English Grammar
Basic Grammar -> Demonstratives
| 1. | Demonstratives : |
|---|---|
| These determiners show where an object or person is in with relation to the speaker. | |
| There are four demonstrative determiners: this, that, these, those. | |
| This (for singular nouns) and these (for plural nouns) are used to refer to something or someone near to the speaker in distance or time; whereas, that (for singular nouns) and those (for plural nouns) are used to refer to something or someone which is relatively further away, or behind in time. | |
| For example: | |
| Whose is this pen? | |
| These pictures are really beautiful. | |
| Those days are still fresh in my memory. | |
| Give me that pen. | |
| The relative positioning indicated could also be psychological like: | |
| I know nothing about that. (far away) | |
| This is bound to be joyful. (near) |