Demonstratives

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

  • Use demonstrative pronouns in place of noun phrases.
  • Demonstrative pronouns show:
    • if the object is close or far away from the speaker.
    • if the object is one, more or non-count.

Close Far

Singular

This is a book.
That is a book.

Plural

These are shoes.
Those are shoes.

Non-Count

This is money.
That is sugar.

DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

  • Use demonstrative adjectives in front of nouns.
  • Demonstrative adjectives show:
    • if the object is close or far away from the speaker.
    • if the object is one, more or non-count.

Close Far

Singular

This book is mine. That book is yours.

Plural

These shoes are mine. Those shoes are yours.

Non-Count

This money is yours. That sugar is mine.

YES/NO QUESTION WITH DEMONSTRATIVES

  • put the verb be in front of the subject to make a yes/no question with demonstratives.
  • use it and they for short answers.

Questions Short Answers

Verb Subject

Is this a cake? Yes, it is.

Are these biscuits? No, they aren’t.

Is that biscuit good? Yes, it is.

Are those cakes new? No, they aren’t.

USING ‘WHAT’ QUESTIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION

  • Use questions with what + demonstratives to classify things or put things into groups.

Questions Answer

SINGULAR COUNT NOUNS

What’s this? It is a sandwich.

It‘s an egg.

PLURAL COUNT NOUNS

What are these? They are shoes.

What are those things? They‘re mice.

NON-COUNT NOUNS

What’s that cake? It‘s vanilla.