Learn English
Demonstrative Adjectives
Phonetics:
dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv
ædʒɪktɪv
Pronunciation:
Discover the Power of Demonstrative Adjectives
Comprehensive Definition, Description, Examples & Rules
Prepare to be amazed as Edulyte unleashes the secrets of grammar to improve precision, clarity, and fluency in English communication! Say goodbye to grammar guesswork and hello to mind-blowing language skills with our exclusive demonstrative adjectives resource!
What are demonstrative adjectives: definition and easy explanation for using them
What exactly are demonstrative adjectives? They are a particular type of adjective that helps us point out or identify specific nouns in a sentence. With just a few simple words, these handy adjectives direct attention and distinguish between things near or far or between multiple options. Think of them as your linguistic tour guides, leading your audience to the exact person, place, or something you want to highlight!
Explanation of How They Are Used in English Grammar
In a nutshell, these adjectives modify or describe nouns by indicating their proximity in space or time.
They come in four forms: “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”
- When you want to point out something close to you, you use “this” for singular nouns or “these” for plural nouns.
- On the other hand, when you want to draw attention to something farther away, you opt for “that” with singular nouns or “those” with plural nouns.
Types of Demonstrative Adjectives
It can get confusing figuring out which demonstrative adjective has to be used in a particular context. To overcome this hurdle, you must familiarise yourself with demonstrative adjectives. The demonstrative adjectives include this, that, these, and those.
Examples of This and That: criteria of their use
Let’s focus on “this” and “that.”
Picture this: you’re holding an object right before you, something you can practically touch. You can almost feel its presence when you employ the powerful “this” to draw attention to the singular noun being so close.
For example, imagine you’re holding a juicy apple in your hand and exclaim, “I love this apple!” Simple, yet effective!
On the flip side, when the object is a little farther away, just slightly out of reach, it’s time to embrace the intriguing “that.”
For example, if you are pointing at a beautiful painting across the room, you will say, “Look at that masterpiece!” In this case, “that” allows you to highlight the singular noun at a distance.
Explanation of When to Use This vs That
Ah, the age-old question: when to use “this” and when to use “that”? We have the answer.
Their use depends on the proximity or location of the noun. When the object is within arm’s reach, close enough to almost touch, go for the trusty “this.” However, when the object is slightly farther away, just out of immediate reach, “that” is your linguistic companion.
Examples of These and Those: how to use them?
Imagine many colourful fruits surrounding you at a bustling farmer’s market. As you point to the luscious berries in your basket, you exclaim, “I love these strawberries!” Here, “these” gracefully highlights the plural noun “strawberries.”
It allows you to single out and emphasise multiple present and tangible items within your reach.
In the same situation, if you spotted the strawberries a few metres away, you would say, “I love those strawberries!” In this scenario, “those” directs attention to the plural noun “strawberries” away from you. It empowers you to draw attention to multiple items slightly farther away.
Comparison of Singular and Plural Forms: master the use of these forms
When you are dealing with a singular person, object or place, the situation demands using the singular forms of demonstrative adjectives: “this” and “that.” They help you single out and emphasise the singular noun, providing clarity and focus.
When encountering a group of nouns, multiple objects, people, or ideas, you can use the plural forms: “these” and “those.” They enable you to direct attention to the collective nouns, highlighting the group and adding weight to your message.
Examples of Singular vs Plural Forms in Sentences
If you are in a bookstore and find the book you have been searching for, you would say, “I am going to buy this book.”
Similarly, if you want to buy a bunch of books, you would say, “I want to buy these books.”
Since you are holding the book or standing next to the books, you will use the singular form “this” for one book and the plural form “these” for more than one book.
The singular demonstrative adjective “that” gets used when something is out of your reach. For example, if you see your friend holding a book from across the room and wish to read it, you would ask, ” Can I borrow that book?”
The plural demonstrative adjective “those” is used for more than one person or object when they are far from you. For example, if your friend holds two books you want to read, you would ask,” Can I borrow those books?”
Agreement with Noun Gender and Number: their proper use with demonstrative adjectives
Unlike many other languages, English’s demonstrative adjectives are not gender specific. It means their use depends on the context and not gender.
For example:
- This actress just won an award.
- This actor just won an award.
- That landlady needs to maintain the flat better.
- That landlord needs to maintain the flat better.
By aligning the demonstrative adjective with the number, you create a seamless flow of language, emphasising the characteristics of the nouns with precision and accuracy. As discussed earlier, this and that are used with singular nouns and these and those are used with plural nouns.
For example:
- This cafe serves the world’s best coffee!
- That girl, standing across the street, is my friend.
- These plates have to go in the dishwasher.
- Those shoes in the display window are for sale.
Placement of Demonstrative Adjectives: easy methods to know where to place them
Putting demonstrative adjectives in sentences demands a balance between clarity and elegance.
Demonstrative adjectives can add depth and emphasis to your words, but where should they be positioned?
- Generally, the most common placement for demonstrative adjectives is just before the noun they modify. This proximity creates a direct and clear connection between the adjective and its subject. For example, “That beautiful house caught my attention.”
- If the noun is preceded by an adjective, the demonstrative adjective typically comes before both the adjective and the noun. For example, “This delicious cake is amazing!”
- Sometimes, you should place the demonstrative adjective at the end of the sentence, separated by a pause or a comma. It can be done to add emphasis, create suspense, or evoke a theatrical effect. For example, “She heard a noise—this was no ordinary noise!”
