What Are Demonstrative Adjectives?
Demonstrative adjectives are words that come before a noun to show which specific person, thing, or place we are talking about. In English, there are four demonstrative adjectives: this, that, these, and those. They help us point to something and make it clear whether we are referring to something close or far away, and whether we mean one thing or more than one.
Unlike demonstrative pronouns — which stand alone and replace a noun — demonstrative adjectives always appear directly before a noun. They modify the noun and give the listener or reader essential information about distance, number, and sometimes even emotional attitude. Mastering these four small words is fundamental to speaking clear, precise English.
Think of demonstrative adjectives as invisible fingers. When you say this book, you are pointing at a book near you. When you say that mountain, you are pointing at something in the distance. They are among the first words English learners encounter, yet even advanced speakers sometimes confuse their usage, especially when it comes to time expressions and emotional distance.
This → singular + near
That → singular + far
These → plural + near
Those → plural + far
A demonstrative adjective is always followed by a noun. It never stands alone in a sentence when used as an adjective.
| Distance | Singular | Plural | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near | this | these | This chair is comfortable. |
| Near | this | these | These flowers smell wonderful. |
| Far | that | those | That building is very old. |
| Far | that | those | Those clouds look like rain. |
If you can replace the word with "the" and the sentence still makes sense, you are likely looking at a demonstrative adjective. This car → The car. The demonstrative adjective simply adds information about distance that "the" does not provide.
This and That — Singular Forms
The singular demonstrative adjectives this and that are used when we refer to one single noun. The key difference between them is distance: this points to something close to the speaker, while that points to something further away.
This + singular noun → near the speaker
That + singular noun → far from the speaker
Both this and that are used with singular countable nouns and with uncountable nouns.
| Adjective | Distance | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| this | near | This coffee is too hot to drink. |
| this | near | This laptop belongs to my colleague. |
| this | near | This music reminds me of my childhood. |
| this | near | This weather is perfect for a picnic. |
| that | far | That restaurant across the street looks nice. |
| that | far | That idea sounds brilliant. |
| that | far | That mountain in the distance is covered in snow. |
| that | far | That noise is coming from the basement. |
Do not use this or that with plural nouns:
✘ This books are interesting.
✔ These books are interesting.
✘ That students are from London.
✔ Those students are from London.
With uncountable nouns, always use the singular forms this and that — never these or those:
✔ This information is very useful.
✔ That furniture looks expensive.
✘ These information are very useful.
These and Those — Plural Forms
When we want to point to more than one person, thing, or place, we use the plural demonstrative adjectives these and those. Like their singular counterparts, the choice between them depends on the distance from the speaker.
These + plural noun → near the speaker (more than one)
Those + plural noun → far from the speaker (more than one)
These and those can only be used with countable plural nouns. They cannot be used with uncountable nouns.
| Adjective | Distance | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| these | near | These shoes are very comfortable. |
| these | near | These cookies taste amazing. |
| these | near | These children are playing in the garden. |
| these | near | These questions are quite difficult. |
| those | far | Those birds on the roof are pigeons. |
| those | far | Those cars parked outside are blocking the road. |
| those | far | Those mountains in the background are the Alps. |
| those | far | Those people at the back of the hall cannot hear the speaker. |
Do not use these or those with singular nouns:
✘ These car is very fast.
✔ This car is very fast.
✘ Those house on the hill is for sale.
✔ That house on the hill is for sale.
Always remember the pairs: this → these (near) and that → those (far). When converting a sentence from singular to plural, change the demonstrative adjective and the noun together:
This student → These students
That window → Those windows
Near vs Far — Distance Rules
The core principle behind demonstrative adjectives is distance. However, "distance" does not always mean physical distance. It can also refer to emotional distance, psychological closeness, or distance in time. Understanding these different types of distance is the key to using demonstrative adjectives naturally.
Physical distance → how far the object is from the speaker
Temporal distance → how close or far the time reference is
Emotional distance → how the speaker feels about the topic
All three types of distance follow the same rule: this/these = close, that/those = far.
| Type of Distance | Near (this/these) | Far (that/those) |
|---|---|---|
| Physical — objects | This pen in my hand writes well. | That pen on your desk is mine. |
| Physical — places | This room is very bright. | That room at the end of the hall is dark. |
| Physical — people | These students here are from Berlin. | Those students over there are from Paris. |
| Temporal — present | This week has been very busy. | That week was the hardest of my life. |
| Temporal — future | This Saturday, we are going hiking. | — |
| Temporal — past | — | Those days in university were wonderful. |
| Emotional — positive | This is such a lovely garden! | — |
| Emotional — negative | — | I do not want to talk about that problem. |
| Conversation — introducing | Listen to this joke. | — |
| Conversation — referring back | — | That story you told was hilarious. |
Distance is always relative to the speaker, not the listener. If you are holding a book, you say this book. If the book is on a shelf across the room from you, you say that book — even if someone else is standing right next to the shelf.
