It’s time for the next group of pronouns, demonstrative pronouns. Here belong THIS, THAT, THESE and THOSE.
Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to specific people or things. They also carry information about the person or thing they point to, and in particular, two kinds of information, number and distance.
As far as number is concerned, THIS and THAT are used to indicate singular objects. For plural objects we use THESE and THOSE.
As far as distance is concerned, we use THIS and THESE if the person or thing is near to the speaker. We use THAT and THOSE if they’re not near. It may be near or not near in space or time, as we’re going to see in the examples that follow.
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Context
With demonstrative pronouns the context is very important. They are less specific than the nouns they stand for, so without context it could be difficult to figure out what nouns they replace.
In spoken language we can use gestures to create the context. You just point at something or show something so that everybody knows what you mean. Have a look:
I want to sell THESE.
Here we know the guy is talking about a specific selection of watches. But we wouldn’t know that without the context, for example if we heard it on the phone.
In written language we need an antecedent, so a noun that is mentioned before and only later referred to by means of a demonstrative pronoun.
from Mr. Chadlick’s diary…
…And there they were… Fifteen of sixteen new watches. THOSE were all for sale.
Or you can use demonstrative adjectives instead. They have the same forms as demonstrative pronouns, but are followed by nouns.
I was badly in need of selling THESE watches.
Distance in Space and Time
Let’s have a look at the demonstrative pronouns with respect to distance. We use THIS and THESE for things that are near to us as speakers. We use THAT and THOSE for things that are farther away.
THIS is pretty expensive.
THAT is much cheaper.
I need THESE.
Could you pass me THOSE please?
It works the same with distance in time. If the pronouns refer to events that are more distant in time, like for example things that happened a long time ago, you use THAT and THOSE. If they refer to more current events, you use THIS and THESE.
I remember what I felt when we bought this car. THAT was awesome. THOSE were beautiful days for many other reasons as well.
And now I must sell it. THIS is going to be so sad. THESE are the moments I hate.
Demonstrative Pronouns with People
Demonstrative pronouns may refer to all kinds of nouns. But if they refer to people, we must use the pronoun’s antecedent in the same sentence. So, can’t say:
*THIS is old.
You must add the pronoun’s antecedent, so the noun it refers to, for example:
THIS is an old man.
Or, you don’t say:
*THAT is trying to sell some watches.
Instead, you would rather say:
THAT is the man who is trying to sell some watches.
Or you would simply use a demonstrative adjective:
THAT man is trying to sell some watches.
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