English Grammar Understanding the Basics - Evelyn P. Altenberg, Robert M. Vago 2010
Lesson 13: Demonstratives
Unit 3: Determiners
Part I: Kinds of words
Here’s another easy category. There are only four demonstratives: this, that, these, and those.
Quick tip 13.1
There are only four demonstratives in English: this, that, these, and those.
Notice again that, just like articles, each of these can occur directly before a noun: this table, these tables, that idea, those ideas. Demonstratives are words that ’’point’’ to something or someone.
Test yourself 13.1
Underline the demonstrative in each of the sentences below.
Sample: Those performers were all also composers.
Getting started (answers on p. 55)
1. You can use this book.
2. Those speeches he gave were impressive.
3. They don’t speak that language.
4. Kirsten sold all these items.
5. This side of the Atlantic Ocean is more familiar to me.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. She likes to listen to that song.
7. Those mistakes will catch up with Andrew one day.
8. I don’t like these pictures.
9. That man is a technician.
10. Lots of people like to patronize this restaurant.
Test yourself 13.2
Underline the determiners in the sentences below. They will be either articles or demonstratives.
Sample: There were shops selling a variety of those handmade items.
Getting started (answers on p. 55)
1. On top of the pile of fabrics was a sleeping cat.
2. That leader met with the residents of the village.
3. This taxi is heading toward a large shopping mall.
4. The instructor chose a very informative textbook.
5. These pants won’t fit in those drawers.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. The audience is tired of all those lame jokes.
7. Once in a while I think of my childhood friends.
8. Those pedestrians better keep to the right of the main road.
9. This work is the brainchild of a madman.
10. We found this piece of paper on the top shelf of a dusty bookcase.
Test yourself 13.3
Identify each determiner in the sentences below by underlining it with a solid line if it is a demonstrative and with a squiggly line if it is an article.
Getting started (answers on p. 55)
1. Are you looking for a better job?
2. That movie follows a young family after they immigrate to this country.
3. Jane met an Englishman there whom she later married.
4. The weather was so wonderful at the beach.
5. All those cups of coffee won’t help you get a good night’s rest.
More practice (answers on the website)
6. I recognize this soccer player as a big star from Italy.
7. Playing a game of chess in this park always interests me.
8. Those students who did the exercises in the text will likely pass the final.
9. The garbage is piling up on the sidewalk.
10. This lesson is a piece of cake, isn’t it?