Demonstrative Pronouns
“This,” “that,” “these,” and “those” can function as demonstrative pronouns when they stand on their own to point to people, things, ideas, or previously mentioned content. The same forms can also be determiners when they appear before a noun.
Demonstrative pronouns are “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” when the words stand in place of a noun phrase. “This/that” are singular and “these/those” are plural; the same words act as determiners when they directly modify a noun.
Key details
Important caveats
Scope Boundary
Do not label every occurrence a pronoun. In “this book” or “those windows,” the demonstrative functions as a determiner because it modifies a noun.
Further guidance
Application
“This” and “that” are singular; “these” and “those” are plural. Proximity and discourse context help determine which demonstrative fits.
Core Rule
Use “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” as pronouns when they stand independently rather than directly modifying a following noun.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- This, that, these, those — Cambridge Grammar (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Grammar authority for this/that/these/those as demonstratives used as both determiners and pronouns, including singular/plural and proximity patterns.