English Grammar 17: DEMONSTRATIVE, INDEFINITE AND DISTRIBUTIVE PRONOUNS

Chapter 17: Demonstrative, Indefinite, and Distributive Pronouns

Welcome to Chapter 17! In this chapter, we will learn about three very important types of pronouns: Demonstrative, Indefinite, and Distributive pronouns. Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns so that we don't have to repeat the noun over and over. By the end of this chapter, you will know exactly how to point things out, talk about things in general, and refer to items one by one like a grammar expert!

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Part 1: Demonstrative Pronouns

1. What is a Demonstrative Pronoun?

The word demonstrative comes from the Latin word demonstrare, which means "to show clearly." A Demonstrative Pronoun is a pronoun used to point out the exact object or objects it refers to.

The main Demonstrative Pronouns are: This, That, These, Those, and Such.

Original Examples:

• This is a present from my uncle.
• These are merely excuses.
• Both cars are good; but this is better than that.
• Mumbai mangoes are better than those of Bangalore.
• Make haste, that's a good boy. [Here 'that' refers to the one who makes haste]
• There is no period in ancient-Indian history so glorious as that of the Guptas. [Note: Do not write "as the Guptas"]
• My views are quite in accordance with those of the University Commission.
• I may have offended, but such was not my intention.
• He was the representative of the King, and as such (= the representative of the King) they honoured him.
• The stranger is welcomed as such.
• That is the Red Fort.

Additional Real-Life Examples:

• This is the book I was looking for.
• Those are the stars forming the Orion constellation.

2. Demonstrative Pronoun vs. Demonstrative Adjective

It is easy to get confused because the words this, that, these, and those can also act as adjectives. The trick is to see if a noun comes immediately after the word.

Demonstrative Pronoun (Stands Alone)	Demonstrative Adjective (Followed by a Noun)
This is mine.	This book is mine.
That is yours.	That pen is yours.
These are mine.	These books are mine.
Those are yours.	Those pens are yours.
What was that?	What was that noise?
This is better than that.	This horse is better than that horse.
Avoid such.	All such people ought to be avoided.

3. Important Rules and Exceptions

• Rule of Distance: This (singular) and These (plural) refer to things close at hand or nearest to the thought of the speaker. That (singular) and Those (plural) refer to things farther away or more remote.
  Example: This is better than that.
• Avoiding Repetition: We use that of (singular) or those of (plural) to avoid repeating a noun that was just mentioned.
  Original Examples:
  • The climate of Belgaum is like that of Pune. (Instead of "the climate of Pune")
  • The streets of this city are worse than those of Ahmedabad. (Instead of "the streets of Ahmedabad")
  • Our soldiers were better drilled than those of enemies.
  • The rivers of America are larger than those of Europe.
• Referring to Two Things Just Mentioned: When two things are mentioned in a sentence, this refers to the thing mentioned last, and that refers to the thing mentioned first.
  Original Examples:
  • Virtue and vice offer themselves for your choice; this (i.e., vice, the last mentioned) leads to misery, that (i.e., virtue, the first mentioned) to happiness.
  • Alcohol and tobacco are both injurious; this (tobacco) perhaps, less than that (alcohol).

4. Common Mistakes & Tips

Mistake: Saying "The apples of Kashmir are sweeter than Shimla."
Correction: "The apples of Kashmir are sweeter than those of Shimla." You must compare apples to apples, not apples to a city!

5. Practice Exercise 1

Identify whether the bold word is a Demonstrative Pronoun (DP) or Demonstrative Adjective (DA).

1. These mangoes are rotten.
2. This is the heaviest box in the room.
3. I cannot accept such behavior.

Solutions:
1. DA (Followed by noun "mangoes")
2. DP (Stands alone, acting as the subject)
3. DA (Followed by noun "behavior")

Summary of Demonstrative Pronouns

They point to specific things. Remember: This/These for near, That/Those for far. Use that of/those of to avoid repeating nouns.

