Demonstratives

The Core Four: Near vs. Far, One vs. Many

Demonstratives tell the listener or reader two things:

• Distance: Is the noun close to the speaker or further away? This can be physical distance (in space) or time distance (now vs. past/future).

• Number: Is it singular (one) or plural (more than one)?

Here is how they break down:

Determiners vs. Pronouns: What's the Difference?

While the words (this, that, these, those) might look identical, their function changes based on their position relative to other words in the sentence.

Demonstrative Determiners (Adjectives)

A demonstrative determiner modifies a noun that immediately follows it. It points directly to a specific noun.

• Rule: Demonstrative + Noun

• Example: "This laptop is new." (This points directly to the noun laptop.)

• Example: "Look at those birds!" (Those points directly to the noun birds.)

Demonstrative Pronouns

A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun entirely. It stands alone and does not have a noun directly after it (it is often followed by a verb).

• Rule: Demonstrative + Verb (or stands alone)

• Example: "This is my new laptop." (This replaces the noun phrase "my new laptop" and stands before the verb is.)

• Example: "Those are beautiful." (Those stands alone as the subject, replacing the noun birds or flowers.)

Common Mistakes

Determiners modify based on the proximity to other words. Proximity means that the verb in the sentence must agree in number (singular or plural) with whichever pronoun sits closest to it. For example:

• Neither that (singular) nor these (plural) are ready to be shipped. (Plural verb because "these" is closer to the verb).

• Neither these (plural) nor that (singular) is ready to be shipped. (Singular verb because "that" is closer to the verb).

Summary Comparison

To quickly identify whether a word is acting as a determiner or a pronoun, check what follows it:

Sentence Function Why?

That phone is ringing. Determiner Followed immediately by the noun phone.

That is my phone. Pronoun Replaces the noun and is followed by the verb is.

Can you pass me these markers? Determiner Followed immediately by the noun.

Can you pass me these? Pronoun Replaces the noun entirely (stands alone).

🚧Pardon the mess, we are under construction - this is an experimental section of Feke Online 🚧 

🚧Pardon the mess, we are under construction - this is an experimental section of Feke Online 🚧