What Are Demonstrative Adjectives? | Clear Fast Rules

You’ve seen them a thousand times: this book, that idea, these shoes, those numbers. They’re tiny words with big impact on clarity. When a sentence feels vague, a demonstrative adjective often fixes it in one move by pointing at the exact noun the reader should notice.

If you’re here because you keep asking “what are demonstrative adjectives?” you’re in the right spot. You’ll get a clean definition, quick checks to spot them, and a set of patterns you can plug into your own writing right away.

What Are Demonstrative Adjectives? With quick checks

A demonstrative adjective is a word that comes right before a noun and points to which one you mean. In English, the four you’ll use are this, that, these, and those. They act like a verbal finger point: not just a chair, but that chair.

Two fast checks keep you on track:

• Noun check: If the word sits directly before a noun (“this report”), it’s working as a demonstrative adjective.
• Swap check: Try switching the noun (“this report” → “this plan”). If the sentence still works, the demonstrative is modifying the noun, not standing alone.

Word	What it points to	Sample noun phrase
this	one thing near you or near the present moment	this lesson
that	one thing farther away or farther back in time	that mistake
these	more than one thing near you or near the present moment	these notes
those	more than one thing farther away or farther back in time	those rules
this	one idea you’re about to explain	this point
that	one idea the reader already knows from earlier text	that claim
those	a group the reader can identify from context	those students
these	a group you’re holding in mind right now	these steps

How demonstrative adjectives differ from demonstrative pronouns

The same four words can act as pronouns too, so the label depends on the job they do in the sentence. When the word modifies a noun, it’s an adjective. When it replaces the noun, it’s a pronoun.

Here’s a pair that makes the split obvious:

• Adjective: “I like this solution.” (The noun solution is present.)
• Pronoun: “I like this.” (The noun is missing; this takes its place.)

If you want a quick refresher from a grammar authority, the Cambridge Dictionary grammar page on this, that, these, those lays out how the words point to people and things in context.

Choosing between this, that, these, and those

Most mistakes come from mixing up two ideas: number and distance. Number is simple: this/that match a singular noun, while these/those match a plural noun. Distance is about space, time, or attention: this/these feel close, while that/those feel farther away.

Number match rules

When your noun is singular, stick with this or that: “this answer,” “that chapter.” When your noun is plural, switch to these or those: “these answers,” “those chapters.” If the noun ends in -s, your brain can still trip, so do a quick read-out-loud check.

Distance in space

In real life, distance is literal. If the object is in your hand, this and these fit. If it’s across the room, that and those usually sound natural. In writing, distance turns into “near in the reader’s mind” versus “not near.”

Distance in time

Time distance shows up in phrases like “this morning” or “that day.” This often pairs with the present window you’re living in. That often signals a step back. You’ll see the same pattern in school writing: “this study” can mean the paper you’re reading now, while “that study” can mean a prior one you just mentioned.

Distance in a conversation on the page

Writers use demonstratives to steer the reader’s attention. This can feel like pointing at something right in front of both of you. That can feel like pointing at something a bit removed, like a detail already handled.

Merriam-Webster notes that the four words can function as demonstrative adjectives as well as pronouns. Their adjective entry includes a short note that links the set to “nearby” versus “not nearby” uses.

Where demonstrative adjectives sit in a noun phrase

Demonstrative adjectives belong to a group many grammar books call determiners. They sit at the front of the noun phrase, before most other adjectives. That placement matters because you usually don’t stack two determiners in standard English.

Usual placement pattern

A common structure looks like this:

• Demonstrative + adjective + noun: “those noisy buses”
• Demonstrative + noun: “that deadline”

Try not to write double-determiner phrases like “this the book.” English speakers almost never say it, and it reads like a translation error.

What happens with possessives and articles

Possessives (my, your, their) and articles (a, an, the) usually compete with demonstratives. You typically choose one determiner slot:

• “this book” (demonstrative)
• “my book” (possessive)
• “the book” (article)

You may see phrases like “all those books” or “both these options.” In those cases, the words all and both sit outside the main determiner slot, so the sentence still feels normal.

How demonstrative adjectives pair with other modifiers

Once you know what a demonstrative adjective does, the next question is how it behaves beside other words that describe a noun. The short rule is that demonstratives come first. They set the target, then the rest of the description follows.

