The use of demonstrative pronouns in English. Demonstrative pronouns

A pronoun (The Pronoun) is a part of speech that is used instead of a noun and adjective. If we take the word “pronoun” literally, then it tells us this itself - we use it as if “instead of a name.”

Pronouns indicate an object that is nearby or at some distance.

Pronouns include:

this, that, these, those, such.

Pronoun forms

  • the only one;
  • multiple.
    Singular: this (this, this, this), that (that, that, that).
    Plural: these (these), those (those).

Demonstrative pronouns this and these

This is my car/ There are these cars on the road.
This table for your work/ These sentences for your task.

Demonstrative pronouns such, the same, it

Such cool boots can make your legs more gracefully

Such cozy buildings are in the heart of the city Such cozy buildings are located in the city center.

Such films can develop intelligence. Such films can develop intelligence.

It is a my food. This is my food.

It is her boots. These are her shoes.

It's not my mind. It's not my business.

The same textbook is at my aunt. My aunt has the same textbook.

The same camera I have, even though my camera is cheaper. I have the same camera, although my camera is cheaper.

The same movie I watched twenty years ago. I watched the same movie twenty years ago.

Demonstrative pronouns that and those

That girl is younger than me. This girl is younger than me.

That newspaper is more interesting than mine. This newspaper is more interesting than mine.

That notebook is not much more than him. This notebook is not much larger than his.

Those kids behave quietly. These children behave calmly.

Those magazines are not better than mine. These magazines are no better than mine.

Those movies are not worth watching. These films are not worth watching.

Difference between this and it

This is her book / It is a book This is her book (this is her book) / This is her book.

This is your room where you can be yourself. / It is a room for your rest. This is a room where you can be yourself / This is a room for you to relax.

This is not your account, but it is not hers. It's not your account, but it's not hers either.

Use of demonstrative pronouns

  1. Used to express disdain:
    This is your worker
    Mommy, this is Jorsh, my boyfriend. Mom, this is George, my boyfriend.
  2. Used in a temporal context, when we are talking about the proximity of an object not only in place, but also in time:
    This November I would like to do something interesting. This November I would like to do something interesting.
    This Monday I will be in France. This Monday I will be in France.
  3. Used in stable phrases, for example, this city, this country:
    I found out in country this something interesting thing. I found some interesting thing in this city.
    I would like to move in this city. I would like to move to the city.
  4. Used to determine the quality of a particular thing:
    Such big scarf don't suit you. Such a long scarf doesn't suit you.
    Such small garden can’t accommodate all the decorative elements. In such small garden decorative elements will not fit.
  5. Can be used to define a noun. The presence of adjectives means that you don’t need to use an article before a noun:
    This scarf is hers. This scarf is hers.
    These books are Mary's. These are the books of Mary.
  6. Used when you need to talk about a thing either to a person who is nearby (this, these) or far away (that, those):
    Look at that guy over there. This guy is trying to steal your coat. Look at this guy there. This guy is trying to steal your coat.
    Look at that picture over there. This is a picture of a famous author. Look at the picture over there. This is a painting by a famous author.
  7. Used as a subject:
    Is that what is your friend looking for? Is this what your friend is looking for?
    What is that? What is this?
  8. Used as a supplement:
    Why is Katy doing that? Why is Katya doing this?
    Do you remember that? Do you remember this?
  9. Used to avoid repetition:
    The summer temperature in Russia is lower than that in France. The summer temperature in Russia is higher than (temperature) in France.
  10. The demonstrative pronouns this, that, these, those and it are often found in English proverbs and sayings of famous people. Let's look at them:

This is a small world./ It is a small world. - The world is small.
That's a car of another color. - That car is a different color./ This is a completely different matter.

That which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger. (Friedrich Nietzche) - What doesn't kill us makes us stronger. (Friedrich Nietzsche).

Those who are free of resentful thoughts will surely find peace. (Buddha) - Those who are free from feelings of resentment definitely find peace. (Buddha).

Those who know how to think need no teachers. (Mahatma Gandhi) - Those who know how to think do not need teachers. (Mahatma Gandhi).

