What are the demonstrative pronouns in English?

This, that, these, and those. This and that are singular; these and those are plural. This and these point to things near the speaker (This is my coat), while that and those point to things further away (Those are yours over there).

What is the difference between this and that?

Distance from the speaker. This is for something close, in space or time: This is my desk. This week is busy. That is for something further off: That is your desk. That was a great trip. In conversation, that also refers back to what has just been said: That's true.

Is this a pronoun or an adjective?

It can be either, depending on whether a noun follows. In This is expensive, this stands alone and is a pronoun. In This jacket is expensive, this comes before jacket and is a determiner (sometimes called a demonstrative adjective). The pointing means the same in both.

Can I use this or that for a person?

Yes, to introduce or identify someone: This is my brother, Tom. Who's that by the door? After that, use he, she, or they. Saying This is a teacher about a person you have already introduced treats them like an object and sounds rude.

Why do people say this is on the phone?

Because the speaker treats themselves as here and the other person as there. The caller says This is Leo, and asks Is that Sara? British English keeps that for the other person; American English often uses this for both: Who is this? Both are correct in their own variety.

English grammar · Beginner

Demonstrative Pronouns: This, That, These, and Those

Written by Eleanor Whitfield, Lead English Curriculum Editor · Reviewed September 2026

The demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these, and those. They point to something without naming it, and they carry two pieces of information: how many (this and that are singular, these and those are plural) and how near (this and these are close to the speaker, that and those are further away). The same four words also work as determiners in front of a noun (this seat), so the pronoun is what you get when the noun is left out.

This is my seat, and those are yours.

this points to one thing near the speaker, those to several further away

What it is

A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun and points at it, the way a finger would. This and these point to things near the speaker, in space or in time; that and those point to things further away. This and that are singular (or uncountable); these and those are plural. Because they point rather than name, they depend on the situation: This is delicious only works if the listener can see or infer what this is.

This is my phone and that is yours. (One near me, one nearer you.) These are ripe but those aren't. (Several near me, several over there.)

How to spot it

If this, that, these, or those stands alone, usually right before a verb or at the end of a sentence, it is a pronoun. If a noun follows immediately (this phone, those apples), it is a determiner doing the same pointing job in front of the noun.

This is heavy. (pronoun: stands for the thing I am holding)
This box is heavy. (determiner: box follows)
Can I try those? (pronoun at the end of the sentence)
Who's that? (pronoun for a person not yet identified)

The plural forms change their vowel and their spelling: this becomes these, that becomes those. Do not add -s: thises and thats do not exist.

Demonstrative Pronouns Quick Reference

The four demonstrative pronouns

Form and use	Near the speaker (here)	Further away (there)
Singular or uncountable	this	that
Plural	these	those
Singular in use	This is my desk.	That is the manager's office.
Plural in use	These are my keys.	Those are hers.
Time	this morning, this year	that day, those years
Words that pair with them	here, now	there, then

Common Demonstrative Pronouns Examples in English

Demonstrative pronouns grouped by what they are pointing at:

Pointing at Things in View

This is the one I want.: the thing in my hand or nearest to me
Is that yours?: something over there, near the listener
These are on sale, but those aren't.: two groups at different distances
Could you pass me that?: an object the listener is closer to

Near and far are judged from the speaker. What is that to me may be this to you.

Introducing and Identifying People

This is my colleague, Dana.: introducing someone next to you
Hello, this is Sam. Is that Maria?: on the phone: this for the caller, that for the person answering
Who's that in the photo?: identifying a person
Are those the neighbours?: people at a distance

Once a person has been identified, switch to he, she, or they: This is Dana. She works with me. Using this for a known person sounds rude.

Referring to What Was Said

I failed the test. That's a shame.: that picks up the whole previous sentence
Listen to this: they've cancelled the flight.: this points forward to what comes next
He said he'd pay. That was a lie.: that refers back to the promise
Those were her exact words.: those for words already quoted

That looks back at something already said; this can look either back or forward. Both are singular here because they refer to an idea, not a countable thing.

Time: Near and Distant

This is going to be a busy week.: the current week, seen as near
That was the summer we moved.: a distant past period
Those were the days.: a fondly remembered past

The present and the immediate future are this; the past and the remote future are that.

How Demonstrative Pronouns Work

Two dimensions, number and distance, plus a few habits about what they may stand for.

Match the Number of the Thing

This and that stand for one thing or for an uncountable mass (This is sugar); these and those stand for more than one. The verb agrees with the pronoun: this is, these are. When the pronoun refers to an idea or a whole statement, it is always singular, however long the statement was.

This is mine. These are mine. That was a long story, and I didn't believe a word of it.

singular, plural, then singular for a whole story

One or a mass: this/that. Many: these/those.

Distance Is Measured from the Speaker

This and these are for what is close to the speaker: within reach, in the room, happening now. That and those are for what is further off: near the listener, across the street, or in the past. The line between near and far is not fixed; the speaker draws it.