When introducing yourself on the phone, use this because you are referring to yourself (near): Hello, this is Sarah speaking. When asking who the other person is, you can use either: Who is this? (neutral) or Who is that? (slightly more informal).
Demonstrative Adjectives in Time Expressions
One of the most useful applications of demonstrative adjectives is in time expressions. We use this and these for present and upcoming time periods, and that and those for past or distant time periods. This distinction helps speakers communicate when something happened or will happen relative to the present moment.
This / These + time word → current or upcoming period
That / Those + time word → past or distant period
When the time period includes the present moment, use this. When the time period is entirely in the past, use that.
| Time Reference | This / These (Now / Near) | That / Those (Past / Far) |
|---|---|---|
| Morning | This morning I had cereal for breakfast. | That morning in Tokyo was unforgettable. |
| Week | This week we have three meetings. | That week in July was incredibly hot. |
| Month | This month I am starting a new course. | That month was the most productive of the year. |
| Year | This year we plan to travel to New York. | That year everything changed for the company. |
| Summer | This summer is going to be very hot. | That summer in London was rainy every day. |
| Day | These days, everyone uses smartphones. | In those days, there were no computers. |
| Time | This time, we will be more careful. | At that time, nobody knew the answer. |
| Weekend | This weekend we are having a barbecue. | That weekend at the beach was fantastic. |
These days means "nowadays" or "currently" and refers to the present period:
✔ These days, I prefer working from home.
Those days means "back then" and refers to a past period:
✔ In those days, people wrote letters by hand.
Do not confuse them — they have very different time references.
In informal speech, this is sometimes used in time expressions even for a past event when the speaker is telling a story and wants to make it feel vivid and immediate: So this one time, I was walking through the park and... This is a storytelling technique that brings the listener into the moment.
Special Uses and Expressions
Beyond simple distance and time, demonstrative adjectives appear in many fixed expressions and special uses in English. Understanding these patterns will help you sound more natural and fluent in both spoken and written English.
Emotional distance is one of the most interesting uses. We can use that and those to create a sense of disapproval, annoyance, or emotional separation from something. Conversely, this and these can express closeness, warmth, or enthusiasm.
| Special Use | Adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Introducing someone | this / these | This is my friend, James. These are my parents. |
| Phone conversations | this | Hello, this is Dr. Brown speaking. |
| Annoyance or disapproval | that / those | I cannot stand that neighbour and his loud music. |
| Enthusiasm or excitement | this | You have to try this cake — it is incredible! |
| Referring to a shared experience | that | Do you remember that holiday in Barcelona? |
| Contrasting two things | this / that | This option is cheap, but that option is better quality. |
| Storytelling | this | So there was this man at the train station... |
| Dismissing something | that | I do not want to hear about that nonsense. |
| Expressing size or degree | this / that | I did not expect the queue to be this long. |
| Fixed expression | this | At this point, there is nothing we can do. |
In informal English, this and that can be used like adverbs to indicate degree or extent. This usage is common in speech but should be avoided in formal writing:
✔ I did not think the exam would be that difficult. (informal, meaning "so difficult")
✔ The room is about this big. (informal, often with a gesture)
In formal writing, use so or very instead.
Many common English expressions use demonstrative adjectives. Memorise these useful phrases:
• at this point — now, at the current stage
• this way — in this direction or manner
• that kind of — a type of something
• these days — nowadays
• those were the days — remembering good times in the past
• at that moment — exactly at a specific past time
The power of language lies in the small words — this, that, these, those — for they are the fingers with which we point at the world and give it meaning.
— The Grammar GazetteExample Sentences
The following example sentences demonstrate demonstrative adjectives in a variety of everyday contexts. Study them carefully to see how this, that, these, and those are used naturally in different types of sentences.
Demonstrative Adjectives in Conversations
In real conversations, demonstrative adjectives play a vital role in making speech clear and coherent. They help speakers refer to shared knowledge, point to items in the environment, and keep track of topics being discussed. Here are some typical conversational patterns.
| Situation | Speaker A | Speaker B |
|---|---|---|
| Shopping | How much is this jacket? | This one is 45 pounds. That one over there is 60. |
| At a restaurant | I will have this salad, please. | Excellent choice. Would you like those bread rolls as well? |
| In an office | Can you send me those files from yesterday? | Sure. Do you also need this spreadsheet I made today? |
| Giving directions | Is that the museum on the corner? | No, that is the library. The museum is this building right here. |
| At school | These exercises are really hard! | Those exercises from last week were much easier. |
| Reminiscing | Do you remember those holidays in Greece? | Of course! Those trips were the best part of my childhood. |
| Introducing | These are my colleagues, Anna and Ben. | Nice to meet you! Is that your boss over there? |
| Complaining | That noise from the construction site is terrible. | I know. These headaches are getting worse every day. |
In conversations, we often start with this/these when introducing a new topic, and then switch to that/those when referring back to something already mentioned. For example: "I have this great idea for the project." (introducing) → "That idea sounds wonderful!" (referring back).
