Demonstrative Pronouns Exercises: Master Your English Grammar Skills Today

Understanding Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns are words used to point to specific things or people. They help clarify exactly what you're referring to in a sentence. The four main demonstrative pronouns in English are: this, that, these, and those.

Key Points

1. This and these refer to objects or people that are close to the speaker.
2. Use this for singular nouns.
   • Example: "This is my favorite book."

3. Use these for plural nouns.

   • Example: "These are the best cookies!"

4. That and those refer to objects or people that are further away from the speaker.

5. Use that for singular nouns.
   • Example: "That was an incredible performance!"
6. Use those for plural nouns.
   • Example: "Those are beautiful paintings."

Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun to fill in the blanks:

1. ______ is the house I grew up in.
2. I can’t believe ______ books are on sale!
3. ______ is the last piece of cake, please save it for me.
4. Are ______ your shoes by the door?
5. ______ flowers smell wonderful, don’t they?

Answers:

1. That
2. These
3. This
4. Those
5. These

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Transform the following sentences by using the correct demonstrative pronoun.

1. The apple here is ripe.

2. Example: "This apple is ripe."

3. The pencils on your desk are new.

4. The car in the driveway belongs to me.
5. The mountains in the distance are breathtaking.
6. The laptops on the table are for sale.

Answers:

1. This apple is ripe.
2. These pencils are new.
3. That car belongs to me.
4. Those mountains are breathtaking.
5. Those laptops are for sale.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Write one sentence for each demonstrative pronoun. Be sure to indicate proximity by using context clues in your sentences.

• Example for this: "This sandwich is delicious because it was made fresh."

Practice Tip:

Regularly practice using demonstrative pronouns in conversation to become more comfortable with distinguishing the correct pronoun based on proximity.

Common Mistakes with Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns such as "this," "that," "these," and "those" can be tricky for English learners. Here are some common mistakes and tips on how to avoid them:

1. Confusing Singular and Plural Forms

2. Mistake: Using "this" instead of "these" for plural nouns.

   • Incorrect: "This are my books."
   • Correct: "These are my books."

3. Tip: Remember that "this" and "that" are used for singular nouns, while "these" and "those" are used for plural nouns.

4. Misusing 'This' and 'That'

5. Mistake: Mixing up "this" and "that" based on emotional or physical distance.

   • Incorrect: "This is delicious soup" when pointing to a dish far away.
   • Correct: "That is delicious soup" if it is at a distance.

6. Tip: Use "this" for objects or situations that are close or immediately present and "that" for those that are further away.

7. Incorrect Agreement with Verbs

8. Mistake: Mismatching singular pronouns with plural verbs.

   • Incorrect: "This are very interesting."
   • Correct: "This is very interesting."

9. Tip: Ensure that the verb agrees with the number of the pronoun: singular demonstratives with singular verbs and plural demonstratives with plural verbs.

10. Using Demonstrative Pronouns without Clear Reference

11. Mistake: Introducing demonstrative pronouns without clear antecedents.

    • Incorrect: "I don’t like that."
    • Correct: "I don’t like that music."

12. Tip: Make sure that what "this," "that," "these," or "those" refer to is explicitly mentioned or understood in context.

13. Switching Contexts Mid-Conversation

14. Mistake: Changing what the demonstrative pronoun refers to without clear signals.

    • Incorrect: "These strawberries are fresh. These are tasty too." (unclear second reference)
    • Correct: "These strawberries are fresh. These cherries are tasty too."

15. Tip: Clearly identify the new subject when switching references to avoid confusion.

By keeping these common mistakes in mind and practicing regularly, learners can improve their use of demonstrative pronouns and communicate more clearly in English.

Exercises for Learning Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns help to specify and emphasize which items you're referring to, often in terms of distance and number. These pronouns include "this," "that," "these," and "those." Here are some exercises to practice using them effectively:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Use "this," "that," "these," or "those" to complete the sentences.

1. ______ is a beautiful painting on the wall.
2. Can you pass me ______ book over there?
3. I love ______ shoes you’re wearing right now.
4. ______ cookies here are freshly baked.
5. Don't touch ______ sharp knife on the table.
6. ______ are not the droids you’re looking for.
7. ______ movie we watched last night was amazing.
8. Could you help me carry ______ boxes to the car?

Exercise 2: Sentence Transformation

Rewrite each sentence, changing the demonstrative pronouns to show the opposite distance or number.

1. This apple tastes sweet.

2. Those apples taste sweet.

3. I can't reach that shelf.

4. I can't reach these shelves.

5. These flowers are for you.

6. This flower is for you.

7. Those mountains look majestic.

8. That mountain looks majestic.

Exercise 3: Matching Columns

Match the sentence with the correct demonstrative pronoun in the sentences.

Column A 1. __ is my favorite song playing. 2. Please take _ plates to the kitchen. 3. day is going to be sunny. 4. I need ___ document signed.

Column B - These - That - This - Those

Exercise 4: Error Correction

Identify and correct the errors in the use of demonstrative pronouns in the sentences below.

