# demonstrative

/dɪˈmɑnstɹətɪv/ (US) · /dəmˈɒnstɹətˌɪv/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/demonstrative
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a pointing word such as this, that, these or those that shows which person or thing you mean.

For teachers: a determiner or pronoun such as this, that, these or those that identifies a referent by physical distance or place in the discourse.

## Examples

- This is a demonstrative that points to something near.
- The teacher writes this and that on the board to show how demonstratives work.
- In the sentence 'I prefer these apples to those', both these and those act as demonstratives that distinguish near from far.

## Usage notes

- Refers to this, that, these and those; appears before a noun as a determiner or alone as a pronoun.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.