Demonstrative Adjectives

 Demonstrative adjectives are essential for pointing out specific nouns in English. Here's a breakdown of their function:

What They Are:

• Demonstrative adjectives specify which noun you're referring to.
• The four main demonstrative adjectives are:
  • "this"
  • "that"
  • "these"
  • "those"

How They Work:

• They always precede the noun they modify.
• They indicate proximity (near or far) and number (singular or plural).

Here's a simple chart:

• Near (Proximal):
  • Singular: "this" (e.g., "this book")
  • Plural: "these" (e.g., "these books")
• Far (Distal):
  • Singular: "that" (e.g., "that car")
  • Plural: "those" (e.g., "those cars")

Key Points:

• Distance:
  • "This" and "these" refer to things close to the speaker.
  • "That" and "those" refer to things farther away.
• Number:
  • "This" and "that" are used with singular nouns.
  • "These" and "those" are used with plural nouns.
• Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Pronouns:
  • The same words can function as demonstrative pronouns, but the difference is that demonstrative adjectives modify nouns, while demonstrative pronouns stand alone.
  • Example:
    • Adjective: "This apple is delicious." ("this" modifies "apple")
    • Pronoun: "This is delicious." ("this" stands alone)
• Beyond physical distance:
  • They can also refer to time. "This week" versus "That week".
  • They can also refer to emotional distance.