1. This apples are too sour.

2. Can you believe how fast these car is?

3. Take those book and place it on this table.

4. That people over there are having a picnic.

Exercise 5: Creative Writing

Write a short paragraph describing a scene, using each of the four demonstrative pronouns at least once.

Example: You are at a farmer's market. Describe what you see, hear, and smell, emphasizing the immediate and distant objects.

Engaging in these exercises will help solidify your understanding and use of demonstrative pronouns in everyday conversations. Keep practicing to improve your fluency and confidence.

Interactive Activities to Master Demonstrative Pronouns

Understanding and using demonstrative pronouns correctly is crucial in English as they help specify which person or thing we refer to. Demonstrative pronouns include "this," "that," "these," and "those." Here are some engaging exercises to help solidify your grasp of them:

1. Picture Match

Materials Needed: A few pictures or photos.
Instructions:
- Place several images on the table.
- Use the pronouns "this," "that," "these," or "those" to describe each picture.
- For instance, point to a nearby picture of a cat and say, "This is a cat." For one further away, say, "That is a tree."
- Practice with a partner or record your sentences to track your progress.

2. Object Relay

Materials Needed: A collection of small, everyday objects.
Instructions:
- Arrange the objects at varying distances from where you are sitting or standing.
- Pick an object and use the appropriate demonstrative pronoun: "this" or "these" for objects close by, and "that" or "those" for objects farther away.
- Example: "This is a pen," or "Those are my shoes."

3. Fill-in-the-Blanks

Instructions:
- Create sentences with blanks where demonstrative pronouns should go.
- Example: "_ book on the table is mine," and "_ trees over there are very tall."
- Swap exercises with a peer to fill in each other’s blanks.

4. Dialogue Practice

Instructions:
- Write a short dialogue between two characters using demonstrative pronouns.
- An example dialogue might start with:
A: "Is that your phone ringing?"
B: "No, I think this is a message for you."
- Perform the dialogue with a friend, focusing on the correct use of pronouns.

5. Sorting Game

Materials Needed: Multiple items of different categories (e.g., toys, books, kitchen items).
Instructions:
- Sort items into groups and use demonstrative pronouns to describe them.
- Example: "These are kitchen utensils," and "That is a toy car over there."

6. Sentence Transformation

Instructions:
- Turn simple sentences into ones involving demonstrative pronouns.
- Start with a sentence like "The apple is on the table," and transform it into "This is an apple on the table." - Challenge yourself by changing both subject and object references.

7. Online Quizzes

Instructions:
- Find online exercises and quizzes focused on demonstrative pronouns.
- Websites offer interactive exercises where feedback is immediate, helping you assess your understanding and improve your skills.

Engage in these activities regularly to build confidence in using demonstrative pronouns. Practicing in different contexts ensures you can use them naturally in conversation. Happy learning!

Tips for Teachers: Enhancing Learning of Demonstrative Pronouns

1. Introduce with Visual Aids

Begin by introducing students to the four main demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those. Use pictures or real-life objects to represent the concepts. For instance, place an object close to the students and indicate it as "this," while an object further away can be "that."

2. Contextual Examples

Provide examples in sentences to show how they work in context:

• This is my favorite book. (referring to a book you have in your hand)
• That looks like a fun game. (pointing to a game across the room)
• These cookies smell delicious. (holding a plate of cookies nearby)
• Those stars are very bright tonight. (looking at the stars in the distant sky)

3. Interactive Activities

Engage students in an activity where they have to identify and use the correct demonstrative pronoun. Create a scavenger hunt in the classroom where students pick objects according to your cues using "this" or "these" for items nearby, and "that" or "those" for items further away.

4. Use of Gestures

Incorporate gestures when practicing. Physically point to objects when saying “this” or “that,” and use broader arm movements for “these” and “those.” This reinforces the concepts of proximity and singular vs. plural.

5. Personalized Practice

Ask students to bring personal items to class and explain them to their peers using demonstrative pronouns. For example, a student might say, “This is my pencil case. I use these pencils for drawing,” while holding up their items.

6. Pair and Share Activities

Organize the students into pairs, giving each pair a set of objects. Have them take turns asking and answering questions using demonstrative pronouns, such as “What is this?” or “Do you like those?”

7. Listening Exercises

Use audio clips where different objects are described with demonstrative pronouns. After listening, quiz the students on what was referred to as "this," "that," "these," or "those."

8. Creative Writing Prompts

Encourage students to write short paragraphs or dialogues using each demonstrative pronoun. For example, "I was at the park and saw those birds flying together."

9. Reinforcement Through Games

Utilize online games and apps that focus on language skills. There are many interactive games specifically designed to improve grammar usage, including distinguishing and correctly using demonstrative pronouns.

10. Regular Review Sessions

Periodically review the concepts in different and fun ways. Use quick-fire quizzes or memory games to reinforce learning and help students become confident in using demonstrative pronouns in their daily vocabulary.