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Part 2: Indefinite Pronouns

1. What is an Indefinite Pronoun?

Unlike demonstrative pronouns that point to specific things, Indefinite Pronouns refer to persons or things in a general way. They do not refer to any particular, specific person or thing.

Common Indefinite Pronouns: One, none, all, some, somebody, nobody, few, many, any, everybody, anyone, etc.

Original Examples:

• One hardly knows what to do.
• One does not like to say so, but it is only too true.
• One cannot be too careful of one's (not, his) good name.
• One must not boast of one's own success.
• One must use one's best efforts if one wishes to succeed.
• One must not praise one's self.
• None of his poems are well known.
• None but fools have ever believed it. [Note: None is a shortened form of "not one", yet it is commonly used with plural verbs].
• They (= people in general) say he has lost heavily.
• They say that one of the local banks has stopped payment. [They say = it is said by some persons.]
• All were drowned.
• Some are born great.
• Some say he is a sharper.
• Somebody has stolen my watch.
• Nobody was there to rescue the child.
• Few escaped unhurt.
• Many of them were Gurkhas.
• We did not see any of them again.
• One or other of us will be there.
• Do good to others.
• Did you ask anybody to come?
• What is everybody's business is nobody's business.
• His words are in everyone's mouth.

Additional Real-Life Examples:

• Everyone cheered when the team won.
• Can someone help me carry these bags?

2. Indefinite Pronoun vs. Indefinite Adjective

Just like demonstrative words, many indefinite words can be used as adjectives if placed before a noun.

• Pronoun: Some are born great.
• Adjective: Some milk was spilt. (Modifies "milk")
• Pronoun: I will take you there one day. (Wait, "one" here modifies "day", so it's an Adjective!)
• Adjective: Any fool can do that. (Modifies "fool")
• Adjective: He is a man of few words. (Modifies "words")

3. Important Rules and Exceptions

• The Rule of "One": When you use one as the subject, you must keep using one or one's throughout the sentence. Never switch to his or her.
  Correct: One must respect one's parents.
  Incorrect: One must respect his parents.
• Pronouns for Anybody/Everybody: Traditionally, we used he or his for words like everybody or anyone (e.g., I shall be glad to help everyone of my boys in his studies.). However, in modern English (unless it's very formal), it is more usual to use the plural pronouns they/them/their to be gender-neutral.
  Original Modern Examples:
  • Anybody can do it if they try.
  • Each of them had their share.

4. Common Mistakes & Tips

Mistake: "Everyone have arrived."
Correction: "Everyone has arrived." Words like everyone, everybody, someone, nobody take singular verbs, even though they might refer to many people.

5. Practice Exercise 2

Fill in the blanks with the correct pronoun.

1. One should always keep _______ promises. (his / one's / their)
2. Has _______ seen my glasses? (anybody / all / many)

Solutions:
1. one's (Because the sentence starts with 'One')
2. anybody (Used for a general question asking if a single person has seen them)

Summary of Indefinite Pronouns

They refer to people or things in a general way. Remember to follow "one" with "one's", and treat words like "everybody" as singular for verbs, but often plural (they/their) for following pronouns in modern English.

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Part 3: Distributive and Reciprocal Pronouns

1. What is a Distributive Pronoun?

Distributive Pronouns refer to persons or things one at a time. Because they single out individuals from a group, they are always singular and must be followed by a singular verb.

The three main Distributive Pronouns are: Each, Either, and Neither.

• Each: Means every one of a number of persons or things, taken singly.
• Either: Means the one or the other of two.
• Neither: Means not the one nor the other of two (the negative of either).

Important Note: Use either/neither ONLY for two things. If there are more than two, use any, no one, or none.

