{"id":1784,"date":"2015-05-22T09:00:06","date_gmt":"2015-05-22T16:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/?p=1784"},"modified":"2020-12-10T13:45:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-10T21:45:54","slug":"demonstratives-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/demonstratives-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Demonstratives in English"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you learned in two<\/a> earlier<\/a> posts, relativizers<\/em> either categorize a noun or add information to it. Demonstratives<\/em> have a different purpose. Sometimes, demonstratives point out the existence or location of a noun. Demonstratives can also act as a substitute for a phrase or sentence, to avoid repeating the phrase or sentence twice. These kinds of words have a third use too— they can connect two clauses in a sentence.<\/p>\n

The most common demonstrative words in English are that<\/strong>, this<\/strong>, and which<\/strong>. That<\/strong> and which<\/strong> can also be relativizers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u201d vs. \u201cThis\u201d for distance and listing:<\/h2>\n

Distance:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis\u201d can refer to things that are physically closer to the speaker or writer.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

I am writing you a letter from this house that I live in.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u201d can refer to things that are physically farther from the speaker.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

She lives in that apartment building over there, across the street.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u201d can also imply that something is more emotionally distant from the speaker or writer.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

The weatherman has predicted rain today. I know that is true, but I don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis\u201d implies that an idea is more emotionally close to a speaker.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

God is real. I know this is true, and it\u2019s one of my most important beliefs.<\/p>\n

Listing:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When you are listing two or more items and using demonstratives to point out the existence of the items, you can use \u201cthis\u201d first, and then use \u201cthat\u201d for the remaining items.<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

On my trip, I am packing this umbrella, that suitcase, and that backpack.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can also alternate between \u201cthis\u201d and \u201cthat\u201d when listing items, but you still need to start with \u201cthis.\u201d<\/p>\n

Example:<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have this sandwich, that drink, this appetizer, and that dessert.<\/p>\n

Pointing out the existence or location of a noun<\/strong><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/span><\/p>\n

I want to buy that red car over there.<\/p>\n

Who is this person you keep talking about?<\/p>\n

Additional note:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThose\u201d is the plural form of that, and \u201cthese\u201d is the plural form of \u201cthis.\u201d The plural forms of those\/these follow all the same rules for distance as that\/this.<\/em><\/p>\n

Examples:<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

that mountain over there\/those mountains over there
\nthis book right here\/these books right here
\nthis person that I know\/these people that I know
\nthat person I don\u2019t know\/those people I don\u2019t know<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWhich\u201d for selecting something from a group<\/h2>\n

\u201cWhich\u201d is used for sentences that talk about selecting or choosing an item from a group of items.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/em>Examples:<\/span><\/p>\n

Which outfit should I wear today?
\nOrder the meal which is healthiest.
\nI\u2019ll decide which design is best.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Substituting \u201cthat,\u201d \u201cthis\u201d or \u201cwhich\u201d for a phrase or sentence:<\/h2>\n

You can use \u201cthat,\u201d \u201cthis,\u201d or \u201cwhich\u201d as a substitute for a phrase or sentence that you have just said\/written and don\u2019t want to repeat. In the sentences below, certain phrases and the demonstrative words that replace them are both in bold<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Examples:<\/span><\/p>\n

This<\/strong> is strange. It is unusually warm for this time of year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

(In this case, \u201cthis\u201d is a substitute for the phrase \u201cthe unusual warmth for this time of year.\u201d You could also say \u201cThe unusual warmth for this time of year<\/strong> is strange. It is unusually warm this time of year.<\/strong>\u201d But then you would needlessly repeat a lot of information.<\/em><\/p>\n

The hotel normally has vacancies during the week<\/strong>. You know this<\/strong>.
\n(Here, this<\/strong> is a substitute for the whole sentence \u201cThe hotel normally has vacancies during the week.<\/strong>\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n

That\u2019s<\/strong> interesting. It says here that Southern Italy has a special kind of folk dance called the taranta.<\/strong>
\n(That<\/strong> is a substitute for \u201c(the fact that) Southern Italy has a special kind of folk dance called the taranta<\/strong>.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to tell me that I should finish my homework<\/strong>. I know that<\/strong>!
\n(In this example, that<\/strong> = I should finish my homework<\/strong>.)<\/em><\/p>\n

It was 30 Celsius on Christmas<\/strong>, which<\/strong> is strange.
\n(Which<\/strong>= the phrase \u201c(the fact that) it was 30 degrees Celsius on Christmas.\u201d<\/strong>)<\/em><\/p>\n

