Determiners are used in the English language to introduce the noun (s) in sentences. They are of different types, each type having its own significance. In this article, you will be introduced to one of the types of determiners- Demonstratives
Demonstratives are the words (determiners) that demonstrate or point out to a specific noun in terms of its number and location (either physically or in time) from the speaker.
(संकेतवाचक शब्द वे शब्द होते हैं जो वक्ता से किसी विशिष्ट संज्ञा की संख्या और स्थान (भौतिक रूप से या समय के संदर्भ में) को दर्शाते हैं या इंगित करते हैं।)
There are four demonstratives in the English language- This, That, These and Those. They can work either as adjectives or as pronouns.
Note: If they work as an adjective, they are called demonstrative adjectives. And if they work as pronouns, they are called demonstrative pronouns.
Examples:
That was a great game.
I will never forget this.
These apples taste fresh.
I enjoyed that party.
Demonstrative Adjectives- This, That, These, and Those are called demonstrative adjectives when they are used to modify a noun.
(This, That, These, and Those- जब किसी संज्ञा को संशोधित करने के लिए इनका प्रयोग किया जाता हैं तो इन्हें संकेतवाचक विशेषण कहा जाता है।)
Examples:
We use ‘this’ (singular)+noun and ‘these’ (plural)+noun to refer to something that is here/near.
This water is pure.
This computer is expensive.
These actors are very skilled.
These shoes are uncomfortable.
She bought these devices last month.
We use ‘that’ (singular)+noun and ‘those’ (plural)+noun to refer to something that is there/far.
That boat is beautiful.
Do you like those shoes?
I gave you those books yesterday.
That aeroplane is very high.
Those rules are mandatory to follow.
Demonstrative Pronouns- This, That, These, and Those are called Demonstrative Pronouns when they are used by themselves in place of a noun or they are used to refer to a noun.
(This, That, These, and Those- जब इनका प्रयोग संज्ञा के स्थान पर या संज्ञा को संदर्भित करने के लिए किया जाता है तब इन्हें संकेतवाचक सर्वनाम कहा जाता है।)
(A demonstrative pronoun is not followed by any noun.)
Examples:
We use ‘this’ (singular) and ‘these’ (plural) to refer to something that is here/near.
This is delicious.
I would like this.
This is my pen.
These aren’t mine.
These are my friends.
We use ‘that’ (singular) and ‘those’ (plural) to refer to something that is there/far.
That is all there is.
She wants those.
That is Rohit’s father.
That is our previous house.
Those are not good people.
Note: The verb changes (i.e. singular/plural) depending on the pronoun that you use.
More Usages of Demonstratives (Determiners)
1. If an action is in the present time or near future, then we use “this or these’. If an action is in the past, then we use “that or those”.
(यदि कोई क्रिया वर्तमान समय में या निकट भविष्य में घटित हो रही है, तो हम ‘this’ या ‘these’ का प्रयोग करते हैं। यदि कोई क्रिया भूतकाल में घटित हुई है, तो हम ‘that’ या ‘those’ का प्रयोग करते हैं।)
This pizza is delicious. (during the meal)
That pizza was delicious last night. (the next day) ✓✓✓
This pizza was delicious last night. (the next day) ×××
What are you doing these days?
It will be very cold this winter.
I have an important match this weekend.
This movie is not good, but that movie was awesome.
2. To introduce yourself or a person
( खुद को या किसी को किसी से Introduce करवाते हुए)
Hello, this is Mohit.
Hello, Sumit. This is Saurabh.
These are my cousins.
Is that your father?
3. Talking on the phone
(फोन पर बात करते हुए)
Who is this?
This is Ronit.
Hello sir, Good morning! This is Aakash, calling from XYZ company.
(If we use a pronoun like ‘me’ on the telephone, we use ‘it’ not this.)
It’s me. ✓✓✓
This is me. ×××
4. ‘ That’ is used to reply to something that someone has already said or mentioned.
( ‘That’ का प्रयोग किसी ऐसी बात का जवाब देने के लिए किया जाता है जो किसी ने पहले ही कह दी हो या जिसका जिक्र किया हो।)
Person A: Hey, I have got a new job.
Person B: Congratulations! That’s amazing.
Notes:
1. This, That, These, and Those-All four of these can be used for both living and non-living things.
This, That, These, and Those- इन चारों का प्रयोग living और non-living दोनों के लिए किया जा सकता हैं।
2. This/That- These are demonstrative words that indicate an object or person by pointing to them, and the object or person is always present. If the object or person isn’t present, the gesture won’t be possible. In this case, “It” is used instead of “This/That”.
This/That-ये संकेतवाचक शब्द है जो किसी object या person की तरफ़ इशारा करके बात करते हैं और वो object या person सामने हाजिर भी होता है। अगर object या person सामने मौजूद नहीं है तो जाहिर सी बात है इशारा भी नहीं हो पाएगा। इस दशा में This/That का नहीं बल्कि It का प्रयोग किया जाता है।
I bought a bag. It was lovely. (क्योंकि बैग पास में नहीं है। उसे हम देख नहीं सकते।)
Similarly, These/Those are used only when you are indicating something.
(इसी प्रकार These/Those का प्रयोग केवल वहां होता है जहां किसी चीज़ को आप Indicate करके दिखा रहे हो।)
Can I take these books for reading?
No, you can’t take these books but you can take those books.
(यहां ‘They’ का प्रयोग नहीं किया जा सकता क्योंकि किताबें हमारे सामने रखी है और हम उन्हें Indicate करके कोई बात कह रहे हैं।)
In those days, she was in America.
(यहां those की बजाय they का प्रयोग नहीं किया जा सकता।)
3. ‘This’ can be served as a demonstrative adjective, ‘it’ can never.
(This demonstrative adjective का काम कर सकता है, It कभी नहीं कर सकता।)
It book is mine. ×××
This book is mine. ✓✓✓
4. Any time if the day will be denoted with ‘this’ except ‘night’.
(दिन के किसी भी समय को ‘This’ से दर्शाया जाएगा, सिवाय ‘रात’ के।)
This morning/ This evening
लेकिन this night नहीं होगा क्योंकि उसके हम use करते हैं- ‘Tonight’
5. Although today is ‘Today’, but sometimes we make some sentences in such a way that it is correct to say ‘This day’ instead of ‘today’.
(वैसे तो आज का दिन होता है ‘Today’ लेकिन कई बार हम कुछ sentences इस तरह से बनाते हैं जहां पर today की जगह This day बोलना सही रहता है।)
I will remember this day.
Hope you enjoyed the article “Demonstratives.”
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