Demonstrative pronouns Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 23: Demonstrative Pronouns

Question 1. Do you remember the underlined words in the sentences below?
(i) Are you sure you want this?
(ii) We agreed about that.
(iii) I'm not sure I like these.
(iv) Those look delicious.
Answer: The underlined words are: this, that, these, and those. These are demonstrative pronouns because they point to or identify a specific thing without being directly followed by a noun.
In simple words: The words this, that, these, and those are demonstrative pronouns. They help us point to or show which thing we're talking about.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns always replace a noun or noun phrase, and there are exactly four of them to remember.

Question 2. What is the difference between demonstratives used as determiners and demonstrative pronouns?
Answer: Demonstratives used as determiners come before a noun (like "this dog," "that idea," "these songs," "those curtains"). Demonstrative pronouns stand alone without a noun following them (like "this," "that," "these," "those"). In both cases, they point to something, but determiners modify a noun while pronouns replace it.
In simple words: When a demonstrative comes before a noun, it's a determiner. When it stands by itself without a noun, it's a pronoun. Both point to things, but they do different jobs.

Exam Tip: Remember that pronouns replace nouns, while determiners describe or modify nouns.

Question 3. What are the four demonstrative pronouns?
Answer: The four demonstrative pronouns are: this, that, these, and those. These are the only demonstrative pronouns in English, and they are easy to remember because there are so few of them.
In simple words: There are only four demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those. You can remember them because there are not many.

Exam Tip: Memorize these four words - they are the complete list of demonstrative pronouns in English.

Test Yourself 23.1

Question 4. Underline the demonstrative pronoun in the sentence: Lenny wasn't sure he really wanted those.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "those." It points to an unspecified group of things that Lenny did not want, replacing the noun that would normally appear after it.
In simple words: "Those" is the demonstrative pronoun here. It shows what Lenny did not want, but we don't know exactly what "those" refers to.

Exam Tip: Look for the words this, that, these, or those when standing alone in a sentence - these are demonstrative pronouns.

Question 5. That wasn't really Hannah's job, but I appreciate her doing it anyway.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "That." It refers to an action or situation that was not actually Hannah's responsibility, but she did it anyway.
In simple words: "That" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to something Hannah did, even though it wasn't her job.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns at the start of a sentence often refer to an entire situation or idea mentioned before.

Question 6. Natasha really likes these.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "these." It stands alone and points to specific items that Natasha enjoys, without naming the items directly.
In simple words: "These" is the demonstrative pronoun. It shows what Natasha likes, but we're not told what "these" are exactly.

Exam Tip: When a demonstrative pronoun appears at the end of a sentence, the listener or reader often knows from context what it refers to.

Question 7. He wasn't good at riddles but managed to solve those.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "those." It refers to certain riddles that he was able to solve despite not being skilled at riddles in general.
In simple words: "Those" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to some riddles that he solved.

Exam Tip: Use context clues to understand what a demonstrative pronoun refers to, since it doesn't name the object directly.

Question 8. I never thought it would come to this.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "this." It refers to a situation or outcome that the speaker never imagined would happen.
In simple words: "This" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to a situation the speaker did not expect.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns can refer to situations, events, or abstract ideas, not just physical objects.

Question 9. These are very difficult times.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "These." It refers to the present period or current circumstances that are challenging.
In simple words: "These" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to the current times or period that are hard.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns used as subjects often refer to a situation or time period rather than specific objects.

Question 10. Those were the good old days.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "Those." It refers to a past period or set of experiences that the speaker recalls fondly.
In simple words: "Those" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to times in the past that were good.

Exam Tip: When a demonstrative pronoun refers to time, you can identify it by looking at the verb tense that follows it.

Question 11. Sean thought he would never see that.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "that." It refers to something Sean believed he would not witness or experience.
In simple words: "That" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to something Sean thought he would never see.

Exam Tip: In sentences with clauses, the demonstrative pronoun often appears in the main clause and refers to something mentioned in context.

Question 12. This is absolutely unacceptable.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "This." It refers to a situation or behavior that the speaker finds completely unacceptable.
In simple words: "This" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to something that is totally not okay.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns as subjects often introduce a judgment or opinion about a situation.