Original Examples:

• Each of the boys gets a prize.
• Each took it in turn.
• Either of these roads leads to the railway station. (Meaning there are two roads)
• Either of you can go.
• Neither of the accusations is true. (Meaning there are two accusations)

2. The Position of "Each"

The pronoun each can be placed in three different positions in a sentence:

1. At the beginning:
   Each of the men received a reward.
   Each of these horses cost five thousand rupees.
   I bought each of these mangoes for three rupees.
2. In the middle (after the noun/pronoun):
   These men received each a reward.
   These horses cost each five thousand rupees.
3. At the end (usually after a numeral):
   These horses cost five thousand rupees each.
   I bought these mangoes for three rupees each.
   Note: We do NOT say "The men received a reward each". We only use the end position after numbers (like five thousand, three, etc.).

3. Distributive Pronoun vs. Distributive Adjective

Like the others, if a noun follows immediately, it's an adjective.

• Pronoun: Each of the boys took a turn.
• Adjective: Each boy took his turn.
• Adjective: Neither accusation is true.
• Adjective: At either end was a marble statue. (Here either = each or both)

4. Reciprocal Pronouns (Each other & One another)

Consider these sentences:

1. The two men hate each other. (Means: The two men hate, each hates the other).
2. They cheated one another. (Means: They cheated, one cheated another).

Technically, each and one are subjects, while other and another are objects. But in English, we use them together as compound pronouns called Reciprocal Pronouns. They are used to express a mutual action or relationship.

Original Examples:

• The brothers quarrelled with each other.
• They all gave evidence against one another.

Modern English Note: An old rule said to use "each other" for two people and "one another" for more than two. This rule is no longer strictly observed! Today, it is perfectly fine and idiomatic to say: "The three brothers quarrelled with each other."

5. Common Mistakes & Tips

Mistake: "Neither of the five answers is correct."
Correction: "None of the five answers is correct." (Use neither only for two!).

6. Practice Exercise 3

Choose the correct word.

1. (Either / Any) of the two candidates can win.
2. (Each / Every) of the girls has a bicycle.

Solutions:
1. Either (Because there are exactly two candidates)
2. Each ("Every" cannot be used as a pronoun followed by "of the". "Each" is the correct distributive pronoun here)

Summary of Distributive Pronouns

They treat group members individually. Always singular. Each is for any number, Either/Neither strictly for two. Each other/One another show mutual actions.

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Final Challenge: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)

Test your knowledge on everything you've learned in this chapter!

