Demonstrative Adjectives.

1.What are Demonstrative Adjectives?

Demonstrative adjectives help us point to a noun. They show if something is near me or far from me.

We choose them by distance (near/far) and number (singular/plural).

The four demonstrative adjectives are:

Word	Distance	Number	Example
this	near	singular	This chair next to me is comfortable.
that	far	singular	That chair over there is comfortable.
these	near	plural	These chairs next to me are comfortable.
those	far	plural	Those chairs over there are comfortable.

2.Rules & Tips

2.1Position before the noun

When we use this/that/these/those with a noun, they come before the noun.

Pattern: this/that/these/those + noun

• “This chair is comfortable.” (Correct)
• “These chairs are comfortable.” (Correct, not this chairs)
• “That book is interesting.” (Correct, not those book)

When there is another adjective, the demonstrative still comes first: demonstrative + adjective + noun. Say “I want this big apple” and “Those old books are interesting,” not I want this apple big.

2.2A quick note about pronouns

Without a noun, this, that, these, and those are demonstrative pronouns. This page focuses on their adjective use before a noun, but you will often hear the pronoun forms when shopping or pointing.

• “I like this bag.” → “I’ll take this one.”
• “I prefer that jacket.” → “I prefer that one.”
• “I like these shoes.” → “I’ll take these.”

We can use ones after another describing word: “I like the red shoes.” → “I’ll take the red ones.”

2.3Use based on distance

• Near (the speaker): this / these
  • “This pen is mine.”
  • “Can I have these apples here?”
• Far (from the speaker): that / those
  • “That mountain over there is high.”
  • “Do you see those birds?”

2.4Agree in number

Use this / that + singular noun and these / those + plural noun.

2.5Do not use an article too

This, that, these, and those already introduce the noun, so do not add a, an, or the.

• ❌ “this the book” → ✅ “this book”
• ❌ “that a car” → ✅ “that car”

2.6Referring to an idea

In conversation, this and that can also refer to a whole idea. “Let’s meet at six.” — “That’s a good idea.”

3.Demonstratives for time

We also use demonstratives with time words:

• “I have a class this morning.”
• “We are busy this week.”
• “That day was very hot.”
• “These days, I walk to school.”

4.Introducing people and telephone calls

These are common spoken pronoun phrases, rather than adjective uses. Use this when you introduce a person or say who you are on the phone:

• “This is my friend Ana.”
• “Hello, this is Sam.”

To ask or check who a person is, use that: “Who’s that?” / “Is that Ana?”

On the telephone, British English often says “Is that Ana?” and American English often says “Is this Ana?”

5.Quick choice

Choose by distance and number:

	Singular	Plural
Near me	this	these
Far from me	that	those

For example, say “this book” for one book near you and “those books” for books far away. Remember: use a singular noun after this/that and a plural noun after these/those.