Order with descriptive adjectives

In a natural noun phrase, you’ll usually write “those small cups” instead of “small those cups.” The demonstrative marks which cups you mean, and the descriptive adjective tells what they’re like. If you have two descriptive adjectives, the demonstrative still stays in front: “that old blue notebook.”

Order with numbers and quantity words

Numbers often slide right after the demonstrative: “these two pages,” “those three reasons.” Quantity words can appear before it in some patterns, like “all those pages” and “both these reasons.” If you’re editing a sentence and it feels tangled, strip it down to “this/that/these/those + noun,” then add the number back in. That quick reset keeps the phrase readable.

This is also a good spot to dodge vague phrasing. “These things” can work in casual writing, yet in an essay it can leave the reader guessing. Swap in a tighter noun and the sentence gains focus: “these steps,” “those claims,” “this evidence.”

When to use demonstrative adjectives in school writing

Demonstratives shine when you need precision without extra words. They can save you from repeating a noun, yet still keep the reader oriented.

Pointing to a specific item in a list

If you list two options, demonstratives can separate them cleanly: “Choose this approach for short essays and that approach for long papers.” The reader doesn’t have to guess which item you mean.

Referring back without sounding robotic

In research writing, you often refer back to a result, a claim, or a method. “This result” usually points to the one you just wrote about. “That result” often points to one from earlier paragraphs. The choice keeps your references tidy.

Fixing the vague this problem

One common teacher note is “What does this refer to?” The fix is almost always the same: add a noun right after it. Swap “This shows…” with “This pattern shows…” or “This data shows…”. You keep the flow and remove the guesswork.

Common mistakes and clean fixes

Most errors fall into a small set. Once you spot the pattern, you can repair it fast.

Mismatch between demonstrative and noun

Singular demonstratives need singular nouns, and plural demonstratives need plural nouns. If you write “these book,” the reader hears the bump right away. Pair the forms correctly and the sentence smooths out.

Using those kind of and these kind of

Many speakers say “these kind of problems” in casual speech, but in formal writing the number doesn’t match. A cleaner option is “this kind of problem” (singular) or “these kinds of problems” (plural).

That as a connector versus that as a demonstrative

English uses that in more than one role. In “I think that we should leave,” that links a clause. In “that plan failed,” that points to a noun. If you’re unsure, check what comes right after it. A noun signals the demonstrative adjective job.

Common draft line	Revised line	Why it reads better
This shows the writer is clear.	This explanation shows the writer is clear.	Adds a noun so “this” has a target.
These kind of rules confuse me.	These kinds of rules confuse me.	Matches plural demonstrative with plural noun.
That are the steps to follow.	Those are the steps to follow.	Pairs plural verb idea with “those.”
I like this and that section.	I like this section and that section.	Stops “this and that” from sounding like filler.
This is shown in paragraph two.	This pattern is shown in paragraph two.	Names what the reader should track.
These information is useful.	This information is useful.	Uses singular for “information.”
That causes a lot of issues.	That mistake causes a lot of issues.	Gives “that” a concrete noun partner.
Those homework was late.	That homework was late.	“Homework” is usually treated as singular.

Fast practice you can do in five minutes

Practice sticks when it’s short. Try these drills with any paragraph you’ve written for school.

Underline and label

1. Underline every this, that, these, and those.
2. Circle the noun that follows. If there’s no noun, label it “pronoun.”
3. Check number match. Fix any singular/plural mix-ups.

Clarity swap

Find two sentences that start with “This…” Then rewrite each one with a noun right after the demonstrative. Read both versions out loud. The clearer one will usually feel calmer and more direct.

Distance test

Pick one paragraph where you refer back to earlier ideas. Try swapping this with that in one spot. If the reference points farther back, that may fit the reader’s mental distance better.

Mini checklist for editing

Use this list as a final pass before you submit an essay:

• Each demonstrative adjective sits right before a noun.
• Singular nouns pair with this or that; plural nouns pair with these or those.
• Every sentence that starts with “This…” names what “this” refers to within the next two words.
• References match the distance you mean: near for this/these, farther for that/those.

One extra trick for longer essays: when you refer back across page breaks, pair the demonstrative with a label noun. “That figure,” “those results,” and “that argument” keep the reader anchored after a few paragraphs. If you can’t name the thing in one or two words, restate the noun once, too.

If you’re still wondering “what are demonstrative adjectives?” after reading, run the noun check on your own writing. If this, that, these, or those sits in front of a noun, you’ve found one.