A demonstrative adjective is an adjective used to describe the position of something or someone in space or time. There are four demonstrative adjectives:
- this
- that
- these
- those
This and that tell us about singular nouns.
- This red pen.
- That beautiful rose.
These and those tell us about plural nouns.
- These red pens.
- Those beautiful roses.
This and these tell us about the thing which is near in space or time.
- This book in my hand.
- These vegetables in my bag.
That and those tell us the thing which is far away in space or time.
- That large book on the top shelf.
Those trees in the next field.
A demonstrative adjective always comes first in the noun phase.
- This big green car.
(demonstrative adjective – adjective – noun) - That tall building.
(demonstrative adjective – adjective – noun
Compare with demonstrative pronouns.
