What Type Of Pronoun Is Those

“Those” is a demonstrative pronoun when it replaces a noun, and a demonstrative determiner when it sits before a noun.

You see those all over: in captions, essays, chats, and directions. It feels simple, yet it slips into tricky territory fast. The word can act like a pronoun, or it can act like a determiner that points at a noun. Get that split clear, and most “those” questions stop being confusing.

If you came here asking what type of pronoun is those, you’re in the right spot. This post gives a quick label, then walks you through simple tests you can use in classwork, emails, and essays.

Those At A Glance In Sentences

This table gives quick labels, the job “those” is doing, and a clean sample. Use it as a fast check while you write.

When You See “Those”	Grammar Label	Quick Sample
It stands alone	Demonstrative pronoun	Those are mine.
It points to a noun right after it	Demonstrative determiner	Those shoes are mine.
It points to things far away (space or time)	Demonstrative word (plural, far)	Those houses look old.
It points to a previous group	Demonstrative pronoun	Those were the reasons.
It pairs with “ones”	Demonstrative pronoun	Pick those ones.
It sits in a noun phrase with an adjective	Demonstrative determiner	Those red apples taste sweet.
It swaps with “these” to show distance	Demonstrative set	These are ripe; those aren’t.
It refers to a group in formal writing	Same roles as speech	Those factors matter.

What Type Of Pronoun Is Those

In the pronoun role, those replaces a noun phrase. It points to people or things without naming them again. You can usually answer “those what?” from context.

Core label

Those is a demonstrative pronoun when it acts on its own. It’s plural, and it points to something not “right here.” That “distance” can be physical or just mental, like talking about earlier events.

Clean pronoun examples

Those are the ones I meant.
Those were on sale yesterday.
If you don’t want these, take those.
I’ll take those, please.

Notice what’s missing in each line: a noun right after those. That absence is the clue. The word itself carries the pointing job.

What “those” is not

Students sometimes label those as a personal pronoun like we or they. It isn’t. Personal pronouns show person (first, second, third). Those does not show person. It points.

It also isn’t possessive. You won’t see forms like “those’s.” If you want possession, you switch to a different structure: “those people’s jackets” or “their jackets,” depending on your tone.

What Kind Of Pronoun Is Those In Real Writing

Most of the time, “those” sits inside a longer sentence where the noun already appeared once. That’s why it’s handy: it cuts repetition and keeps the flow smooth.

When “those” refers back

Writers often use those to refer back to a group mentioned earlier.

I tried three methods. Those worked well.
The cookies burned. Those went in the trash.
We listed four causes. Those appear in the next paragraph.

In each line, those points back to a noun already said (“methods,” “cookies,” “causes”), so the reader knows what it means.

When “those” points to an idea

It can also point to an idea that just happened in the text. This is common in essays.

The rules changed twice. Those shifts confused the class.
The team missed practice. Those choices hurt results.
The lab ran late. Those delays pushed the schedule back.

In these lines, the noun after those (“shifts,” “choices,” “delays”) makes the phrase a determiner use. The pointing meaning stays the same.

Pronoun Vs Determiner: The One Test That Works

If you want one reliable test, use this: check the word right after “those.” That next word tells you the job “those” is doing.

Step-by-step test

Find the word those.
Check the next word.
If a noun follows, “those” is a determiner.
If no noun follows, “those” is a pronoun.

Try it with these pairs:

Those books are heavy. (determiner)
Those are heavy. (pronoun)
Those students arrived late. (determiner)
Those arrived late. (pronoun)
Those ideas sound good. (determiner)
Those sound good. (pronoun)

This matches the way many grammar references group demonstratives. If you want a clear chart of demonstratives and how they behave, the Cambridge Dictionary demonstratives page lays it out in plain terms.

How “Those” Fits Into The Demonstrative Set

English has four common demonstratives: this, that, these, those. They pair by number and distance.

Number and distance

This = singular, near
That = singular, far
These = plural, near
Those = plural, far

“Far” can mean physical distance, time distance, or just “not in my hands.” You can talk about a past week and still pick those because the events feel removed.

Quick swaps that stay grammatical

Swap these and those to change the feel without changing the grammar:

These photos are from today. / Those photos are from last year.
These are for you. / Those are for them.
These notes are clear. / Those notes are messy.

If your sentence breaks after the swap, the issue is usually a missing noun or a mismatched verb, not the choice of demonstrative itself.

Those In Commands, Questions, And Short Replies

In speech and chat, people drop nouns all the time. That makes the pronoun use of those show up a lot.

Commands

Put those away.
Move those to the side.
Don’t touch those.

Each sentence has an implied noun. The speaker expects the listener to know what “those” refers to from the scene.

