Question

Which pronouns are used to point out something specific?

• A. Distributive Pronoun
• B. Reciprocal Pronoun
• C. Demonstrative Pronoun
• D. Interrogative Pronoun

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Demonstrative Pronoun

Demonstrative Pronouns

• Demonstrative pronouns are used to point to specific nouns, whether they are nearby or far away.
• They answer the question: "Which one(s)?"
• The primary demonstrative pronouns are: this, that, these, and those.

Key Usage Points

• This and these refer to nouns that are close to the speaker.
  • Example: This is my book. (Book is near)
  • Example: These are my pens. (Pens are near)
• That and those refer to nouns that are far away from the speaker.
  • Example: That is her house. (House is far)
  • Example: Those are their cars. (Cars are far)

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives

• It is important to distinguish demonstrative pronouns from demonstrative adjectives.
• A demonstrative adjective modifies a noun or pronoun. It answers the question "Which one?" and comes before the noun.
• Example: This book is interesting. (Here, 'this' modifies 'book')
• Example: I like that movie. (Here, 'that' modifies 'movie')
• A demonstrative pronoun stands alone and replaces a noun.
• Example: This is my phone. (Here, 'this' replaces 'my phone')
• Example: That was a great performance. (Here, 'that' replaces 'the performance')

Common Mistakes in Exams

• Exams often test the ability to differentiate between demonstrative pronouns and adjectives.
• Pay attention to whether the word is followed by a noun (adjective) or stands alone (pronoun).
• For PSC exams, understanding these distinctions is crucial for grammar sections.