Demonstratives show where a person or thing is in relation to the speaker. There are four demonstratives in English – this, that, these and those.
This and these are used to refer to a person or thing near the speaker. This is used with a singular noun. These is used with a plural noun.
- This is my bag.
- This is my car.
- These are my books.
That and those are used to refer to a person / persons or thing / things further away from the speaker. That is used with a singular noun. Those is used with a plural noun.
- That is an apple.
- Those are apples.
Position of demonstratives
Demonstratives can go in the following positions:
Before the noun.
- This tree is taller than that tree.
- This boy is smarter than that boy.
Before the word ‘one’.
This chair is larger than that one. (= This chair is larger than that chair.)
Before an adjective + noun.
I still remember that fateful day in February.
A demonstrative can be used alone when the noun is understood.
I will never forget that.
Possessives show who the thing belongs to. The possessive has two forms:
Examples are: mine, yours, ours, theirs, his, hers and its
Examples are: my, your, our, his, her, their and it.
The possessive adjectives are used to modify a noun.
- Jane is my father’s colleague.
- Susie is his friend.
The possessive pronouns can be the subject or the object of a verb or preposition.
- That car is mine. (NOT That car is my.)
- That is my car.
- This is my car. Where is yours? (NOT Where is your?)