Demonstrative adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives indicate which thing or group of things you are talking about. In English, there are four forms according to the number of items and where they are located in relation to the speaker.

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  singular   plural
close this these
far that those

Demonstrative adjectives are placed directly in front of nouns and replace the definite article. Use this to refer to somebody or something that is close to you. For example:

I have a book in my hands. This book is mine.
This house is beautiful (we are in front of the house).

Use that to refer to somebody or something that is not close to you. For example :

That car is stopping (the car in front of our car).
That chair (2 meters away) is too small. I like this chair (I’m touching it).

Demonstrative adjectives are placed directly in front of nouns. Note that a demonstrative adjective replaces a definite article.

This book is interesting (it is in my hand).
That book is boring. (I am pointing to it).
This man next to me is my father.
That man, across the room, is my uncle.
I bought these shoes yesterday (I am wearing them).
I don’t like those shoes (in a store window).

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