Example sentences
This flowers are beautiful. This flower is beautiful.
Those cities are colorful. These cities are colorful.
This is his or your bag? Is this your bag?
This city ​​is a wonderful as yours? Is this city as beautiful as yours (city)?
These places are very nice. These places are very nice.
I love this beach, it brings me about freedom. I love this beach, it reminds me of freedom.
I love these songs, they sound better on the recorder. I love these songs, they sound better on the radio.
I’ve never seen a better place than this. I've never seen a better place than this.

It's the cat who walks by himself? Is this a cat that walks by itself?
This vase belongs to my grandmother. This vase belongs to my grandmother.
This coat don’t belong to your sister, because it is my coat since I bought it in the summer. This raincoat does not belong to your sister, because it is my raincoat from the time I bought it in the summer.

Friends, we have already looked at many types of pronouns in the English language. Another section of pronouns in English that is necessary and important to know for everyone who studies this language is demonstrative pronouns.

Demonstrative pronouns or demonstrative pronouns are pronouns that point to a person or thing. Those who study English often encounter demonstrative pronouns in texts, speech, and dialogues. But they probably don’t think about how these words are called in English grammar, but use them mechanically.

And these words - here they are: this, that, these, those, such, the same. They are found in every text, in every conversation in English. And now we will take a closer look at each of them, its grammatical function and role in the sentence.

This/that and their plurals

Demonstrative pronouns in English This (this) and That (that) in a sentence indicate an object or person:

  • This is an apple. - Thisapple.
  • That is a lamp. - Thatlamp.
  • I like this girl very much, she is so beautiful. — I really like this girl, she is so beautiful.
  • That boy in the hall is so nice. - ThatboyVhallsuchCute.

In questions, these pronouns can act as independent words. For example:

  • What is this? - WhatThis?
  • What is that? - WhatThat?

The plural demonstrative pronouns This/That have the forms These (these) and Those (those). Note:

  • These apples are red. - Theseapples- red.
  • Those copy-books are thin. — Thosenotebooks- thin.
  • These men are sportsmen. — These men are athletes.
  • Those girls are students. — Thosegirls— female students.

Don't forget about Such!

  • Such smalldetailswillmakeyourapartmentlookcomfortable. — Such small details can make your apartment cozy.
  • I don't like such greedy people. “I don’t like such greedy people.”


A few words about “The same”

It is worth mentioning this expression, which has the function of a demonstrative pronoun in English. As a rule, the same is translated as “the same, the same, the same,” etc. Pay attention to this pronoun in speech situations:

  • Have a nice day! The same to you. - Have a good oneto youday! Same to you.
  • Ihavethe same dress. - I have the same dress.
  • I have the same furniture at home. — Umelike thissamefurnitureHouses.
  • The same skirt I saw at the supermarket. - Like thissameskirtIsawVsupermarket.

Demonstrative pronouns in a sentence


Demonstrative pronouns in English sentences can act as various members of a sentence.

  • Subject: This is the main desire in my life. - This is the main desire of my life.
  • Addition:Shetoldmeaboutthat . - She told me about it.
  • Definition:This dressismine. - This dress is mine.

Well, that’s all, friends, that we wanted to tell you about demonstrative pronouns in English. To better consolidate them in memory and “get your teeth into” using them in speech, compose sentences with them, use them in short dialogues, perform appropriate grammar and speech exercises; this way you will quickly get used to them. See you again and good luck to you!

Demonstrative pronouns
This
this, this, this
This is my car.
This is my car.
Close.
One item.
These
these
These are my cars.
These are my cars.
Close.
Several items.
That
this, this, this, that
That is my car.
This is my car.
Far.
One item.
Those
then, those
Those are my car.
Those are my cars.
Far.
Several items.
Such
such
Such is his will.
This is his will.
Certain qualities.
Plural and one number.
This is my car.
This is my car.
Close
One will accept
These are my cars.
These are my cars.
Close
Multiple items
That is my car.
This is my car.
Far
One will accept
Those are my car.
Those are my cars.
Far
Multiple items
Such is his will.
This is his will.
Certain qualities
Plural and one number

Demonstrative pronouns(Demonstrative Pronouns) indicate a person, object, phenomenon, their signs, time, without naming them. They can independently act in a sentence as a subject (who? what?) or an object (whom? what? what?).