Examples:
If you see a mountain, you might say, “Look at that magnificent mountain!” Here, “that” is placed just before the noun “mountain,” creating a solid connection and emphasising its grandeur.
If you are admiring a group of adorable kittens, you will exclaim, “These playful kittens are so cute!” In this instance, “These” is positioned just before the plural noun “kittens,” highlighting their collective charm and adding vibrancy to your statement.
But what if you want to add a touch of drama and suspense to your sentence? You can place the demonstrative adjective at the end, separated by a pause or a comma.
For example, if you are telling a thrilling story and want to create anticipation. You say, “Suddenly, she saw it—this mysterious creature!” Here, “this” is positioned at the end, building suspense and capturing the listener’s attention
Transform Your English Skills
Free sign-up for a personalised dashboard, learning tools, and unlimited possibilities!
Sign up Now
Key Takeaways
- Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out or identify specific nouns or objects.
- The four commonly used demonstrative adjectives in English are “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.”
- “This” and “these” are used for objects or people that are close in proximity, while “that” and “those” are used for objects or people that are farther away.
- Demonstrative adjectives should agree with the noun they modify regarding gender (in some languages) and number.
- Demonstrative adjectives are typically placed before the noun they modify, but they can also be placed at the end of a sentence for emphasis or dramatic effect.
- Demonstrative adjectives can be used with both countable and uncountable nouns, although the usage with uncountable nouns is less common.
- Understanding the context, proximity, and number of the nouns or objects is crucial in selecting the appropriate demonstrative adjective.
- Through exposure, practice, and observation of native speakers, you can develop a natural sense of using demonstrative adjectives correctly.
- Demonstrative adjectives add specificity and clarity to your sentences, helping to identify and distinguish particular objects or individuals.
- Proper usage of demonstrative adjectives enhances your communication skills and contributes to effective and accurate expression in English.
Quiz
Question comes here
Frequently Asked Questions
Knowing where to place the demonstrative adjective in a sentence can be tricky, but fear not! Here are a few guidelines to help you navigate the placement with confidence:
- Generally, the most common placement for demonstrative adjectives is just before the noun they modify. This proximity creates a direct and clear connection between the adjective and its subject. For example, “That beautiful house caught my attention.”
- If the noun is preceded by an adjective, the demonstrative adjective typically comes before both the adjective and the noun. For example, “This delicious cake is amazing!”
- Sometimes, you should place the demonstrative adjective at the end of the sentence, separated by a pause or a comma. It can be done to add emphasis, create suspense, or evoke a theatrical effect. For example, “She heard a noise—this was no ordinary noise!”
Technically, demonstrative adjectives are typically used with countable nouns, referring to specific objects or people. However, there are some cases where you might use a demonstrative adjective with uncountable nouns like “water” or “sand” for emphasis or to express a particular context. It may not be the most common usage, but it can still be employed to convey a specific meaning.
For example:
- “I love this water.” Here, “this” with “water” implies a specific type or quality of water. It could be a particular brand, source, or even water temperature you are referring to.
- “Look at that sand.” By using “that” with “sand,” you might be pointing out a specific area of sand or emphasising its unique characteristics, such as its texture or colour.
In these instances, the demonstrative adjective adds emphasis or specificity to the non-countable noun, highlighting a particular aspect or quality that you want to draw attention to.
Demonstrative adjectives are not gender specific in English. You need to pay attention to the characteristics of the noun and select the appropriate form of the demonstrative adjective. Here’s a breakdown of the agreement rules:
- Singular Nouns: When the noun is singular, use the singular form of the demonstrative adjective. For example, “This car is mine” (singular noun) would use the singular form of the demonstrative adjective “This.”
- Plural Nouns: When the noun is plural, use the plural form of the demonstrative adjective. For example, “Those flowers are beautiful” (plural noun) would use the plural form of the demonstrative adjective “Those.”
Knowing when to use “this” vs “that” in a sentence involves understanding the proximity of the noun or object you refer to. Here’s a breakdown of their usage:
“This”:
- “This” refers to something closer to you, either physically or conceptually. It implies a sense of proximity or immediacy.
- For example, if you are holding a book in your hand, you would say, “I am reading this book.” Here, “this” emphasises that the book is right in front of you, within your reach.
“That”:
- “That” refers to something farther away from you, either physically or conceptually. It implies a sense of distance or separation.
- For example, if you are pointing to a building across the street, you might say, “Look at that building!” Here, “that” emphasises the distance between you and the building.
Knowing when to use “these” vs “those” in a sentence involves understanding the number and proximity of the nouns or objects you refer to. Here’s a breakdown of their usage:
“These”:
- “These” refers to multiple things or a group of objects that are closer to you, either physically or conceptually.
- For example, if you have a bunch of keys in your hand, you would say, “I can’t find these keys.” Here, “these” emphasises that the keys are in your immediate vicinity.
“Those”:
- “Those” refers to multiple things or a group of objects that are farther away from you, either physically or conceptually.
- For example, if you are pointing to a group of trees in the distance, you might say, “Look at those trees!” Here, “those” emphasises the distance between you and the trees.
Of course! Edulyte creates free resources so that anyone with the zeal to learn has free access to learning aids. Our English language trainers have created a worksheet in which you can attempt to understand your knowledge about demonstrative adjectives. Go ahead and get your learning score!