1. Which of the following is a Demonstrative Pronoun?
   A) Any
   B) Those
   C) Each
   D) Nobody
   Answer: B
   Explanation: "Those" is used to point out specific distant, plural objects.
2. Complete the sentence correctly: "One must be attentive to ________ duties."
   A) his
   B) her
   C) one's
   D) their
   Answer: C
   Explanation: When "one" is the subject, the corresponding possessive pronoun must be "one's".
3. Identify the type of pronoun in bold: "I will take that."
   A) Indefinite Pronoun
   B) Distributive Pronoun
   C) Demonstrative Pronoun
   D) Reciprocal Pronoun
   Answer: C
   Explanation: "That" points out a specific object and stands alone without a noun, making it a Demonstrative Pronoun.
4. Which pronoun correctly fills the blank? "The climate of Shimla is better than ________ of Delhi."
   A) this
   B) those
   C) that
   D) such
   Answer: C
   Explanation: "That of" is used to avoid repeating the singular noun "climate".
5. In the sentence "Some are born great", the word "Some" is an:
   A) Indefinite Adjective
   B) Indefinite Pronoun
   C) Demonstrative Pronoun
   D) Distributive Pronoun
   Answer: B
   Explanation: It stands alone as the subject referring to people generally, so it is an Indefinite Pronoun.
6. Choose the correct verb: "Neither of the boys ________ passed."
   A) have
   B) has
   C) are
   D) were
   Answer: B
   Explanation: Distributive pronouns like "neither" refer to individuals one at a time and take a singular verb.
7. Which sentence contains a Demonstrative Adjective rather than a Demonstrative Pronoun?
   A) This is my pen.
   B) These are my friends.
   C) That car belongs to my uncle.
   D) Those are beautiful flowers.
   Answer: C
   Explanation: In option C, "That" modifies the noun "car" directly, making it an adjective.
8. Which word should be used when speaking of more than two persons or things?
   A) Either
   B) Neither
   C) Both
   D) Any
   Answer: D
   Explanation: Either and Neither are used exclusively for two things. For more than two, we use "any" or "none".
9. Complete the sentence: "Apples and oranges are tasty; ________ is a bit more sour than ________."
   A) that, this
   B) this, that
   C) these, those
   D) such, that
   Answer: B
   Explanation: "This" refers to the last mentioned (oranges), and "that" refers to the first mentioned (apples).
10. "Each other" and "One another" are known as:
    A) Distributive Pronouns
    B) Reciprocal Pronouns
    C) Indefinite Pronouns
    D) Demonstrative Pronouns
    Answer: B
    Explanation: They express a mutual relationship and are classified as Reciprocal Pronouns.
11. Find the error: "He was the representative of the King, and as such a man they honoured him." According to the chapter, a better phrasing using a pronoun is:
    A) ...and as that they honoured him.
    B) ...and as such they honoured him.
    C) ...and as this they honoured him.
    D) ...and as one they honoured him.
    Answer: B
    Explanation: "Such" is used as a demonstrative pronoun here meaning "the representative of the King".
12. Which sentence uses "each" in the correct position?
    A) The boys received a book each.
    B) The boys received ten dollars each.
    C) Each the boys received ten dollars.
    D) The boys each received ten dollar.
    Answer: B
    Explanation: The end position of "each" is normally used after a numeral (ten dollars each). We do not say "a book each" usually.
13. According to modern English rules regarding "each other" and "one another":
    A) "Each other" is strictly for two people only.
    B) They are no longer strictly separated by the rule of two vs. many.
    C) "One another" is strictly for two people only.
    D) They should never be used in formal writing.
    Answer: B
    Explanation: The text notes that the old rule (each other for 2, one another for 3+) is no longer strictly observed.
14. "Many of them were Gurkhas." In this sentence, "Many" is a(n):
    A) Indefinite Pronoun
    B) Indefinite Adjective
    C) Demonstrative Pronoun
    D) Distributive Pronoun
    Answer: A
    Explanation: It stands in place of a noun without being followed directly by a noun, referring generally to a group.
15. Which of the following sentences correctly uses modern pronoun agreement?
    A) Anybody can do it if he tries.
    B) Anybody can do it if one tries.
    C) Anybody can do it if they try.
    D) Anybody can do it if it tries.
    Answer: C
    Explanation: Modern English frequently uses the plural "they" to refer back to singular indefinite pronouns like anybody.
16. "The streets of this city are worse than ________ of Ahmedabad."
    A) that
    B) those
    C) this
    D) these
    Answer: B
    Explanation: "Those" is the plural demonstrative pronoun used to avoid repeating the plural noun "streets".
17. Identify the Distributive Adjective in the following sentence: "Each boy took his turn."
    A) Each
    B) boy
    C) took
    D) his
    Answer: A
    Explanation: "Each" acts as an adjective here because it is placed directly before the noun "boy".
18. What is a common error to avoid when using the word "None"?
    A) Using it for more than two things.
    B) Spelling it with an apostrophe.
    C) Confusing it with "Neither" when talking about exactly two things.
    D) Using it as a pronoun.
    Answer: C
    Explanation: "None" should be used for more than two things. For exactly two things, you must use "Neither".
19. In the sentence "Some say he is a sharper", "Some" refers to:
    A) Specific people the speaker knows.
    B) The speaker themselves.
    C) People in a general, undefined way.
    D) Exactly two people.
    Answer: C
    Explanation: Indefinite pronouns like "some" refer to persons or things in a general way.
20. "They say he has lost heavily." The word "They" in this sentence means:
    A) A specific group of friends.
    B) People in general (it is said).
    C) The enemies of the person.
    D) The plural of "he".
    Answer: B
    Explanation: In this context, "They" acts as an indefinite pronoun meaning people in general.