Demonstrative Adjectives in English Grammar: Definition, Rules, Examples and Exercises

Have you ever pointed at something and said “this book”, “that house”, or “these flowers”? If yes, then you have already used demonstrative adjectives in your daily conversations. Demonstrative adjectives are an important part of English grammar because they help us clearly identify and describe specific people, places, animals, or things. 

In this guide, you will learn the meaning and definition of demonstrative adjectives, their types and usage, common rules to follow, examples in sentences, and practice exercises with answers for better understanding.

Table of Contents

• What Is a Demonstrative Adjective?
• Types of Demonstrative Adjectives in English Grammar
• How Are Demonstrative Adjectives Used in Sentences?
• Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives
• RulesforUsingDemonstrativeAdjectivesCorrectly
• Check Your Understanding of Demonstrative Adjectives

What Is a Demonstrative Adjective?

Before learning the rules and examples of demonstrative adjectives, it is important to understand what they actually are and why they are used in English grammar. Demonstrative adjectives are words that point out or indicate specific nouns in a sentence. They help the speaker or writer identify whether the noun is near or far and whether it is singular or plural.

Demonstrative adjectives are widely used in spoken and written English because they make sentences clearer and more specific. Without them, communication can become confusing. For example, instead of saying “book”, saying “this book” helps the listener understand exactly which book is being referred to.

The four demonstrative adjectives in English are:

• This

• That

• These

• Those

Examples:

• This pen belongs to me.

• That mountain looks beautiful.

• These apples are fresh.

• Those students are waiting outside.

Definition of a Demonstrative Adjective

Now that you know what demonstrative adjectives are, let us understand their definition in a more detailed manner. A demonstrative adjective is an adjective used to point out or identify a particular noun in relation to distance or position. In simple terms, demonstrative adjectives help answer questions such as:

• Which person?

• Which object?

• Which place?

• Which group?

Key Characteristics of Demonstrative Adjectives

• They always come before a noun.

• They indicate distance or position.

• They can refer to singular or plural nouns.

• They help make sentences more specific.

Types of Demonstrative Adjectives in English Grammar

After understanding the definition of demonstrative adjectives, it becomes easier to learn their different types and how they are used according to distance and number. In English grammar, there are four demonstrative adjectives.

1. This

“This” is used for singular nouns that are close to the speaker.

Examples:

• This notebook is mine.

• This child is very talented.

2. That

“That” is used for singular nouns that are far from the speaker.

Examples:

• That river is very deep.

• That boy won the race.

3. These

“These” is used for plural nouns that are near the speaker.

Examples:

• These cookies taste delicious.

• These students are hardworking.

4. Those

“Those” is used for plural nouns that are far from the speaker.

Examples:

• Those stars are shining brightly.

• Those houses belong to my relatives.

How Are Demonstrative Adjectives Used in Sentences?

Once you understand the types of demonstrative adjectives, the next step is learning how to use them correctly in sentences. Demonstrative adjectives are generally placed before nouns to describe or identify them clearly.

They are used:

• To indicate distance

• To point out specific things

• To identify people or objects

• To avoid repetition

• To improve sentence clarity

Examples in Sentences

• This phone has excellent features.

• That restaurant serves tasty food.

• These flowers smell wonderful.

• Those children are playing cricket.

Demonstrative Adjectives in Everyday Communication

Demonstrative adjectives are commonly used in:

• Classroom conversations

• Formal writing

• Daily communication

• Academic essays

• Instructions and directions

Example:

• Please submit these assignments tomorrow.

• Could you pass me that bottle?

Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives

After learning how demonstrative adjectives function in sentences, it is important to observe different examples to understand their practical usage better. The more examples you practise, the easier it becomes to identify and use demonstrative adjectives correctly.

Examples Using “This”

• This classroom is spacious.

• This lesson is easy to understand.

• This bag belongs to my sister.

Examples Using “That”

• That bridge connects two villages.

• That player scored the winning goal.

• That movie was inspiring.

Examples Using “These”

• These books are informative.

• These chairs need repair.

• These fruits are fresh.

Examples Using “Those”

• Those mountains are covered with snow.

• Those girls are participating in the competition.

• Those paintings are expensive.

Rules for Using Demonstrative Adjectives Correctly

While demonstrative adjectives are easy to use, there are certain grammar rules that must be followed in order to avoid mistakes. Learning these rules helps you to improve grammatical accuracy and sentence structure.

1. Demonstrative adjectives must come before nouns.

• Correct: This car is new.

• Incorrect: Car this is new.

2. Use singular demonstrative adjectives with singular nouns.

• This book

• That student

3. Use plural demonstrative adjectives with plural nouns.

• These books

• Those students

4. Use “this” and “these” for nearby objects.

• This pen

• These shoes

5. Use “that” and “those” for distant objects.

• That house

• Those trees

Check Your Understanding of Demonstrative Adjectives

Now that you have learned the meaning, rules, and usage of demonstrative adjectives, it is time to test your understanding through exercises. These practice questions will help you identify how demonstrative adjectives are used in different sentence structures.

Fill in the blanks with suitable demonstrative adjectives.

1. _______ bicycle near the gate belongs to my brother.

2. Can you see _______ birds flying over the lake?

3. _______ notebook on my desk is very important.

4. I do not like _______ shoes over there.

5. _______ children sitting here are my cousins.

6. Did you buy _______ watch from the new store?

7. _______ mountains in the distance look beautiful.

8. Please hand me _______ files beside you.

9. _______ old temple was built centuries ago.

10. I would like to purchase _______ painting here.

Answers

1. This

2. Those

3. This

4. Those

5. These

6. That

7. Those

8. These

9. That

10. This