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That as a demonstrative pronoun refers to a specific object being discussed, such as in "that is a cat"; [2] the word is a distal demonstrative pronoun, as opposed to proximal, because there is distance between the speaker and the object being discussed (as opposed to words such as this, where there is a relative sense of closeness). [3]
Many languages have sets of demonstrative adverbs that are closely related to the demonstrative pronouns in a language. For example, corresponding to the demonstrative pronoun that are the adverbs such as then (= "at that time"), there (= "at that place"), thither (= "to that place"), thence (= "from that place"); equivalent adverbs ...
The English pronouns form a relatively small category of words in Modern English whose primary semantic function is that of a pro-form for a noun phrase. [1] Traditional grammars consider them to be a distinct part of speech, while most modern grammars see them as a subcategory of noun, contrasting with common and proper nouns.
They include personal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, and some others, mainly indefinite pronouns. The full set of English pronouns is presented in the following table. Nonstandard, informal and archaic forms are in italics.
Sub-types include personal and possessive pronouns, reflexive and reciprocal pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, relative and interrogative pronouns, and indefinite pronouns. [1]: 1–34 [2] The use of pronouns often involves anaphora, where the meaning of the pronoun is dependent on an antecedent.
English, unlike other West Germanic languages, has a zero relative pronoun (denoted below as Ø)—that is, the relative pronoun is implied and not explicitly written or spoken; it is "unvoiced". This measure is used in restrictive relative clauses (only) as an alternative to voicing that , which or who , whom , etc. in these clauses:
wife wò 2SG. POSS âka that nà the ani wò âka nà wife 2SG.POSS that the ´that wife of yours´ There are also languages in which demonstratives and articles do not normally occur together, but must be placed on opposite sides of the noun. For instance, in Urak Lawoi, a language of Thailand, the demonstrative follows the noun: rumah house besal big itu that rumah besal itu house big that ...
In grammars that consider them determiners rather than pronouns (see § Determiners versus other lexical categories), the personal determiners are the following: [27] we; you; Though these words are normally pronouns, in phrases like we teachers and you guys, they are sometimes classified as personal determiners. Personal determiners mark a ...