Special notes:<\/em><\/strong>
\nHere again, \u201cthat\u201d and \u201cthis\u201d indicate different physical or emotional distance. Note that \u201cwhich<\/strong>\u201d can ONLY substitute for a phrase, not a whole sentence. Because of this, \u201cwhich<\/strong>\u201d appears in the middle of the sentence and is preceded by a comma when it is used as a relativizer.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Using \u201cthat\u201d to connect two clauses in a sentence<\/h2>\n

Certain reporting verbs<\/a>, such as \u201csee,\u201d \u201cthink,\u201d \u201csay,\u201d etc\u2026 are followed by clauses that could be complete sentences. These clauses show the words, thoughts or ideas of the seer, thinker, speaker, etc\u2026. If you want to emphasize the words\/thoughts of the subject of the sentence, you can add \u201cthat\u201d or as a word to connect the reporting verb to the clause that describes words or thoughts.<\/p>\n

EXAMPLES:<\/em><\/p>\n

She thinks that<\/strong> she will get good grades in all of her classes.
\nScientists theorize that<\/strong> dinosaurs went extinct because of a natural disaster.<\/p>\n

(Note: In the above cases, it\u2019s also possible to say \u201cShe thinks she will get good grades in all of her classes,\u201d and \u201cScientists theorize that dinosaurs went extinct because of a natural disaster.\u201d Adding that<\/strong> gives the sentence more emphasis. Note that this type of demonstrative ONLY works with the word \u201cthat<\/strong>.\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Demonstratives vs. Relativizers<\/h2>\n

Because \u201cthat\u201d and \u201cwhich\u201d are two of the most common demonstratives and<\/em> relativizers<\/a>, students often get confused about the uses of these two types of words. This post will review demonstratives and relativizers (especially the more challenging ones) in a series of tables.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As you learned in two earlier posts, relativizers either categorize a noun or add information to it. Demonstratives have a different purpose. Sometimes, demonstratives point out the existence or location of a noun. Demonstratives can also act as a substitute for a phrase or sentence, to avoid repeating the phrase or sentence twice. These kinds […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13603],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[13630],"class_list":["post-1784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-grammar"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDemonstratives in English - Magoosh Blog \u2013 TOEFL\u00ae\ufe0f Test<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/demonstratives-in-english\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Demonstratives in English\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"As you learned in two earlier posts, relativizers either categorize a noun or add information to it. 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Additionally, he's helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. David has a BS and MA from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MagooshEnglishLearning","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/david-recine\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCra3KQoJlOP7RYwaCyH2qew"],"knowsAbout":["TOEFL","IELTS","TOEIC","PET","FCE","BULATS","Eiken","SAT","ACT","GRE","GMAT"],"knowsLanguage":["English","Italian"],"jobTitle":"Content Creator","worksFor":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/author\/davidr\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":13630,"user_id":80,"is_guest":0,"slug":"davidr","display_name":"David Recine","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/b70c17ee6f3ef87dc4cc5dbdebda911d6dd30dfe15845e4b1d459a3e1b33ef98?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"Recine","first_name":"David","description":"David is a Test Prep Expert for Magoosh TOEFL and IELTS. Additionally, he's helped students with TOEIC, PET, FCE, BULATS, Eiken, SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT.\r\n\r\nDavid has a BS from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. His work at Magoosh has been cited in<a href=\"https:\/\/scholar.google.com\/scholar?hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C50&q=Recine+magoosh&btnG=\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> many scholarly articles<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/minds.wisconsin.edu\/handle\/1793\/65479\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> his Master's Thesis<\/a> is featured on the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.readingwithpictures.org\/2013\/09\/research-highlight-teaching-english-language-learners-with-comics\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> Reading with Pictures<\/a> website, and he's presented at the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.witesol.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/2014-WITESOL-Program-FINAL-10-28-14.pdf\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> WITESOL (link to PDF)<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/issuu.com\/interoff\/docs\/nafsaregionv_2014conference\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> NAFSA<\/a> conferences. David has taught K-12 ESL in South Korea as well as undergraduate English and MBA-level business English at American universities. He has also trained English teachers in America, Italy, and Peru.\r\n\r\nCome join David and the Magoosh team on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCra3KQoJlOP7RYwaCyH2qew\"> Youtube<\/a>,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MagooshEnglishLearning\"> Facebook<\/a>, and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/magooshenglish\/?hl=en\"> Instagram<\/a>, or connect with him via<a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/david-recine\/\"> LinkedIn<\/a>!"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1784"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1784\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1784"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/toefl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=1784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}