Demonstrative determiners are words used to point to specific people, places, animals, or things. The four demonstrative determiners in English are this, that, these, and those. They help us identify nouns based on whether they are singular or plural and near or far from the speaker.
For example, we use this book to refer to one book nearby and those books to refer to several books farther away. Understanding how to use demonstrative determiners correctly helps you write clearer sentences and communicate more effectively in English.
In this guide, you will learn what demonstrative determiners are, how to use this, that, these, and those, and the grammar rules that explain their differences. You will also explore practical examples, comparison tables, common mistakes, and exercises with answers.
Table of Contents
What Are Demonstrative Determiners?
Demonstrative determiners are words that come before nouns to identify specific people, animals, places, or things. They indicate whether something is near or far from the speaker and whether the noun is singular or plural.
There are four demonstrative determiners in English:
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This – Refers to one person or thing that is near.
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That – Refers to one person or thing that is farther away.
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These – Refers to two or more people or things that are near.
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Those – Refers to two or more people or things that are farther away.
Demonstrative Determiners Examples
| Demonstrative Determiner | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This pen is blue. |
| That | Singular | Far | That building is tall. |
| These | Plural | Near | These flowers are beautiful. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those mountains are high. |
The basic rule is simple:
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Use this for one nearby person or thing.
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Use that for one more distant person or thing.
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Use these for multiple nearby people or things.
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Use those for multiple more distant people or things.
Basic Sentence Structure
Demonstrative determiner + noun + verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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This car is expensive.
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That teacher is friendly.
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These books belong to me.
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Those children are playing outside.
Demonstrative determiners can also appear before an adjective that describes the noun.
Structure:
Demonstrative determiner + adjective + noun
Examples:
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This beautiful garden belongs to my grandmother.
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That old building needs repairs.
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These red shoes are comfortable.
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Those tall trees provide shade.
Important: Demonstrative determiners identify nouns. They are different from demonstrative pronouns, which replace nouns.
Compare:
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This book is mine. (This is a demonstrative determiner.)
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This is mine. (This is a demonstrative pronoun.)
Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the word this performs a different grammatical function in each sentence.
Types of Demonstrative Determiners in English
There are four demonstrative determiners in English: this, that, these, and those. We use them before nouns to identify specific people, animals, places, or things.
The choice of demonstrative determiner depends on two important factors:
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Number: Is the noun singular or plural?
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Distance: Is the person or thing near or far from the speaker?
Four Types of Demonstrative Determiners
| Demonstrative Determiner | Number | Distance | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This bag is heavy. |
| That | Singular | Far | That house is beautiful. |
| These | Plural | Near | These pencils are sharp. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those birds are flying. |
Let’s understand each type with simple grammar rules and examples.
1. This – Singular and Near
This is a demonstrative determiner used before a singular noun to identify one person or thing that is near the speaker.
Sentence Structure:
This + singular noun + verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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This book is interesting.
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This chair is comfortable.
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This student speaks English well.
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This phone belongs to my brother.
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This restaurant serves delicious food.
Grammar Rule: Use this with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Examples with uncountable nouns:
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This water is cold.
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This information is useful.
2. That – Singular and Far
That is a demonstrative determiner used before a singular noun to identify one person or thing that is farther away from the speaker.
Sentence Structure:
That + singular noun + verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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That building is very tall.
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That car belongs to my uncle.
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That teacher is friendly.
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That mountain looks beautiful.
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That restaurant is popular.
Grammar Rule: Use that with singular countable nouns and uncountable nouns.
Examples with uncountable nouns:
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That music sounds relaxing.
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That advice was helpful.
3. These – Plural and Near
These is a demonstrative determiner used before a plural noun to identify two or more people or things that are near the speaker.
Sentence Structure:
These + plural noun + plural verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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These books are interesting.
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These flowers smell wonderful.
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These students study English.
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These apples are fresh.
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These shoes are comfortable.
Grammar Rule: Use these with plural countable nouns, not singular or uncountable nouns.
Compare:
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Correct: These books are new.
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Incorrect: These book is new.
4. Those – Plural and Far
Those is a demonstrative determiner used before a plural noun to identify two or more people or things that are farther away from the speaker.
Sentence Structure:
Those + plural noun + plural verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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Those houses are expensive.
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Those children are playing outside.
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Those mountains are covered with snow.
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Those birds are flying south.
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Those students are preparing for exams.
Grammar Rule: Use those with plural countable nouns, not singular or uncountable nouns.
Compare:
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Correct: Those cars are expensive.
