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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of demonstrative pronouns?
Which of the following is NOT a demonstrative pronoun in English?
How do the singular and plural forms of demonstrative pronouns differ?
What is the primary function of demonstrative pronouns in relation to nouns?
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What plays a crucial role in determining the usage of demonstrative pronouns?
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What is the primary challenge in identifying discourse segments for demonstrative pronouns, according to the text?
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What are demonstrative pronouns primarily used for?
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Which demonstrative pronoun is more likely to refer to abstract entities?
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What is one of the challenges in identifying demonstrative pronouns?
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Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a factor in effectively navigating written material with demonstrative pronouns?
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What is a common function of the demonstrative pronoun "this"?
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Study Notes
Identifying Demonstrative Pronouns
Overview
Demonstrative pronouns are words that stand in for a noun, indicating its proximity and providing additional information about its referent. These pronouns are used to replace or point to a previously mentioned noun, providing clarity about its relationship to the speaker or reader. In English, demonstrative pronouns consist of "this," "that," "these," and "those."
Identifying Demonstrative Pronouns
To identify demonstrative pronouns in a text, you need to determine if the word refers to an entity or a discourse segment. Webber suggests limiting discourse segments to sentences and clauses, but the process of identifying these segments is complex due to the lack of consensus on how to divide discourse effectively. However, there are some general guidelines to follow:
Singular vs Plural Forms
Demonstrative pronouns come in singular ("this" and "that") and plural forms ("these" and "those"). This distinction helps to indicate whether the referent is closer or farther away from the speaker or reader, either physically or temporally.
Relationship to Nouns
Demonstrative pronouns often provide additional context about the referent, such as specifying if it is concrete or abstract, or indicating its proximity in terms of closeness and distance. For example, "this book" is closer than "that book".
Contextual Usage
Context plays a crucial role in determining the usage of demonstrative pronouns. They are typically used to refer to entities within a given discourse segment, allowing readers to understand the relationships between different elements of the text.
Specific Functions
In some cases, demonstrative pronouns can perform specialized functions, such as referring to abstract entities or propositions. Byron and Allen found that pronouns like "that" were more likely to refer to abstract entities, while "this" often pointed to concrete objects.
Conclusion
While identifying demonstrative pronouns can be challenging due to the complex nature of discourse analysis and the lack of consensus on segmenting discourse effectively, there are general guidelines to follow for recognizing these pronouns in text. By understanding their relationship to nouns, contextual usage, and specific functions, you can effectively navigate and engage with written material.
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Description
Learn how to recognize and identify demonstrative pronouns in English texts, which are words that replace or point to a previously mentioned noun, providing clarity about its relationship to the speaker or reader. Explore the distinctions between singular and plural forms, the relationship to nouns, contextual usage, and specific functions of demonstrative pronouns.
