Grammar basics
Demonstrative adjectives
A demonstrative adjective points to a noun: this car, that man, these books, those people. It always comes before a noun.
Alone or before a noun?
The same four words can be demonstrative pronouns or demonstrative adjectives.
| Pronoun (alone) | Adjective (+ noun) |
|---|---|
| This is good. | This coffee is good. |
| That is my bag. | That bag is mine. |
| These are new. | These shoes are new. |
| Those look delicious. | Those mangoes look delicious. |
Match the noun
Use this and that with one thing. Use these and those with more than one.
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| this books | these books |
| those car | that car |
Before the noun, not after
In Thai, นี้ and นั้น come after the noun: รถคันนี้. In English, they come before the noun: this car.
This
adjective/ðɪs/ไทยนี้
Points to one thing near you.
This coffee is too sweet.
That
adjective/ðæt/ไทยนั้น
Points to one thing far from you.
Who is that man over there?
These
adjective/ðiːz/ไทย…เหล่านี้
Points to more than one thing near you.
These shoes are really comfortable.
Those
adjective/ðoʊz/ไทย…เหล่านั้น
Points to more than one thing far from you.
Those mangoes look delicious.