demonstrative

/di'mɔnstrətiv/

Friendly

Sure! Let's break down the word "demonstrative" in a way that's easy to understand.

Basic Definition

Demonstrative is an adjective that means showing or expressing feelings openly. It can also refer to words that point out specific things.

Usage Instructions

1. As an adjective: You can use "demonstrative" to describe a person or their behavior when they show emotions clearly.

   • Example: "She is very demonstrative; she hugs everyone when she sees them."

2. As a noun: In grammar, "demonstrative" refers to pronouns like "this," "that," "these," and "those," which point to specific things.

   • Example: "In the sentence 'This is my book,' 'this' is a demonstrative pronoun."

Examples

1. Adjective: "His demonstrative nature made it easy for others to see how much he cared."
2. Noun: "The teacher explained that 'these' and 'those' are examples of demonstrative pronouns."

Advanced Usage

In a more advanced context, "demonstrative" can describe a style of communication or behavior in various fields, such as psychology or social studies, where emotional expression is analyzed.

Word Variants

• Demonstratively (adverb): This means doing something in a way that shows feelings openly.

  • Example: "She smiled demonstratively when she saw her friends."

• Demonstration (noun): This refers to showing how something works or expressing feelings.

  • Example: "The teacher gave a demonstration of the science experiment."

Different Meanings

1. Emotional Expression: Refers to being open about one’s feelings.
2. Grammar: Refers to certain pronouns that indicate specific items or people.

Synonyms

• For emotional expression: expressive, affectionate, open, emotional.
• For grammatical usage: pointing, indicating.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

While "demonstrative" itself doesn't have specific idioms or phrasal verbs, you might hear phrases like: - "Wear your heart on your sleeve" (to openly show your emotions, similar to being demonstrative). - "Point out" (to indicate something, which aligns with the grammatical meaning).

Summary

In summary, "demonstrative" describes how someone shows their feelings or refers to specific things in language.

Academic

Adjective

1. serving to demonstrate
2. given to or marked by the open expression of emotion
   • an affectionate and demonstrative family

Noun

1. a pronoun that points out an intended referent

Synonyms

• illustrative
• demonstrative pronoun