In Russian there are no strict rules for expressing the distance of objects, therefore that / those can be translated as " this / these", as well as " That / those».

  • That was tasty.- It was delicious.
  • I won't do that.- I won't do this.
  • That cake was tasty.- This pie was delicious.
  • Those were my sneakers.- Those were my sneakers.
  • Those sneakers were mine.- Those sneakers were mine.

This and These

Both pronouns this(this) and these(these) indicate a person or thing located next to the speaker, as well as phenomena that occurred recently or in the current period of time. This These

  • This will be your new room.- This will be your new room.
  • Who put is this here?-Who put this here?
  • This accident has happened just 5 minutes ago.– This incident happened only 5 minutes ago.
  • Are these Jack's friends?– Are these Jack’s friends?
  • I will spend these holidays in Spain.– I will spend these holidays in Spain.

This And these also used when introducing people or to introduce yourself over the phone.

  • Mom, these are my friends Jane and Paul.– Mom, these are my friends Jane and Paul.
  • Hello! This is Martin Johnson from ABC company.- Hello! This is Martin Johnson from ABC.

That and Those

Both pronouns that(that) and those(those) indicate a person or thing located far from the speaker, as well as phenomena that happened a long time ago or those that will occur in the distant future. That used for singular numbers only. Those– to indicate the plural.

  • That boy is Kelly's son.“That boy is Kelly’s son.”
  • That is my house. It's pretty far from here.- This is my home. It is relatively far from here.
  • Linda and Matt got engaged. Have you heard about that? Linda and Matt got engaged. You've heard about it?
  • Those were my drawings.- Those were my drawings.
  • I still have those books you gave me 10 years ago.– I still have those books that you gave me 10 years ago.

It/this/that?

Pronoun it(this) can replace this. In most cases the speaker can use pronouns it, this, that at will.

  • This is your book.- This is your book.
  • It is your book.- This is your book.
  • This is a good idea!- That's a good idea!
  • That is a good idea!- That's a good idea!
  • It is a good idea!- That's a good idea!

That(that) is always used in emotional, harsh and decisive statements or in stable phrases and expressions.

  • Oh my goodness! That's awful!- Oh my God! It's horrible!
  • That was a very bad action, Jack, I’m disappointed.“It was a very bad thing, Jack.” I am disappointed.
  • That's right.- This is right. Exactly.
  • That's all right.- Everything is fine.
  • That's it.- Exactly.
  • That's all.- This is all. That's all.
  • That's why.- That's why. That's why.
  • And all that.- Etc.

Such

Pronoun such(such) indicates certain qualities of a person or object. It is often followed by an explanation.

  • Such is his point of view.- That is his opinion.
  • Such was this person. It was hard to communicate with him.- He was such a person. It was difficult to communicate with him.

When after such follows a singular noun, then the indefinite article is used a / an. The article is not used with plural nouns.

  • Today is such an important day for you!– Today is such an important day for you!
  • Such details don’t bother anyone.“Such details don’t bother anyone.”

There are four in English demonstrative pronouns (demonstrative pronouns): this (these), that (those), such And same.
Demonstratives point to a person, object or their signs and serve to distinguish them from other persons, objects, signs.

Demonstrative pronouns this, these, that, those

1. Demonstrative pronouns this/these are nearby with the speaker. And pronouns that/that point to objects that deleted from the speaker.

Examples: Take this plum. It looks very ripe. - Take it this plum She looks very ripe. (We are talking about a plum that the speaker sees right in front of him or holds in his hand)
That house is very beautiful. – That (this) the house is very beautiful. (We are talking about a house located at some distance from the speaker)

2. Before the noun to which the demonstrative pronoun refers this, these, that, those, .

Examples: I have read that book twice. - I've read that book twice.
Those houses are rather new. – Those the houses are quite new.

3. In expressions of time, demonstrative pronouns this/these refer to moment of speech or to current time period. A that/that to the past moment or future.

Examples: Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. – Louis, I think that This the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
I remember that he woke up early that morning. – I remember that he woke up those early in the morning.

4. After pronouns this And that pronoun is often used one, in order not to repeat the previously mentioned noun twice.

Examples: Will you give me another cola? I don't like this one. -Give me another cola. I don't like this.

5. In the meaning of the demonstrative pronoun instead that sometimes a pronoun is used it. It V in this case translated as This.

