Demonstrative pronounsJULIA NAVARRO GUTIÉRREZ

Demonstrative pronouns

• This, That, These, Those are called demonstratives and they are used to show the relative distance between the speaker and the noun.

Use this (singular) and these (plural) to talk about things close to us

Use that (singular) and those (plural) to talk about things at some distance away from us.

CLOSE TO US

AWAY FROM US

SINGULAR THIS THAT

PLURAL THESE THOSE

• Examples:This is my cat (singular)These are my children (plural)That is our car (singular)Those are my shoes (plural)

• Note that the verb changes (singular / plural) depending on the pronoun that you use

This/These = HERE

That/Those = THERE

• You can also use Demonstrative Pronouns by themselves: Did you do that? I’d like to buy those Which of these would you like?

Present vs. Past• If an action is near in time we tend to use this / these.

If an action has finished or is in the past we use that / those.• Examples: This is a good film. (we're watching it now)

That was a good film. (we saw it at some time in the past)

Introducing people

• This is• Use ‘this’ to introduce one person to another one. The

expression this is is commonly used when you talk on the phone or you introduce people.

• Examples: Hello, this is Peter.

Carol, this is my friend Simon. Simon, this is Carol.

You’re doing a great job!