Demonstrative Adjective Examples with Sentences for Students:
What are demonstrative adjectives?
Demonstrative adjective sentences help students understand how to use words like this, that, these, and those in sentences. These demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific people, places, or objects and make communication clearer and more precise.
Demonstrative adjectives always come before a noun and modify it. They do not act as the main verb in a sentence. It specifies which one is being referred to and provides additional information about the noun.
Because they limit or determine the noun they describe, demonstrative adjectives are also called demonstrative determiners. The four main demonstrative adjectives in English are this, that, these, and those. They are used based on the number (singular or plural) and distance (near or far).
Types of Demonstrative Adjectives:
1. Near Objects or People
Used when something is close to the speaker:
- This (singular)
- These (plural)
Examples:
- This pen is mine.
- These apples are fresh.
- This boy is very intelligent.
- These flowers are beautiful.
2. Far Objects or People
Used when something is far from the speaker:
- That (singular)
- Those (plural)
Examples:
- That house is very big.
- Those mountains look beautiful.
- That man is calling you.
- Those cars are expensive.
Singular and Plural Forms
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| This | These |
| That | Those |
Use this/that for one object
Use these/those for more than one object
Rules of Demonstrative Adjectives:
Always come before a noun
- Correct: This car is fast.
- Incorrect: Car this is fast.
Match singular and plural nouns
- This book (singular)
- These books (plural)
Show distance
- Near → this, these
- Far → that, those
20 Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives:
- This cat is sleeping.
- These mangoes are sweet.
- That building is very tall.
- Those birds are flying.
- This dress looks nice.
- These students are hard-working.
- That car is expensive.
- Those shoes are new.
- This pen belongs to me.
- These books are useful.
- That teacher is strict.
- Those houses are beautiful.
- This apple is red.
- These chairs are comfortable.
- That dog is barking.
- Those children are playing.
- This bag is heavy.
- These flowers smell good.
- That road is long.
- Those stars are shining.
Demonstrative Adjectives vs Demonstrative Pronouns:
Although they use the same words, their function is different:
Adjective (used before a noun):
- This book is mine.
Pronoun (replaces the noun):
- This is mine.
Common Mistakes Students Make:
Using the wrong number
- Incorrect: This books are good
- Correct: These books are good
Wrong placement
- Incorrect: Book this is mine
- Correct: This book is mine
Practice Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- The book is very interesting.
- Apples are fresh.
- The house is very big.
- Students are playing.
Answers: This, These, That, Those
FAQs
Q1: What are demonstrative adjectives?
They are words like this, that, these, and those used before nouns.
Q2: How many demonstrative adjectives are there?
There are four: this, that, these, and those.
Q3: What is the difference between this and these?
“This” is singular, while “these” is plural.
Importance of Demonstrative Adjectives:
Demonstrative adjectives are important because they:
- Clarify meaning
- Avoid repetition
- Make sentences more specific
- Improve writing and speaking skills
Without them, sentences can become unclear or confusing.
More Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives in Sentences:
This small addition helps Google see “content depth”:
- This notebook is mine.
- That river is very long.
- These shoes are new.
- Those clouds look dark.
Conclusion:
Demonstrative adjectives are essential in English grammar because they help us clearly identify specific people, places, and things. By using words like this, that, these, and those, we can easily show distance and number in sentences.
What is an adjective? (Definition):
An adjective is a word that describes or provides additional information about a noun or pronoun. It tells us about quality, such as size, shape, colour, number, or condition.
Examples:
- She has a beautiful dress.
- He is a tall boy.
- I bought three books.
Demonstrative adjectives are a type of adjective because they describe and point out specific nouns.