Question 13. Mrs. Wallace would rather buy these.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "these." It refers to certain items that Mrs. Wallace prefers to purchase over others.
In simple words: "These" is the demonstrative pronoun. It shows what Mrs. Wallace wants to buy instead.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns can show preference or choice when used with verbs like "buy," "choose," "want," or "prefer."

Question 14. That is the funniest thing I've ever seen.
Answer: The demonstrative pronoun is "That." It refers to something the speaker finds extremely funny.
In simple words: "That" is the demonstrative pronoun. It points to something that made the speaker laugh the most ever.

Exam Tip: When a demonstrative pronoun is followed by an adjective and a noun clause, it often introduces an emphatic statement.

Test Yourself 23.2

Question 15. Decide if the pronoun "yourselves" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Yourselves" is a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to the subject (you) and shows that the action is directed toward the same people performing it.
In simple words: "Yourselves" is reflexive. It means you do something to or for yourselves.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns always end in -self or -selves and refer back to the subject of the sentence.

Question 16. Decide if the pronoun "those" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Those" is a demonstrative pronoun. It points to or identifies specific things without naming them directly.
In simple words: "Those" is demonstrative. It shows which things you mean.

Exam Tip: The four demonstrative pronouns (this, that, these, those) always point to specific people, places, or things.

Question 17. Decide if the pronoun "me" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Me" is an object pronoun. It receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition, referring to the person speaking.
In simple words: "Me" is an object pronoun. Something is done to me, or something is given to me.

Exam Tip: Object pronouns (me, you, him, her, it, us, them) receive the action in a sentence.

Question 18. Decide if the pronoun "we" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "We" is a subject pronoun. It performs the action of the verb and refers to the speaker and at least one other person.
In simple words: "We" is a subject pronoun. It is the group doing something.

Exam Tip: Subject pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) perform the main action in a sentence.

Question 19. Decide if the pronoun "itself" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Itself" is a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to a singular neuter subject and shows that the action is performed by and directed toward the same thing.
In simple words: "Itself" is reflexive. A thing does something to itself.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns ending in -self refer to singular subjects, while those ending in -selves refer to plural subjects.

Question 20. Decide if the pronoun "them" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Them" is an object pronoun. It receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition, referring to the people or things being discussed.
In simple words: "Them" is an object pronoun. Something is done to them or given to them.

Exam Tip: Remember that object pronouns follow action verbs or come after prepositions in sentences.

Question 21. Decide if the pronoun "that" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "That" is a demonstrative pronoun. It points to or identifies a specific thing or idea.
In simple words: "That" is demonstrative. It shows which thing you're talking about.

Exam Tip: Demonstrative pronouns are easy to spot because there are only four: this, that, these, and those.

Question 22. Decide if the pronoun "us" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Us" is an object pronoun. It receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition, referring to the speaker and others.
In simple words: "Us" is an object pronoun. Something happens to us or is given to us.

Exam Tip: Object pronouns work as the "targets" of the verb's action - something is done to them.

Question 23. Decide if the pronoun "herself" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "Herself" is a reflexive pronoun. It refers back to a singular female subject and shows that the action is performed by and directed toward the same person.
In simple words: "Herself" is reflexive. A woman or girl does something to herself.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns always emphasize that the subject and the object of the action are the same.

Question 24. Decide if the pronoun "these" is a subject, object, reflexive, or demonstrative pronoun.
Answer: "These" is a demonstrative pronoun. It points to or identifies specific things that are near or under discussion.
In simple words: "These" is demonstrative. It shows things that are close or that you're talking about now.

Exam Tip: "These" and "this" refer to things that are near, while "those" and "that" often refer to things that are far.

Test Yourself 23.3

Question 25. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each as demonstrative, subject, object, or reflexive: Did you spill that on yourself?
Answer: The pronouns are: "you" (subject), "that" (demonstrative), and "yourself" (reflexive). The subject pronoun "you" performs the action, "that" points to the substance that was spilled, and "yourself" shows that you spilled it on your own body.
In simple words: "You" is the subject pronoun doing the action. "That" points to what you spilled. "Yourself" shows you got the liquid on your own body.

