Demonstrative Pronouns

A demonstrative pronoun points to something the speaker has in mind and stands in its place, so you don't have to name it again. Instead of saying this book is mine, you can just say this is mine — the word this does the whole job.

There are exactly four of them in English: this, that, these, those. They tell the listener two things at once — how many, and how close.

The four forms

The system splits along two axes: singular or plural, near or far.

This and these point to what is close. That and those point to what is distant. The singular forms replace one thing; the plural forms replace a group.

In every sentence above, the demonstrative replaces a noun entirely — there is no noun sitting next to it. That is what makes it a pronoun.

Space — near and far

The most common use is physical distance. This and these are for objects within arm's reach, in the speaker's hand, or right in front of them. That and those are for objects across the room, down the street, or anywhere the speaker is not.

The distance is always measured from the speaker, not from the listener. If Sarah holds up a photo and James stands five metres away, Sarah says this photo even though it is far from James.

Time — now and then

Demonstratives also mark time. This and these refer to the current moment or the recent past. That and those refer to something finished, distant, or historical.

A short note on the common phrase those days — it almost always means a finished period the speaker is looking back on, often with nostalgia or regret.

On the phone and at introductions

English uses demonstratives in two social situations where other languages often use personal pronouns. When you identify yourself on a phone call, the word is this, not I. When you ask who is on the other end, the word is that, not you.

The same pattern works when introducing people face to face. You point with this (for someone next to you) or that (for someone across the room).

Pronoun or determiner

The same four words — this, that, these, those — have two jobs in English. They can replace a noun, or they can sit in front of one.

When the word stands alone and acts as the subject or object of the sentence, it is a pronoun — the topic of this lesson. When it sits in front of a noun and modifies it, it is a determiner, which is covered separately.

The test is simple: if you can remove the noun and the sentence still works, the demonstrative was a pronoun waiting to happen.

The "these ones / those ones" question

In spoken English, many people say these ones or those ones when pointing at a group of things — I'll take these ones. It is common and no one will misunderstand you.

In careful or formal writing, however, the bare forms are preferred. The word ones is considered redundant because these and those already carry the plural meaning.

The same applies to the singular this one and that one, which are fully accepted because this and that can feel incomplete on their own when a single item is being chosen from several.

Common mistakes

Singular and plural forms

Near and far confusion

On the phone

Introductions

Time reference