Demonstrative Pronouns
A2 · ElementaryPronounsThis, that, these, and those can stand in for a noun all by themselves — the trick is picking the right one for distance and number.
What you'll learn
- This/that/these/those used alone, in place of a noun
- How near vs far and singular vs plural decide which word to use
- How this use differs from this/that/these/those placed directly before a noun
- Common mistakes: number mismatches, and mixing up near and far
The core idea
A demonstrative pronoun stands in for a noun and points at something at the same time. Instead of naming the thing again, you just say this, that, these, or those.
Compare: "This bag is heavy" names the noun (bag) and describes it. "This is heavy" drops the noun entirely — this does the pointing and the naming both at once. That second sentence is the demonstrative pronoun use this lesson focuses on.
Four words, two questions
English has only four demonstrative pronouns, and choosing the right one comes down to two questions: Is it near or far? Is it one thing or more than one?
This = near + singular ("This is mine."). That = far + singular ("That is hers."). These = near + plural ("These are new."). Those = far + plural ("Those are outside.").
Unlike many languages, none of these four words change for gender or grammatical case — that/those never becomes a different word because the thing it replaces is masculine, feminine, or neuter. The only thing that changes the word is distance and number.
Near and far — space, and sometimes time
"Near" usually means physically close to you — in your hand, on your desk, right in front of you. "Far" means farther away — across the room, outside, down the street. "I love this" (holding a coffee) versus "I love that" (pointing at a painting across the gallery).
The same near/far idea also shows up with time and conversation, not just physical space. Something happening right now or just mentioned often gets this/these; something already finished, or further back in the conversation, often gets that/those. "This is a busy week" (the current week) versus "That was a busy week" (a week that's already over).
One clear example: on the phone, American English typically uses "this" for yourself and often for the person you're asking about, since the call itself feels "near": "Hi, is this Maria?" "Yes, this is Maria." British English speakers more often say "Is that Maria?" instead — a small, genuine difference in everyday phone habits, not a rule either side gets "wrong."
A quick note: this/that/these/those before a noun
These same four words can also sit directly in front of a noun instead of replacing it — this book, that email, these forms, those cars. In that job they're called determiners, not pronouns, and they follow the same near/far and singular/plural logic you just learned.
This lesson focuses on the pronoun use, where the word stands completely alone ("These are new."). The determiner use ("These shoes are new.") gets its own full treatment in Lingverly's upcoming Determiners & Quantifiers category — so for now, just notice that the same four words can do both jobs.
Real English
Watch out
"This" is singular, but "shoes" (a pair, treated as plural) needs the plural pronoun "these" and the plural verb "are."
"That's" means "that is," which is singular. For more than one thing, use the plural form "those are," not the singular contraction.
"Them" is an object pronoun (like "I saw them"), not a demonstrative. To point at plural things, standard English uses "those," not "them."
When introducing someone who is right there with you, English idiomatically uses "this" — even though it might feel like "that" should work for a person standing beside you.
Real life — Ordering at a coffee counter
"Can I get one of these, please?" (pointing at pastries in the case)
"Sure — the blueberry muffin. Would you like one of those cookies too?" (pointing farther down the counter)
"Yes, and this coffee smells amazing — is it fresh?"
"Just brewed! That'll be six seventy-five."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Notice the pronoun use
Which sentence uses "this" as a pronoun standing alone (not directly before a noun)?
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct word
You're on a video call, holding up a phone to show a friend. Which word fits: "___ is my new phone."
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct sentence
You're standing at your desk, pointing at some documents on a shelf across the room. Which is correct?
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 6 · Sort into groups: near or far
0 / 6 sorted
Exercise 7 · Build the sentence
Exercise 8 · Build the sentence
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
You're browsing a souvenir shop, pointing at postcards right in front of you on the counter. Complete: "___ are beautiful." (one word)
Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence
You're in a dressing room and text a photo of a jacket you're trying on right now to a friend. Complete: "What do you think of ___?" (one word)
Exercise 11 · Fix the mistake
Fix the mistake and type the corrected sentence: "These is my favorite song."
Exercise 12 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Exercise 13 · Real-life scenario
You're on a video call, sharing a chart on your own screen right now. Which is the natural way to introduce it?
Exercise 14 · Real-life scenario
At a farmers market, the vendor points to apples close to the stand and asks which fruit you'd like. You point to a basket of grapes at the far end of the table. Complete: "I'll take ___." (one word)
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to see what's sticking about this, that, these, and those.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
Complete the sentence: "Can you pass me ___?" You're pointing at a stapler on the far side of the desk. (one word)
You learned
- This, that, these, and those can stand alone as pronouns, replacing a noun instead of describing it.
- Pick the right word with two questions: near or far, and singular or plural — this (near, one), that (far, one), these (near, more than one), those (far, more than one).
- None of the four words change for gender — only distance and number matter.
- The same four words can also sit before a noun as determiners (this book) — that fuller use belongs to a separate future lesson.
- Watch for number mismatches (this/these) and mixing up near and far, especially with contractions like that's.
Related grammar lessons
Interrogative Pronouns
Learn who, whose, what, and which — the question words you use to ask about a person, an owner, a thing, or a choice — plus a brief, optional note on the more formal "whom."
Reflexive Pronouns
Learn the eight English reflexive pronouns — myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves — how to use them for reflexive meaning and emphasis, and the overcorrection mistake to avoid.
Reciprocal Pronouns: Each Other & One Another
Learn how each other and one another show mutual action between two or more people — plus their possessive forms, and why the old 'each other = 2, one another = 3+' rule is a myth.
Possessive Adjectives vs Possessive Pronouns
Learn the one rule that separates my, your, his, her, its, our, their from mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs — whether a noun comes right after the possessive word, or nothing does.