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๐ Content updated on 21 April 2026
๐๐ Demonstratives & Possessive Determiners – Quick Summary:
Determiners are words that come before a noun to introduce it or show who it belongs to. Demonstrative determiners point to specific things: 'this/these' (near), 'that/those' (far). Possessive determiners show ownership: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. They are always followed by a noun.
๐ง๐ซ Instructions for Teachers & Students: Read each sentence and choose the correct demonstrative or possessive determiner to complete it. Then click “Show Answer” for the right choice, a simple explanation, and a fresh example.
๐ง๐ซ Instructions for Teachers & Students: Read each sentence and choose the correct demonstrative or possessive determiner to complete it. Then click “Show Answer” for the right choice, a simple explanation, and a fresh example.
In this worksheet:
(Click any topic to jump straight to that section)
Demonstratives point out exactly which one, and possessives show belonging. For a refresher on the little words 'a', 'an', and 'the', revisit the
Articles (A, An, The) worksheet.
Next, you'll explore words that express amounts with the
Quantifiers & Distributive Determiners worksheet.
✅ Solved Examples (20 Questions with Answers)
Let's learn how to use demonstratives and possessives correctly.
Solved Q.1
"Look at _____ bird over there on the tree." (this/that)
Show Answer
Answer: that
Explanation: 'That' refers to a singular noun that is farther away ('over there'). 'This' is for things nearby.
Example: That mountain in the distance is snow-capped.
Explanation: 'That' refers to a singular noun that is farther away ('over there'). 'This' is for things nearby.
Example: That mountain in the distance is snow-capped.
Solved Q.2
"_____ (I) bag is on the chair." Use possessive determiner.
Show Answer
Answer: My
Explanation: 'My' is the possessive determiner for 'I'. It shows that the bag belongs to me. It is followed by the noun 'bag'.
Example: My brother plays cricket.
Explanation: 'My' is the possessive determiner for 'I'. It shows that the bag belongs to me. It is followed by the noun 'bag'.
Example: My brother plays cricket.
Solved Q.3
"I like _____ flowers here in my hand." (these/those)
Show Answer
Answer: these
Explanation: 'These' is the plural of 'this', used for things that are near ('here in my hand').
Example: These cookies are delicious.
Explanation: 'These' is the plural of 'this', used for things that are near ('here in my hand').
Example: These cookies are delicious.
Solved Q.4
"Riya forgot _____ umbrella at home." (her/his/their)
Show Answer
Answer: her
Explanation: 'Her' is the possessive determiner for 'Riya' (a girl/woman). It shows the umbrella belongs to her.
Example: Her dress is beautiful.
Explanation: 'Her' is the possessive determiner for 'Riya' (a girl/woman). It shows the umbrella belongs to her.
Example: Her dress is beautiful.
Solved Q.5
"Do you remember _____ days when we were kids?" (this/those)
Show Answer
Answer: those
Explanation: 'Those' refers to plural nouns that are distant in time or space. Here, it refers to past days.
Example: Those were the best years of my life.
Explanation: 'Those' refers to plural nouns that are distant in time or space. Here, it refers to past days.
Example: Those were the best years of my life.
Solved Q.6
"The children are playing with _____ toys." (its/their)
Show Answer
Answer: their
Explanation: 'Their' is the possessive for 'children' (plural).
Example: The students opened their books.
Explanation: 'Their' is the possessive for 'children' (plural).
Example: The students opened their books.
Solved Q.7
"_____ building opposite the bank is a museum." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: That
Example: That house on the corner is for sale.
Example: That house on the corner is for sale.
Solved Q.8
"We should respect _____ parents." (our/their)
Show Answer
Answer: our
Example: We love our country.
Example: We love our country.
Solved Q.9
"_____ shoes I'm wearing are very comfortable." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: These
Example: These apples are fresh.
Example: These apples are fresh.
Solved Q.10
"The dog wagged _____ tail." (its/it's)
Show Answer
Answer: its
Explanation: 'Its' is possessive. 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is'.
Example: The company changed its policy.
Explanation: 'Its' is possessive. 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is'.
Example: The company changed its policy.
Solved Q.11
"I don't like _____ idea at all." (this/that)
Show Answer
Answer: that / this (both possible)
Example: This plan won't work.
Example: This plan won't work.
Solved Q.12
"Is _____ seat taken?" (your/yours)
Show Answer
Answer: your
Explanation: 'Your' is a determiner, followed by the noun 'seat'. 'Yours' is a pronoun and stands alone.
Example: Is this your pen?
Explanation: 'Your' is a determiner, followed by the noun 'seat'. 'Yours' is a pronoun and stands alone.
Example: Is this your pen?