Take this. Leave that where it is.

this in my hand, that over there

Near me: this. Not near me: that.

Pronoun for Things, Then a Personal Pronoun for People

As a pronoun, this or that refers to a thing or an idea, or to a person you are identifying or introducing (Who's that? This is Ana). Once the person is known, a demonstrative pronoun is not used for them: That is my boss works as identification, but That wants to see you does not; use She wants to see you.

That's my sister. She's a doctor.

that to identify, she afterwards

Point to identify; then switch to he or she.

That and Those Can Replace a Noun Before Of or a Clause

In formal English, that of and those who stand in for a repeated noun: The climate of Norway is colder than that of Italy (that = the climate); Those who arrive late will wait outside (those = the people). This and these are not used this way.

My results were better than those of last year.

those stands for the results

That of, those who: formal replacement.

This Draws In, That Pushes Away

In speech, that adds distance and often disapproval (I don't like that idea; that man again), while this brings something close and makes it vivid, even in the past (So this guy walks in and...). These shades are a matter of tone rather than grammar, but native speakers hear them clearly.

Don't give me that.

that dismisses an excuse

That distances, this draws in.

Common Mistakes with Demonstrative Pronouns

Incorrect: This are my books.

Correct: These are my books.

Books is plural, so the pronoun must be the plural form these, and the verb are then agrees with it. This is only ever singular.

Incorrect: Whose is these?

Correct: Whose are these?

These is plural, so the verb must be are. The demonstrative pronoun is the subject of the question and controls the agreement.

Incorrect: This is my friend Ana. This is a nurse.

Correct: This is my friend Ana. She is a nurse.

Demonstrative pronouns introduce or identify a person, but once the person is known you refer to them with he, she, or they. A second this treats Ana like an object.

Incorrect: Can you see that people over there?

Correct: Can you see those people over there?

People is plural (it is the plural of person), so it needs those. Learners often treat people as singular because it has no -s.

This and That Beyond Physical Distance

Distance in English is not only about space. The same near-far contrast runs through time, conversation, and attitude.

On the phone

The caller says this for themselves and that for the person they are speaking to, because the other person is at the far end of the line.

Hi, this is Leo. Is that Dr Patel?: this for the speaker, that for the listener
Who's this? (asked by the person answering): this for an unidentified caller, in American English

British English traditionally asks Who's that? when answering; American English prefers Who's this?

Back and forward in a conversation

That refers to what has just been said; this can refer to what has just been said or announce what is about to be said.

We're moving to Oslo. That's wonderful news.: that responds to what was said
This is what I mean: nobody read the email.: this introduces the explanation
That's what I thought.: that confirms a previous idea

That's it (we are finished, or that is exactly right) and that's that (the matter is closed) are fixed phrases built on this backward-looking that.

Emotional distance

Speakers use this to pull something close and that to push it away, whether or not any physical distance is involved.

I love this. Look at that mess.: approval draws near, disapproval distances
That's not fair.: rejecting what someone did
So there's this guy at work who never says hello.: this makes a story vivid, even about someone unknown

The storytelling this (there's this guy) is informal; in writing, use a or the.

Quick Check: Demonstrative Pronouns

Fill each gap with this, that, these, or those.

1. ___ is my bag here, and ___ one over there is yours.

Answer: This, that

near me, then further away

2. Are ___ your glasses on the table next to you?

Answer: those

plural, and nearer the listener than the speaker

3. Hello, ___ is Nadia speaking. Is ___ the clinic?

Answer: this, that

the caller is this; the other end of the line is that

4. I finally passed my driving test. ___ is great news.

Answer: That

referring back to what was just said

5. ___ were the best years of my life.

Answer: Those

plural and in the distant past

6. Try ___ ones here; ___ over there are too small.

Answer: these, those

near plural, then far plural

Demonstrative Pronouns FAQs

What are the demonstrative pronouns in English?: This, that, these, and those. This and that are singular; these and those are plural. This and these point to things near the speaker (This is my coat), while that and those point to things further away (Those are yours over there).
What is the difference between this and that?: Distance from the speaker. This is for something close, in space or time: This is my desk. This week is busy. That is for something further off: That is your desk. That was a great trip. In conversation, that also refers back to what has just been said: That's true.
Is this a pronoun or an adjective?: It can be either, depending on whether a noun follows. In This is expensive, this stands alone and is a pronoun. In This jacket is expensive, this comes before jacket and is a determiner (sometimes called a demonstrative adjective). The pointing means the same in both.
Can I use this or that for a person?: Yes, to introduce or identify someone: This is my brother, Tom. Who's that by the door? After that, use he, she, or they. Saying This is a teacher about a person you have already introduced treats them like an object and sounds rude.
Why do people say this is on the phone?: Because the speaker treats themselves as here and the other person as there. The caller says This is Leo, and asks Is that Sara? British English keeps that for the other person; American English often uses this for both: Who is this? Both are correct in their own variety.