Similar to demonstrative determiners, demonstrative pronouns provide additional information about the proximity of the noun replaced by the pronoun to the speaker in addition to taking the place of a noun, noun phrase, or noun clause. Demonstrative pronouns are pronouns of literal and figurative distance, meaning the distance is physical (spatial deixis, referring to physical space including space resulting from time) or affective (discourse deixis, referring to emotional space). Physical proximity does not necessarily correlate to emotional proximity: a speaker may consider something as both physically and emotionally close and vice versa just as the same speaker may consider something physically close as emotionally distant and vice versa.
The four demonstrative pronouns in English are:
The following sections explain the four demonstrative pronouns in more detail as well as the grammatical functions of demonstrative pronouns and the difference between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative determiners.
The singular proximal demonstrative pronoun in English is this. Singular refers to singular in number, meaning the antecedent refer to only one person, place, thing, or idea. Proximal means "very near or close to." Therefore, the antecedent of this is a single nominal concept that is nearby in physical or emotional distance. For example:
- This is my book. (This book is my book.)
- This is killing me! (This running is killing me!)
- Is this yours? (Is this child yours?)
- Please save me this. (Please save me this dessert.)
- Give this a good scrubbing. (Give this pan a good scrubbing.)
The singular distal demonstrative pronoun in English is that. Singular again refers to singular in number. Distal means "remote or distant from." Therefore, the antecedent of that is a single nominal concept that is distant in physical or emotional distance. For example:
- That is my sister. (That person is my sister.)
- That makes me sick. (The thought of child abuse makes me sick.)
- Is that his? (Is that car his?)
- Give that back to her now! (Give that toy back to her now!)
- He mailed the package in that?! (He mailed the package in that box?!)
Please continue reading on page two for the two plural demonstrative pronouns as well as the six grammatical functions of demonstrative pronouns and the difference between demonstrative pronouns and determiners.