In English telephone conversations, 'this' is conventionally used by the speaker to introduce themselves: 'Hello, this is Dr. Ahmed.' To refer to the person they are calling, speakers use 'that': 'Is that the customer service team?' This convention is very consistent in English and sounds natural to native speakers.
- Can demonstratives refer to time, not just physical objects?
- Yes, demonstratives can refer to time and abstract ideas, not just physical objects. 'This' often refers to something current or recently mentioned: 'This is a difficult situation.' 'That' can refer to something more distant in time or already discussed: 'That was a great holiday.' 'These days' is a common expression meaning 'at the present time,' and 'those were the days' refers nostalgically to the past.