LESON 1.

3 DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

It is important to first explain that demonstrative pronouns can be singular or plural and that they make
reference as well to distance.

 this
 that
 these
 those

HERE (ACÁ-CERCA) THERE (ALLÁ-LEJOS)

SINGULAR This That
PLURAL These Those

Examples:

Singular and “here”:

 I like this car.
Singular and “there”:
 I like that car.
Plural and “here”:
 I like these cars.
Plural and “there”:
 I like those cars.

Demonstrative pronouns can be accompanied by a noun, as in the examples above, or they may be found
alone, as in the following examples.

Examples:

 This is a good book.

 What is that?

Other Uses of Demonstrative Pronouns

1. We use “this” when we present ourselves to someone on the telephone.

Example:
 Hello. This is Alicia.

2. We use “that” when we are not sure with whom we are speaking.
Example:
 Peter, is that you?

3. We use “this” when we are introducing people.

Example:
 Lucy, this is my friend Jill.

4.“That” can be used to refer to something in the past.

Example:
 That pizza was delicious.
Note: “That pizza” can be either a pizza we just finished eating or one that we ate on our holidays last year.
 EXERCISES

1. Choose the correct answer.

Q1 of 8 Q5 of 8
____ is my car here. ____ bike over there is mine.
a. This a. This
b. That b. That
c. These c. These
d. Those d. Those
Q2 of 8 Q6 of 8
____ are my children over there in the park. Do you know ____ boys over there?
a. This a. this
b. That b. that
c. These c. these
d. Those d. those
Q3 of 8 Q7 of 8
____ is my car over there. Can I use ____ pencil here?
a. This a. this
b. That b. that
c. These c. these
d. Those d. those
Q4 of 8 Q8 of 8
____ are my children here. I love ____ biscuits here.
a. This a. this
b. That b. that
c. These c. these
d. Those d. those

2. Complete the sentence with the correct demonstrative pronoun.

Sample:
This pencil in my hand is mine.

Q1 of 5
________dogs over there are John's.

Q2 of 5
[On the telephone] Hello, _____ is Katie.

Q3 of 5
I like _____ cookies here on this plate.

Q4 of 5
Don't do _____! It's very noisy!

Q5 of 5
Can I see _____ trousers over there?

3. Complete with the right demonstrative

1. (Talking about a book in your hand) How could you buy something like_________?
2. (With a bowl of cherries on your lap)________cherries are delicious!
3. (During a long walk) I should have worn__________shoes I bought in Greece last year; have never
been comfortable.
4. Could you bring me_________book I left in the garden?
 5. (From the marriage vows) To have and to hold from_________day forward.
6. I hate_________books which tell you: "___________is what you have to do to become rich.".
7. (About a picture hanging on the wall)____________are my children.
8. (About a picture you've just taken from your wallet)___________is my wife.

4. Complete with the right words (that, those, this or these).

1. Waiter, I'm sorry to say it but________cake you have just served me is awful.
2. I met him two hours ago_________morning.
3. Look at__________kids playning in the garden over there; they're so cute.
4. Take one of________files from that table.
5. He was sitting on________rocking chair he had bought from the flea market.
6. Many parents complain about their children___________days.
7. Are you leaving__________weekend?
8. The jeans you have bought today are better than__________you bought last month.
9. We used to do it differently in __________days
10. You know the books I am carrying are just fantastic. I think___________books will keep me company
during this summer holiday.
11. Look at________newspaper here.
12. _________are my grandparents, and people over there are my friend's grandparents.
13. __________building over there is the Chrysler Building.
14. ___________is my mobile phone and is your mobile phone on the shelf over there.
15. __________photos here are much better than photos on the book.
16. _________was a great evening.
17. Are_________your pencils here?
18. __________bottle over there is empty.
19. __________bricks over there are for your chimney.
20. John, take___________folder and put it on the desk over there.

5. Rewrite each sentence/question changing this to these or vice versa. Mind the singular/plural of the
nouns.
EXAMPLE:
Do you like this photo?
ANSWER:
Do you like these photos?

This phone looks old. _________________________________

This car is very fast. _________________________________

These children study at our school. _________________________________

I like these old books. _________________________________

This burger tastes good. _________________________________

These bags are very nice. _________________________________

Is this your pencil? _________________________________

What is this? _________________________________

Whose keys are these? _________________________________

He can't read these words. _________________________________

6. Put the words into the correct order.

1. over there / box / is / that / a _________________________?
2. what / pillows / are / color / these _________________________?
3. this / her / is / playstation / new _________________________
4. difficult / are / exercises / these _________________________
5. that / whose / is / village _________________________?
6. knives / those / look / at _________________________
7. daughters / my / are / these _________________________
8. guests / are / in / garden / those / the / our _________________________
9. this / model’s / is / favourite / your / poster _________________________?
10. eyeglasses / are / my / these / father’s _________________________

7. Complete the sentences with ‘’this”, “that”, “these”, “those’’

1. Can I introduce you? Sandra, _______ is John. John, _______ is Sandra.
2. “Is _______ Peter over there?” “No, _______ Tim.”
3. Are_______ bananas in the bowl?
4. Is _______ a kitten over there?
5. “Sorry, is _______ your pencilcase?” “Oh, yes.Thank you.”
6. Good morning! _______ is Mark Williams speaking?
7. Who are _______ tall men over there in front of the newsagent?
8. “Excuse me! Is _______ seat free?” “No, it isn’t.”
9. “What are _______ over there? Are they owls?” “Yes, they are.”
10. “I’m sorry I’m late.” “ _______ is all right. Come and sit.”