Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns direct attention to a specific person, place, or thing. There are only four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these and those.

When these words stand alone, they are pronouns. When they are used before an adjective, they are demonstrative adjectives.

Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with an appropriate demonstrative pronoun / adjective or a verb that agrees with the pronoun.

1. I don’t watch ……………………. kinds of movies. (this / these)
2. ………………….. are the sorts of films I would like to watch. (That / Those)
3. Where are …………………… photos? (these / those)
4. …………………. was the happiest day of my life. (This / That)
5. …………………… are unforgettable memories. (These / Those)
6. Who is ……………….. man waiting outside? (that / this)
7. I didn’t like ……………………. job but the salary was good. (this / that)
8. She doesn’t remember anything about ………………….. accident. (that / those)
9. I love ……………….. music. (this / that)
10. Listen to ……………………. message. (this / that)
11. This kind of shoes …………………….. longer. (last / lasts)
12. These sorts of cookies ………………………. my favourite. (is / are)
13. ………………….. days are still etched in my memory. (These / Those)
14. ……………………. boy of yours is a real nuisance. (That / Those)
15. Is ………………….. Peter? (this / that)

Answers

1. these, 2. those, 3. those, 4. that, 5. these, 6. that, 7. that, 8. that, 9. this, 10. this, 11. lasts, 12. are, 13. those, 14. that, 15. that

Notes

Use this and that with singular nouns.

Use this and that with kind of, sort of, type of.

Use these and those with kinds of, sorts of, types of.

That and those show distance in time or place. Use them with past tenses.

This and these show nearness in time or place. Use them with present tenses.

Demonstrative adjectives