Page 127 - English Grammar - IX-X

• Winston Churchill was a great orator and diplomat.

(Here, the reference is to one person.)

Demonstratives
Demonstratives point out a person or a thing. We use this, that, these, and those as
demonstratives.

This and these refer to persons or objects close by. This goes with a singular noun, and these
goes with a plural noun.
For example:

• This magazine will serve your purpose.
• These gifts are for you.
That and those refer to persons or objects at a distance. That goes with a singular noun, and
those goes with a plural noun.

For example:
• That palace once belonged to my grandmother.

• Those girls are going to perform a ballad.
This and that can be used before uncountable nouns, also.
For example:

• This water is not fit for drinking.
• That pomegranate juice was very tasty and fresh.

Possessives

Possessives are those determiners that show someone’s possession. Words such as my, our,
your, his, her, its, and their are called possessives. The possessives can be used before both
singular and plural nouns.
For example:

• The mother put her necklace around • You must return the bag to its owner
her neck. immediately.

Distributives

Distributives are those determiners that show distribution. They refer to each one of a number.
Words such as each, every, either, and neither are called distributives.
Each is used with a singular verb when a limited number of persons or things are considered
individually with emphasis on the individual.

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