Examples: What is that? - What This? (singular)
It is my cocktail dress. - This is my cocktail dress.
But!
What are these? - What is this? (plural)
They are my dresses. - These are my dresses.

6. Demonstrative pronouns that And this are often part of established expressions in the English language.

That's right. - It's right. Everything is correct. Exactly.
That's a bit of all right. - Great.
Not at all! That's all right. - Please, no thanks.
Like this. - Thus.
Like that before. - Thus.
To know better that that. - Be smarter.
Oh, hardly that. - No, not really. Not at all about that.
And all that. - Etc.
That's why. - That's why.
After that. - After that.
So that's that. - That's it. Such and such things.
etc.

Demonstrative pronouns such and same

1. Demonstrative pronoun such translated as such, such.

Examples: There are such interesting people here! - There is such interesting people!
Why don't all Chinese restaurants serve such delicious food? – Why don’t all Chinese restaurants serve such yummy?

2. Pronoun such defines a noun. If it comes before a singular countable noun, then after such used .

Examples: It is such an honor to be nominated for this award. - This like this honored to be nominated for this award.

3. Demonstrative pronoun same has the meaning the same, same. Before same always put .

Examples: Don't tell me the same. - Do not tell me the same.
She bought the same perfumes - She bought same perfume.

Online pronunciation of demonstrative pronouns in English.

Pronouns this - this, this, this and these - these point to objects in close proximity to the interlocutor

Pronouns that - that, that, then and those - those point to more distant objects.

Pronunciation of demonstrative pronouns

12. Demonstrative pronouns.

  • - [ðɪs] -
  • this, this, this
  • these
  • - [ðiːz] -

listen online

Example of using these

I found these photos while I was cleaning out my cupboards. - I found these photos while cleaning out my closet.

The pronoun these, like this, refers to objects that the speaker is holding in his hands or that are directly in front of him. This - indicates one item (singular form), and these - indicates a group of items (plural form)

  • - [ðæt] -
  • that, that, that

listen online

Example of using that

That pencil is yours. - That pencil is yours.

We are talking about a pencil not being in close proximity to the speaker.

That indicates an object that is at some distance from the speaker.

  • those
  • - [ðəʊz] -

listen online

Example of using those

I like those flowers - I like those flowers.

The pronouns that and those indicate more distant objects. That - indicates one thing (singular form), and those - indicates a group of items (plural form)

  • - -
  • such, such

In some cases, the pronoun it is used in the meaning of the demonstrative pronoun

Using one with the pronouns this, that.

After the pronouns this and that, the pronoun one is often used to avoid repetition of the previously mentioned noun:

This book is mine, and that one is yours. - This book is mine, and that one is yours.

Using pronouns in tense expressions

This in time expressions refers to the moment of conversation or the current time period. Example:

I am busy at this moment. - I'm busy at the moment.

That to a moment or period of time in the past or future. Example:

I am going to call on him at five o"clock. I hope he will come home by that time. - I'm going to see him at five o'clock. I hope he comes home by this time.

In Russian, the demonstrative pronoun this (these) is often used not only to indicate close objects or to denote the current moment in time, but also to indicate more distant objects whose objects are not present, and to denote past and future moments or periods of time . Therefore, the pronoun this (these) in English in some cases corresponds to this (these), and in others to that (those). Example:

  • I'll go south this summer. - I shall go to the south this summer.
  • I usually work in this room.- I usually work in this room.
  • IN At that moment I heard a noise in the corridor.- At that moment I heard a noise in the corridor.
  • Come at 5 o'clock. I'll be home at this time. - Come at five o'clock. I shall be at home at that time.

Demonstrative pronouns have separate forms for singular and plural:

Singular this - this, this, this, that - that, that, then.

Plural of these - these, those - those.

Demonstrative pronouns are used as noun pronouns as well as in quality adjective pronouns

Demonstrative pronoun-adjective, being a determiner of a noun, excludes the use of an article before the noun to which it refers. When the noun to which the demonstrative pronoun refers is preceded by other definitions, then the demonstrative pronoun, like any determiner, is placed before them:

  • He lives in that house. - He lives in this house.
  • He lives in that white house. - He lives in that white house.

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