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Incorrect: Those car is expensive.
Comparison of This, That, These, and Those
The following table summarizes how the four demonstrative determiners work in English.
| Determiner | Singular or Plural | Near or Far | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| This | Singular | Near | This laptop is mine. |
| That | Singular | Far | That laptop is yours. |
| These | Plural | Near | These laptops are new. |
| Those | Plural | Far | Those laptops are old. |
Remember:
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This and these usually refer to people or things near the speaker.
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That and those usually refer to people or things farther away.
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This and that are used with singular countable nouns or uncountable nouns.
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These and those are used with plural countable nouns.
These distinctions provide the foundation for using demonstrative determiners correctly in everyday English.
How to Use Demonstrative Determiners in English
Demonstrative determiners are used before nouns to identify specific people, places, animals, or things. To use them correctly, you need to understand noun agreement, word order, and sentence structure.
The four demonstrative determiners—this, that, these, and those—can appear in affirmative sentences, negative sentences, and questions. They can also be used with adjectives to describe specific nouns.
Let’s explore the essential grammar rules with examples.
Rule 1: Place Demonstrative Determiners Before Nouns
A demonstrative determiner comes before the noun it identifies. It forms part of a noun phrase and helps the reader or listener understand which person or thing is being discussed.
Basic Structure:
Demonstrative determiner + noun
Examples:
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This computer
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That classroom
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These documents
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Those buildings
A demonstrative determiner can also introduce the subject or object of a sentence.
| Position | Sentence | Demonstrative Determiner |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | This computer works well. | This |
| Subject | Those employees work hard. | Those |
| Object | I bought this jacket. | This |
| Object | She repaired that bicycle. | That |
| Object | We need these documents. | These |
| Object | They visited those museums. | Those |
Remember: Demonstrative determiners are placed before nouns, but the complete noun phrase can appear in different positions within a sentence.
Rule 2: Match Demonstrative Determiners with Noun Number
Demonstrative determiners must agree with the number of the noun they modify.
Use singular demonstrative determiners with singular countable nouns and plural demonstrative determiners with plural countable nouns.
Sentence Structures:
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This/That + singular countable noun
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These/Those + plural countable noun
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| This books are useful. | These books are useful. | Books is plural. |
| These student is clever. | This student is clever. | Student is singular. |
| That houses are old. | Those houses are old. | Houses is plural. |
| Those chair is broken. | That chair is broken. | Chair is singular. |
| This children are happy. | These children are happy. | Children is plural. |
Important: Singular and plural forms are determined by the noun, not by how many people are speaking or listening.
Rule 3: Use Demonstrative Determiners with Uncountable Nouns
Uncountable nouns refer to things that are not normally counted as individual units, such as water, information, furniture, and advice.
Use this or that directly before an uncountable noun. Do not use these or those directly before an uncountable noun in its ordinary uncountable sense.
Examples:
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This information is important.
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That furniture looks expensive.
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This milk tastes fresh.
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That advice helped me.
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This equipment is easy to use.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| These information is useful. | This information is useful. |
| Those furniture is expensive. | That furniture is expensive. |
| These advice are helpful. | This advice is helpful. |
| Those equipment are new. | That equipment is new. |
If you want to refer to multiple units of an uncountable noun, use a suitable countable expression.
Examples:
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These pieces of information are useful.
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Those pieces of furniture are expensive.
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These bottles of water are cold.
Rule 4: Use Demonstrative Determiners Before Adjectives
A demonstrative determiner can be followed by one or more adjectives before the noun.
The adjective describes the noun, while the demonstrative determiner identifies it.
Sentence Structure:
Demonstrative determiner + adjective + noun
Examples:
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This expensive watch belongs to my father.
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That beautiful painting attracts visitors.
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These colorful balloons look wonderful.
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Those difficult questions require careful answers.
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This small wooden table fits perfectly in the room.
You can also use more than one adjective.
Examples:
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This beautiful old house needs repairs.
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Those large modern buildings are impressive.
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These comfortable black shoes are perfect for walking.
Grammar Tip: The demonstrative determiner normally comes before descriptive adjectives, not after them.
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Correct: This beautiful garden is peaceful.
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Incorrect: Beautiful this garden is peaceful.
Rule 5: Do Not Use Articles with Demonstrative Determiners
Demonstrative determiners and articles generally occupy the same position in a noun phrase. Therefore, you cannot normally use a, an, or the together with this, that, these, or those to determine the same noun.