When two or more people are talking about objects near different speakers, demonstrative adjectives can be confusing. Add extra words to be clear:
✘ Give me that book. (Which one? Could be unclear.)
✔ Give me that book on the top shelf. (Clear and specific.)
✔ Give me that blue book next to the lamp. (Even more specific.)
Common Mistakes
Even though demonstrative adjectives are among the first grammar points learners study, mistakes are surprisingly common. This section covers the most frequent errors and shows you how to correct them. Pay close attention to the number agreement, the difference between adjectives and pronouns, and the incorrect combinations that many learners make.
| Mistake Type | Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Singular adj. + plural noun | ✘ This dogs are friendly. | ✔ These dogs are friendly. |
| Plural adj. + singular noun | ✘ Those car is expensive. | ✔ That car is expensive. |
| Plural adj. + uncountable noun | ✘ These furniture are new. | ✔ This furniture is new. |
| Wrong verb agreement | ✘ This books is interesting. | ✔ These books are interesting. |
| Using "the" with demonstrative | ✘ The this chair is broken. | ✔ This chair is broken. |
| Double demonstrative | ✘ This that problem is serious. | ✔ That problem is serious. |
| Missing noun (when adj. is needed) | ✘ I want this. (when pointing at a type of item) | ✔ I want this cake. (with the noun specified) |
| Mixing near/far in same context | ✘ This mountain over there is very tall. | ✔ That mountain over there is very tall. |
| Wrong time reference | ✘ In this days, life was simpler. (about the past) | ✔ In those days, life was simpler. |
| Using "a" with demonstrative | ✘ I bought a this book yesterday. | ✔ I bought this book yesterday. |
The most common mistake with demonstrative adjectives is number disagreement — using a singular demonstrative with a plural noun or vice versa. Always check that the demonstrative adjective matches the noun in number:
✘ This students are hardworking.
✔ These students are hardworking.
✘ These child needs help.
✔ This child needs help.
Demonstrative adjectives replace articles. You cannot use a, an, or the together with a demonstrative adjective:
✘ I like the these shoes.
✔ I like these shoes.
✘ She bought an that umbrella.
✔ She bought that umbrella.
When you write a sentence with a demonstrative adjective, ask yourself three questions:
1. Is the noun singular or plural? (Choose this/that or these/those accordingly.)
2. Is the noun near or far? (Choose this/these or that/those accordingly.)
3. Is the noun countable or uncountable? (Uncountable nouns always take this/that, never these/those.)
If all three answers match your choice, the sentence is correct.
Demonstrative Adjectives vs Demonstrative Pronouns
One of the trickiest aspects of demonstrative words in English is that the same four words — this, that, these, and those — can function as either adjectives or pronouns. The difference lies in whether they appear before a noun (adjective) or stand alone in place of a noun (pronoun). Recognising this distinction is crucial for understanding English grammar at a deeper level.
Demonstrative Adjective + Noun → modifies the noun
Demonstrative Pronoun (no noun) → replaces the noun
If the word is followed by a noun, it is an adjective. If it stands alone, it is a pronoun.
| Feature | Demonstrative Adjective | Demonstrative Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Before a noun | Stands alone (no noun after) |
| Function | Modifies / describes the noun | Replaces the noun entirely |
| Example with "this" | This book is mine. | This is mine. |
| Example with "that" | I like that painting. | I like that. |
| Example with "these" | These apples are ripe. | These are ripe. |
| Example with "those" | Those students passed the exam. | Those passed the exam. |
| Can replace a noun? | ✘ No | ✔ Yes |
| Needs a noun after it? | ✔ Yes, always | ✘ No, never |
| Singular forms | this + noun, that + noun | this, that (alone) |
| Plural forms | these + noun, those + noun | these, those (alone) |
The simplest test: look at the word immediately after this, that, these, or those. If the next word is a noun, it is a demonstrative adjective. If the next word is a verb (or the sentence ends), it is a demonstrative pronoun.
• This cake is delicious. → Adjective (followed by noun "cake")
• This is delicious. → Pronoun (followed by verb "is")
Be careful not to confuse the demonstrative adjective that with the conjunction that. They look the same but have completely different functions:
✔ That book is interesting. (demonstrative adjective — modifies "book")
✔ I know that she is coming. (conjunction — connects two clauses)
The conjunction that is never followed by a noun directly; it introduces a clause.
Keep this mental map handy:
• Near + Singular → this (+ noun = adjective, alone = pronoun)
• Near + Plural → these (+ noun = adjective, alone = pronoun)
• Far + Singular → that (+ noun = adjective, alone = pronoun)
• Far + Plural → those (+ noun = adjective, alone = pronoun)