The demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives modify nouns - the most popular

are this, that, these and those. The only difference between demonstrative pronouns and
demonstrative adjectives is that demonstrative adjectives are followed by nouns while
demonstrative pronouns are not.

Defining a Demonstrative Pronoun

Demonstrative pronouns are the same pronouns used for demonstrative adjectives - this,
that, these and those. The difference is in the sentence structure.

The demonstative pronoun takes the place of the noun phrase.

The demonstrative adjective is always followed by a noun.

For example, here are some demonstrative pronouns that are taking the place of the
underlined noun phrase:
The food youre cooking smells delicious. --> That smells delicious.
The pretzel-like yoga move were doing really hurts. --> This really hurts.
What is the strange, polka-dotted, Sasquatch-like creature coming toward us? -->
What is that?

The cockroaches currently giving birth under our kitchen sink are totally gross. -->
Those are totally gross.

The delicious, pink petit fours on my plate are my favorites. --> These are my
favorites.
There are three other words that are sometimes used as demonstrative pronouns - such,
none, and neither.

Examples are:

He will allow none.

Neither will do.
Such is the human race, often it seems a pity that Noah... didn't miss the boat. Mark Twain

Using a Demonstrative Pronoun

Typically, when you use a demonstrative pronoun, you will either need to indicate what
youre talking about by pointing or otherwise gesturing toward it, or your listener(s) will need
to be looking at it as well. For this reason, demonstrative pronouns are mostly used in
spoken English.
However, demonstrative pronouns can be used in written English if the context makes clear
the noun to which the demonstrative pronoun refers. A list, for example, in close proximity to
(either before or after) these or those would be clear enough.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen
mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings these are a few of my favorite
things.
Or you could refer to a description of an object, activity or situation as this or that if you
do so immediately following the description.

They make you wear rented shoes, you always smell bad when you leave, my thumb
nail always breaks off, and Im not good at it. That is why I hate bowling.

Defining a Demonstrative Adjective

As mentioned earlier, the four demonstrative adjectives are this, that, these and those. They
are adjectives because they modify nouns. That means they come before nouns in a
sentence. For example:

Is this book yours or mine?

Did you finally throw away that old t-shirt?

These shoes smell disgusting.

I told you those old magazines were a fire hazard.

Demonstrative adjectives indicate exactly which noun the speaker means and where it is (or
they are) relative to the position of the speaker.

If the noun in question is nearby, he uses this (singular) or these (plural).

If the noun is out of the speakers reach, he uses that (singular) or those (plural).
Then he always follows the demonstrative with any other accompanying adjectives in their
proper order and finally, the noun.
So what is a demonstrative pronoun? Its a single demonstrative word that takes the place
of a noun, a noun phrase, a string of noun phrases, an activity, or a situation in both written
and spoken English.