Questions and replies

Are those yours?
Yes, those are mine.
Which ones should I pick?
Pick those.

Short replies often use pronouns to stay quick. In writing, you may need one extra noun earlier so the reader stays with you.

Where Writers Slip Up With “Those”

Most mistakes come from two spots: agreement, or unclear reference. Fixing them is often quick.

Agreement errors

Those is plural, so it needs plural partners. Watch the verb and the noun.

Wrong: Those is my gloves.
Right: Those are my gloves.
Wrong: Those kind of problems.
Right: Those kinds of problems.
Wrong: Those was the reasons.
Right: Those were the reasons.

Unclear reference

If a reader can’t tell what those points to, the sentence feels foggy. Add a noun, or restate the target.

Foggy: I read three chapters. Those were hard.
Clear: I read three chapters. Those chapters were hard.
Foggy: The class ran long. Those were frustrating.
Clear: The class ran long. Those delays were frustrating.

This is the same habit many style guides push for pronouns in general. Purdue OWL’s pronouns overview is a solid refresher on making references clear.

Those In Different Sentence Patterns

Once you spot pronoun vs determiner, patterns become easy. Here are the common ones you’ll see in school writing.

Pattern 1: “Those + be”

This pattern is often pronoun use, since “those” stands alone.

Those are rare.
Those were my notes.
Those are the rules.

Pattern 2: “Those + noun”

This pattern is determiner use because a noun follows right away.

Those answers match the rubric.
Those directions lead to the lab.
Those students finished early.

Pattern 3: “Those of + noun/pronoun”

“Those of” is common in formal sentences. Here, those is still a pronoun, since it stands for “the people” or “the things.”

Those of you who finished may leave.
Those of the group who practiced improved.
Those of us who forgot the form had to return.

Pattern 4: “Those who/that”

This builds a group with a relative clause. “Those” works as a pronoun, and the clause tells which group you mean.

Those who arrived early got seats.
Those that remain must be stored.
Those who read the chapter will finish faster.

Pattern 5: “Those + adjective”

In casual speech you may see “those + adjective” with an implied noun.

Those red are mine.
Those shiny look new.

Teachers often prefer a noun in formal writing (“Those red pens are mine”). In a story or dialogue, the shorter form can sound natural.

Table Of Common Errors And Quick Fixes

Use this table as a fast edit pass when “those” shows up in drafts.

Problem	What To Change	Better Line
Singular verb after “those”	Switch to plural verb	Those are the notes.
Reader can’t tell what “those” points to	Add the noun once	Those chapters were hard.
“Those kind” phrase	Use “kinds” with plural	Those kinds of plans fail.
Mixing “these” and “those” in one list	Group by distance	These items go here; those go there.
Overuse in one paragraph	Swap one for a noun	Those results… the results…
Formal tone feels stiff	Choose a noun phrase	Those students…
“Those” before a singular noun	Use “that” or change noun	That idea… / Those ideas…

Practice: Spot The Role In Ten Seconds

Try these lines. Label each those as pronoun or determiner. Then check the list right after.

Mini set

Those were the days.
Those days felt long.
Put those on the shelf.
Put those boxes on the shelf.
Those of us who studied passed.
Those rules changed again.
I don’t like these; I like those.
Those cookies smell good.

Answers

1: pronoun
2: determiner
3: pronoun (the noun is implied)
4: determiner
5: pronoun
6: determiner
7: pronoun
8: determiner

Short Rewrite Drill For Clarity

If a sentence with those feels vague, a rewrite can clean it up in under a minute. Start by adding the noun once. Then decide if you still want the pronoun form.

Try this drill

Copy the sentence with those into a new line.
Write the hidden noun after those (“those reports,” “those steps,” “those notes”).
Read it aloud. If it sounds heavy, switch one repeat back to the pronoun form.
Check agreement one last time: plural noun, plural verb.

Here’s a quick pair you can model in your own work:

Draft: Those were confusing.
Rewrite: Those instructions were confusing. Those were hard to follow at first.

Quick Checklist Before You Submit

Run this short list when you proofread.

Is there a noun right after those? If yes, it’s a determiner use.
If it stands alone, can the reader tell what it points to?
Is the verb plural (are/were) when needed?
Do you use those once, then swap to a noun so the paragraph stays clear?
If you mean “near,” would these match your intent better?

One more tip: in essays, swap one those per paragraph for the exact noun. That keeps readers anchored and helps grading rubrics. If the noun appears once, pronoun use later reads clean with no extra words or clutter.

What Type Of Pronoun Is Those

So, what type of pronoun is those? When it replaces a noun phrase, it’s a demonstrative pronoun: plural, pointing, and context-driven. When it sits before a noun, it’s a demonstrative determiner. Spot the next word, and you’ll label it fast.