Exam Tip: In one sentence, there can be multiple pronouns of different types - read carefully to identify each one.

Question 26. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: We were angry at ourselves.
Answer: The pronouns are: "We" (subject) and "ourselves" (reflexive). "We" is the subject performing the emotion of anger, and "ourselves" shows that the anger is directed toward the same group of people who are angry.
In simple words: "We" is the subject pronoun. "Ourselves" shows that we were upset with each other or with our own group.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns often appear after prepositions like "at," "to," "with," or "for."

Question 27. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: He asked us to explain this.
Answer: The pronouns are: "He" (subject), "us" (object), and "this" (demonstrative). "He" performs the action of asking, "us" receives the request (object pronoun), and "this" points to something that needs explanation.
In simple words: "He" is the subject doing the asking. "Us" receives the request. "This" points to what needs explaining.

Exam Tip: Look for pronouns in different parts of the sentence - subject, after the verb, and after prepositions.

Question 28. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: It works just as well at home.
Answer: The pronoun is: "It" (subject). This subject pronoun performs the action of the verb "works."
In simple words: "It" is the subject pronoun. "It" is the thing that works.

Exam Tip: The pronoun "it" can refer to a thing, an idea, or a situation mentioned previously in the text.

Question 29. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: They sent these to us.
Answer: The pronouns are: "They" (subject), "these" (demonstrative), and "us" (object). "They" performs the action of sending, "these" points to the items being sent, and "us" receives them (object pronoun).
In simple words: "They" is the subject doing the sending. "These" shows what was sent. "Us" is who received them.

Exam Tip: When identifying multiple pronouns, check the verb to see which is the subject and which is the object.

Question 30. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: The baseball player dusted himself off.
Answer: The pronoun is: "himself" (reflexive). The player performs the action and also receives it - he dusted the dust from his own body.
In simple words: "Himself" is reflexive. The player removed dust from his own body.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns with the verb "dust," "wash," "dry," or similar actions show self-directed activity.

Question 31. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: You should do this for yourself.
Answer: The pronouns are: "You" (subject) and "yourself" (reflexive). "You" is the subject who should perform the action, and "yourself" emphasizes that you should do it alone, for your own benefit.
In simple words: "You" is the subject. "Yourself" means you should do it on your own, not have someone else do it for you.

Exam Tip: Reflexive pronouns often emphasize independence or self-reliance when used after "for" or "by."

Question 32. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: This reminds me of why I should respect myself.
Answer: The pronouns are: "This" (demonstrative), "me" (object), "I" (subject), and "myself" (reflexive). "This" points to something being discussed, "me" receives the action of "reminds," "I" is the subject of the dependent clause, and "myself" emphasizes self-respect.
In simple words: "This" points to something. "Me" is what gets reminded. "I" is who should respect. "Myself" means respecting your own self.

Exam Tip: Complex sentences may contain multiple pronoun types - work through each one systematically.

Question 33. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: That is the way they should behave themselves.
Answer: The pronouns are: "That" (demonstrative), "they" (subject), and "themselves" (reflexive). "That" points to the way described, "they" is the subject who should behave, and "themselves" shows that they should behave appropriately with respect to their own conduct.
In simple words: "That" points to the behavior mentioned. "They" are the people. "Themselves" means they control their own actions.

Exam Tip: When "themselves" or similar reflexive pronouns follow "should," "must," or other modal verbs, they emphasize personal responsibility.

Question 34. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: We excused ourselves right after dinner.
Answer: The pronouns are: "We" (subject) and "ourselves" (reflexive). "We" is the subject group who excused themselves, and "ourselves" emphasizes that the group left politely on their own initiative.
In simple words: "We" is the group. "Ourselves" means we politely said we were leaving.

Exam Tip: "Excuse oneself" is a common reflexive expression meaning to politely leave a situation.

Question 35. Underline the pronouns in the sentence and label each: It could bother them.
Answer: The pronouns are: "It" (subject) and "them" (object). "It" is the subject that could cause bother, and "them" receives the action of being bothered (object pronoun).
In simple words: "It" is what could cause trouble. "Them" are the people who might feel bothered.

Exam Tip: Remember that object pronouns come after action verbs like "bother," "help," "tell," "give," or "see."