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DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

AND
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES
Private Classes
Demonstrative Pronouns
• We use this (singular) and these (plural) to refer to something that is here / near.
Examples:
• This is my car. (singular)
• These are our children. (plural)
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We use that (singular) and those (plural) to refer to something that is there / far.
Examples:
You can also use Demonstrative Pronouns by themselves:
• That is our house. (singular) • Did you do that?
• I'd like to buy these?
• Those are my shoes. (plural) • Which of those would you like?

Note that the verb changes (i.e. singular / plural) depending on the pronoun that
you use.
Demonstrative Adjectives
You can also use demonstratives before a noun. These are called demonstrative
adjectives.
The Demonstrative Adjective needs to agree (= be the same form) as the noun.
• Examples of demonstrative adjectives:
• This party is boring. (singular)

• That city is busy. (singular)

• These chocolates are delicious. (plural)

• Those flowers are beautiful. (plural)


What is the difference between Demonstrative
Adjectives and Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative Adjectives and Demonstrative Pronouns use the same
words. The easiest way to know that difference is that Demonstrative
Adjectives are always before a noun while Demonstrative Pronouns are
before a verb or by themselves.
• This book is old. (Demonstrative Adjective + Noun)
• This is new. (Demonstrative Pronoun + Verb)
• Did you like that? (Demonstrative Pronoun by itself)
Other less important demonstratives
such — tal, tais, esse, esses, essa, essas, isso, tão
• I don't believe such stones. Não acredito em tais (nessas) histórias.
• Animals such as cats, dogs, birds... Animais tais como gatos, cães, pássaros...
• I've never seen such beautiful orchids. Nunca vi orquídeas tao bonitas.
• Jack is such a funny fellow! 0 Jack é um rapaz tao engraçado!
Such + singular noun we add an indefinite article (a,an)
• Jack is such a funny fellow! (singular noun)
• I don't believe such a story.
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the one, the ones — o, a, os, as, os que, as que
• That was a good movie, but the one I saw last week was better.
Esse foi um bom filme, mas o que vi na semana passada era melhor.
• Are these apples imported from Argentina ? The ones I bought last week were delicious.
Estas maçãs são importadas da Argentina? As que comprei na semana passada estavam deliciosas.
Present vs. Past
If an action is near in time we tend to use this / these.
If an action has finished or is in the past we use that / those.
Examples:
• This is a good meal. (at the time of eating)
• Those girls we met last night were silly. (an event that happened in the past).
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This is
The expression this is is commonly used when you talk on the phone or you
introduce people.
Examples:
• "Hello, this is Peter."
• Carol, this is my friend Simon. Simon, this is Carol.

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