demonstrative pronoun

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This is a demonstrative pronoun.

Definition

Noun:
- A pronoun that points out an intended referent: A demonstrative pronoun is a type of pronoun used to point to and identify specific things or people in relation to the speaker and listener in space or time. It replaces a noun phrase to indicate which entity is being referred to.

Usage

Demonstrative pronouns are used to indicate specific items. The primary ones in English are this, that, these, and those.
This and these refer to things that are near in distance or time.
That and those refer to things that are farther away in distance or time.
They can function as the subject or object in a sentence.

Examples

As Subject:
- This is my favorite book. (The pronoun "this" points to and replaces the noun phrase "my favorite book," which is near the speaker.)
- Those were difficult times. (The pronoun "those" points to and replaces the noun phrase "difficult times," which are in the past/farther away.)
As Object:
- I want that. (The pronoun "that" is the object of the verb "want," pointing to a specific item away from the speaker.)
- She made these. (The pronoun "these" is the object of the verb "made," pointing to specific items near the speaker.)

Advanced Usage

Emphatic Use: Demonstrative pronouns can be used for emphasis to strongly point out something.
- This is the reason we failed! (Emphatically pointing out the specific reason.)
Abstract Reference: They can refer to abstract ideas or previously mentioned statements.
- He said he was busy. That is simply not true. ("That" refers to the entire previous statement.)

Variants and Related Words

Demonstrative Adjective (Demonstrative Determiner): The words this, that, these, those can also function as adjectives when they come directly before a noun to modify it (e.g., , ). In this role, they are not pronouns but determiners.
Pronoun: The general category to which demonstrative pronouns belong.

Synonyms

Deictic pronoun: A more technical linguistic term for a pronoun whose reference depends on the context of the utterance.

Related Phrases

(To point) this/that out: While not a phrasal verb of the pronoun itself, this common phrase uses demonstratives. It means to direct attention to something.
- She pointed that out during the meeting. ("That" refers to the specific issue she highlighted.)

Related Idioms

This and that: An idiom meaning various unspecified things.
- We spent the afternoon chatting about this and that. (Here, "this" and "that" are used idiomatically, not as specific demonstrative pronouns pointing to clear referents.)

This is a demonstrative pronoun.

Noun

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