Demonstrative Pronouns and Their Uses
Demonstrative pronouns (also called deictic pronouns) point to a noun, phrase, clause, sentence, implied thought, or sometimes another pronoun, directly. They identify particular people or things. The demonstrative pronouns are: Singular forms: this, that. Plural forms: these, those.
This and these point to objects that are close in time, space, or thought. That and those point to objects which are remote in time, space, or thought. They are often used with the words kind, type, category, and sort referring to "one class" of object. Also, in the singular version only, you often find this and that paired with the word "one".
Examples of demonstrative pronouns include:
- This is your chair.
- That is my office.
- These are my mittens.
- Those are your shoes.
- This one is chocolate; that one is strawberry.
- This kind of car is built for speed.
- That sort of movie always makes me laugh.
- This type of plant requires six to eight hours of full sun each day.
- These sorts of schools are intended to train students in technical skills.
- Those kinds of books make excellent references.
- Designers will compete for prizes in these five categories: Evening, Swim, Business, Weekend Casual, and Sports.