Determiner demonstrative

Summary

A demonstrative determiner is a demonstrative pronoun that functions as an adjective within a sentence.

Article

Demonstrative determiners indicate a specific object or thing by means of a verbal gesture. For example, consider the sentences, “I want this basket,” or “I want that basket.” The words “this” and “that” are demonstrative determiners. They indicate which basket is wanted.

Demonstrative determiners are classified as either “near” or “far.” A “near” demonstrative determiner indicates something near the speaker. A “far” demonstrative determiner indicates something at a distance from the speaker. In the examples above, the word “this” is a “near” demonstrative determiner. The word “that” is a “far” demonstrative determiner.

However, sometimes “near” and “far” demonstrative determiners do not necessarily indicate distance from the speaker. Sometimes a speaker uses both a “near” and a “far” demonstrative determiner to indicate two different items that are the same distance. Consider the example above. If a person is buying a basket in a shop, he may say to the shopkeeper, “I want this basket, but I don’t want that basket.” In cases like this, the “near” and “far” demonstrative determiners may not indicate distance. The “near” and “far” demonstrative determiners may be a way a simply distinguishing the basket that is wanted from the basket that is not wanted. This is a very common use of demonstrative determiners.

Form

r5 (2-1-2) (οὗτος - this)

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Singular

Nominative

οὗτος

αὗτη

τοῦτο

Genitive

τούτου

ταύτης

τούτου

Dative

τούτῳ

ταύτῃ

τούτῳ

Accusative

τοῦτον

ταύτην

τοῦτο

Plural

Nominative

οὗτοι

αὗται

ταῦτα

Genitive

τούτων

τούτων

τούτων

Dative

τούτοις

ταύταις

τούτοις

Accusative

τούτους

ταύτας

ταῦτα

r6 (2-1-2) (ἐκεῖνος that)

Masculine

Feminine

Neuter

Singular

Nominative

ἐκεῖνος

ἐκείνη

ἐκεῖνο

Genitive

ἐκείνου

ἐκείνης

ἐκείνου

Dative

ἐκείνῳ

ἐκείνῃ

ἐκείνῳ

Accusative

ἐκεῖνον

ἐκείνην

ἐκεῖνο

Plural

Nominative

ἐκεῖνοι

ἐκεῖναι

ἐκεῖνα

Genitive

ἐκείνων

ἐκείνων

ἐκείνων

Dative

ἐκείνοις

ἐκείναις

ἐκείνοις

Accusative

ἐκείνους

ἐκείνας

ἐκεῖνα

Examples

Example: John 2:19
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς λύσατε τὸν ναὸν τοῦτον καὶ ἐν τρισὶν

ἡμέραις ἐγερῶ αὐτόν

apekrithē Iēsous kai eipen autois lysate ton naon touton kai en

trisin hēmerais egerō auton

answered Jesus and he said to them destroy the temple this and in

three days I will raise it

Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise

it up.”

Matthew 7:24 Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ἀκούει μου τοὺς λόγους τούτους

Matthew 7:22 πολλοὶ ἐροῦσίν μοι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ

Matthew 3:1 Ἐν δὲ ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις παραγίνεται Ἰωάννης ὁ βαπτιστὴς κηρύσσων ἐν τῇ ἐρήμῳ τῆς Ἰουδαίας