Demonstrative Pronouns
In the following sentences, determine if this, that, these, or those should be used.
- Lara looked at her meal in front of her. “____ looks great!” she said.
- Tyesha watched the ’67 Mustang drive down the street. “What I wouldn’t give for one of ____.”
- “What do you think of ____?” Ashley asked, showing me the three paint samples she had picked out.
Show Answer
- Lara looked at her meal in front of her. “This looks great!” she said.
- The meal is right in front of Lara, and there is only one meal. This is the correct pronoun.
- Tyesha watched the ’67 Mustang drive down the street. “What I wouldn’t give for one of those.”
- The Mustang is far away (and getting further away as it drives off). The phrase “one of ____” requires a plural word in the blank. Those is the correct pronoun. A singular version of the sentence would be something like “What I wouldn’t give to own that.” That is the correct pronoun for singular things that are far away.
- “What do you think of these?” Ashley asked, showing me the three paint samples she had picked out.
- The paint samples are in immediate focus (whether Ashley is holding them or looking at them online), and there are three of them. These is the correct pronoun.