Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns :



A Demonstrative Pronoun is one that points to some Noun going before or which is already in the speaker's mind and is used instead of it. This Noun is called the Antecedent Noun.

Forms of Demonstrative Pronouns

The chief Pronouns belonging to the class of Demonstratives are…

(a) this, these, (indicating what is near the speaker) (b) that, those, (indicating what is remote from the speaker) (c) such (= of this kind or of that kind)

Example Sentences :

(a) This is a present from her friend. (b) These are merely excuses. (c) The power of the members was greater than that of the President. (d) Their views were different from those of the Chairman. (e) Kings are constituted such by law. (such = kings).

The student will have observed that nearly all these words have appeared already in the list of Demonstrative Adjectives. Where, then, is the difference?

When they qualify some Noun expressed or understood, they are Adjectives.

When they are substitutes for some Noun expressed or understood, they are Pronouns.

He came to my house one day.

Here one is an Adjective (Indefinite Demonstrative) qualifying its Noun which is DAY here.

Your coat is black. Mine is a white one.

Here one is a Pronoun which is used as a substitute for the previously mentioned Noun COAT and is qualified by the Adjective - white.

IT : This Pronoun has three distinct modes of reference.

(a) To a Noun going before…. In this sense it is merely a Personal Pronoun.

The sun has risen. It (=the sun) shines brightly.

(b) To a Clause going before…

I have treated him as he deserved and he knows it.

(Here IT points to the clause….I have treated him as he deserved.)

(c) To a Phrase or Clause coming after…

It is sad to hear such bad news. (Phrase)

It, to hear such bad news, is sad.

It is probable that it will rain today. (Clause)

It, viz. - that it will rain today - is probable.

The word THAT (together with its plural form THOSE) is used as substitute for a single noun previously mentioned.

(i) The air of the hills is cooler than that (= the air) of the plains.

(ii) The houses of the rich are larger than those (= the houses) of the poor.

Observe that the word THAT in the first example does not qualify the Noun - AIR by saying which air or what air and therefore it is not an Adjective. It stands for AIR in general and is a substitute for the Norm AIR and therefore it is a Pronoun.

One, ones, none : When the Antecedent Noun is in the Singular Number, we use the word ONE. But when the Antecedent Noun is Plural, we use the word ONES. The word NONE is a shortened form of NOT ONE. But the word NONE may stand either for a Singular or a Plural Noun.

(a) He gained a prize last year. But he did not gain one (= a prize) this year. (Singular)

(b) There were six lazy boys and four industrious ones (= boys) in our class. (Plural)

(c) You have a book. But I have none (= not one or not a book). (Singular)

(d) Bring me some pins. I have none. (Plural)

(e) None have gone away yet. (Plural)

Note : The pronoun ONE is also used in the sense of ANYONE or PEOPLE generally.

(a) One does not see such sights every day.

(b) It is easy to advise one to do one's best.

Few Example Sentences :

(a) This horse is stronger than that.
(b) I prefer a white horse to a black one.
(c) You will repent of this one day, when it is too late.
(d) The faithfulness of a dog is greater than that of a cat.
(e) One Mr. B helped his friend in need that was true friendship.
(f) Bring me that book, and leave this where it is.
(g) The point you have raised is one of great importance.
(h) Such a book as yours deserves to be well read.
(i) Prosperous men are not always more happy than unlucky ones.
(j) Will you ride this horse or that?
(k) He was an old friend, and we welcomed him as such.
(l) The plan you have chosen does not seem to me to be a wise one.
(m) One man says this, another that; whom should I believe?

RELATED PAGES :

1. The Pronoun
   
2. Pronouns
   
3. Kinds of Pronouns
   
4. Personal Pronouns
   
5. Possessive Adjectives and Possessive Pronouns
   
6. Possessive Adjectives
   
7. Possessive Pronouns
   
8. Reflexive Personal Pronouns
   
9. Self-Pronouns
   
10. Emphasizing Pronouns
    
11. Uses of Reflexive Forms (Uses of Reflexive Pronouns)
    
12. Forms of Demonstrative Pronouns
    
13. Antecedent Noun
    
14. Indefinite Demonstrative Pronouns
    
15. Conjunctive Pronouns
    
16. Relative Pronouns
    
17. The two uses of WHO and WHICH
    
18. Uses of The Relative Pronouns
    
19. Restrictive uses of WHO and WHICH
    
20. Continuative uses of WHO and WHICH
    
21. Omission of Relative Pronoun
22. Where to omit Relative Pronoun?
    
23. Interrogative Pronouns
    
24. Forms of Interrogatives Pronouns
    
25. Exclamatory Pronouns
    
26. Parsing Models for Nouns
    
27. Parsing Models for Adjectives
    
28. Parsing Models for Pronouns
    
29. Sentences with Pronouns
    

Demonstrative Pronouns :

Demonstrative Pronouns To HOME PAGE

The Sentences Index