Examples:
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| This a book is interesting. | This book is interesting. |
| That the teacher is friendly. | That teacher is friendly. |
| These the students are ready. | These students are ready. |
| Those an apples are fresh. | Those apples are fresh. |
Compare these correct noun phrases:
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A book
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The book
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This book
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That book
Each uses a different determiner to identify or introduce the noun.
Remember: Use only one of these central determiners before the same noun.
Rule 6: Use Demonstrative Determiners in Affirmative Sentences
Affirmative sentences make positive statements about people, places, or things.
Demonstrative determiners can introduce either the subject or object of an affirmative sentence.
Structure 1:
Demonstrative determiner + noun + verb + complement
Examples:
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This machine works efficiently.
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That lesson was helpful.
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These workers arrive early.
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Those restaurants serve traditional food.
Structure 2:
Subject + verb + demonstrative determiner + noun
Examples:
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I prefer this design.
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She recommended that course.
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We purchased these tickets.
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They repaired those computers.
The demonstrative determiner stays directly before its noun, even when the noun phrase appears after the verb.
Rule 7: Use Demonstrative Determiners in Negative Sentences
Negative sentences express that something is not true, does not happen, or does not exist.
Demonstrative determiners remain before their nouns in negative sentences.
Structure with Be:
Demonstrative determiner + noun + am/is/are/was/were + not + complement
Examples:
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This answer is not correct.
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That explanation was not clear.
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These instructions are not difficult.
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Those offices were not open yesterday.
Structure with Do/Does/Did:
Demonstrative determiner + noun + do/does/did + not + base verb + rest of the sentence
Examples:
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This printer does not work properly.
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That student does not understand the question.
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These machines do not require batteries.
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Those employees did not attend the meeting.
Demonstrative noun phrases can also appear as objects in negative sentences.
Examples:
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I do not like this color.
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She did not choose that dress.
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We do not need these materials.
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They did not recognize those visitors.
Grammar Tip: The demonstrative determiner does not change when a sentence becomes negative.
Rule 8: Use Demonstrative Determiners in Questions
Demonstrative determiners can appear in yes/no questions and information questions.
The word order depends on the verb and the type of question.
A. Yes/No Questions with Be
Structure:
Is/Are + demonstrative determiner + noun + complement?
Examples:
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Is this seat available?
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Is that building a hospital?
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Are these exercises difficult?
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Are those tickets valid?
B. Yes/No Questions with Do/Does/Did
Structure:
Do/Does/Did + demonstrative determiner + noun + base verb + rest of the sentence?
Examples:
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Does this phone support wireless charging?
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Does that bus stop here?
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Do these students understand English?
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Did those visitors arrive yesterday?
C. Information Questions
Information questions usually begin with words such as what, where, when, why, and how.
Examples:
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Why is this road closed?
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Where does that train stop?
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How do these machines work?
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When were those houses built?
A demonstrative noun phrase can also appear as the object of a question.
Examples:
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Who designed this website?
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Where did you buy that jacket?
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Why did she choose these colors?
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How did they solve those problems?
Rule 9: Use the Correct Subject–Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with the subject of the sentence.
When a demonstrative noun phrase is the subject, the noun determines whether a singular or plural verb is required.
| Subject | Correct Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| This student | is | This student is ready. |
| That machine | works | That machine works well. |
| These students | are | These students are ready. |
| Those machines | work | Those machines work well. |
| This information | is | This information is accurate. |
Examples of Incorrect and Correct Agreement:
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Incorrect: These children is playing.
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Correct: These children are playing.
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Incorrect: That teacher explain grammar.
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Correct: That teacher explains grammar.
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Incorrect: Those computers works slowly.
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Correct: Those computers work slowly.
Important: Subject–verb agreement depends on the subject noun, not simply on the demonstrative determiner. When the demonstrative noun phrase is the object, the verb agrees with the actual subject.
For example:
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She likes these books.
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They like this book.
Quick Summary: Demonstrative Determiners Grammar Rules
| Grammar Rule | Correct Example |
|---|---|
| Place before a noun | This laptop is new. |
| Match noun number | These laptops are new. |
| Use with uncountable nouns | That information is helpful. |
| Place before adjectives | This interesting story is short. |
| Avoid combining with articles | That house is large. |
| Use in affirmative sentences | These students study hard. |
| Use in negative sentences | Those students are not absent. |
| Use in questions | Are these rooms available? |
| Follow subject–verb agreement | This machine works well. |
By following these grammar rules, you can use demonstrative determiners accurately in statements, questions, and negative sentences.