Solved Q.13
"_____ mountains in the distance are the Himalayas." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: Those
Example: Those clouds look like rain.
Example: Those clouds look like rain.
Solved Q.14
"Mr. Sharma drives _____ car to work." (his/her)
Show Answer
Answer: his
Example: Rahul forgot his wallet.
Example: Rahul forgot his wallet.
Solved Q.15
"_____ book right here is mine." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: This
Example: This chair is broken.
Example: This chair is broken.
Solved Q.16
"The cat licked _____ paws." (its/her)
Show Answer
Answer: its
Example: The bird built its nest.
Example: The bird built its nest.
Solved Q.17
"You must bring _____ own stationery." (your/their)
Show Answer
Answer: your
Example: Bring your ID card.
Example: Bring your ID card.
Solved Q.18
"_____ people waiting outside are my friends." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: Those
Example: Those students are from Class 7.
Example: Those students are from Class 7.
Solved Q.19
"I have lost _____ keys." (my/mine)
Show Answer
Answer: my
Example: She found her phone.
Example: She found her phone.
Solved Q.20
"_____ was a memorable experience." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: That / This
Example: This is what I wanted.
Example: This is what I wanted.
Hindi uses เคฏเคน/เคตเคน (this/that) and เคฎेเคฐा/เคคुเคฎ्เคนाเคฐा (my/your) similarly. Explore more at the
Articles and Determiners hub.
To learn about words like 'some', 'many', 'each', and 'every', check out the
Quantifiers & Distributive Determiners worksheet.
✏️ Practice Questions (20 Questions with Answers)
Now choose the correct demonstrative or possessive determiner.
Practice Q.1
"_____ cake you are eating looks tasty." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: That / This (depending on proximity)
Example: This soup is delicious.
Example: This soup is delicious.
Practice Q.2
"She brushed _____ hair before school." (her/his)
Show Answer
Answer: her
Example: She washed her face.
Example: She washed her face.
Practice Q.3
"_____ trees across the river are very old." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: Those
Example: Those houses are expensive.
Example: Those houses are expensive.
Practice Q.4
"We are going to visit _____ grandparents." (our/their)
Show Answer
Answer: our
Example: We packed our bags.
Example: We packed our bags.
Practice Q.5
"_____ is my seat; _____ is yours over there." (This...that)
Show Answer
Answer: This; that
Example: This pen is blue; that one is red.
Example: This pen is blue; that one is red.
Practice Q.6
"The boys forgot to bring _____ football." (their/his)
Show Answer
Answer: their
Example: The girls wore their new dresses.
Example: The girls wore their new dresses.
Practice Q.7
"_____ mangoes in the basket are ripe." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: These
Example: These grapes are sweet.
Example: These grapes are sweet.
Practice Q.8
"You should always speak _____ mind." (your/you're)
Show Answer
Answer: your
Example: Don't forget your promise.
Example: Don't forget your promise.
Practice Q.9
"_____ stars you see above are millions of miles away." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: Those
Example: Those clouds look dark.
Example: Those clouds look dark.
Practice Q.10
"The bird is building _____ nest." (its/it's)
Show Answer
Answer: its
Example: The cat drank its milk.
Example: The cat drank its milk.
Practice Q.11
"_____ movie we saw last week was fantastic." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: That
Example: That concert was amazing.
Example: That concert was amazing.
Practice Q.12
"I have completed _____ homework." (my/mine)
Show Answer
Answer: my
Example: She finished her project.
Example: She finished her project.
Practice Q.13
"_____ cookies I baked are for you." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: These
Example: These flowers are from my garden.
Example: These flowers are from my garden.
Practice Q.14
"He lost _____ temper during the debate." (his/its)
Show Answer
Answer: his
Example: She kept her cool.
Example: She kept her cool.
Practice Q.15
"Look at _____ rainbow! It's beautiful." (this/that)
Show Answer
Answer: that / this (both okay)
Example: That sunset is breathtaking.
Example: That sunset is breathtaking.
Practice Q.16
"The players are warming up for _____ match." (their/his)
Show Answer
Answer: their
Example: The team celebrated its victory.
Example: The team celebrated its victory.
Practice Q.17
"_____ is my brother, and _____ is my cousin." (This...that)
Show Answer
Answer: This; that
Example: This is my house; that is my uncle's.
Example: This is my house; that is my uncle's.
Practice Q.18
"She is worried about _____ results." (her/his)
Show Answer
Answer: her
Example: He checked his watch.
Example: He checked his watch.
Practice Q.19
"_____ days, we rarely write letters." (These/Those)
Show Answer
Answer: These
Example: These times are challenging.
Example: These times are challenging.
Practice Q.20
"We must do _____ duty sincerely." (our/their)
Show Answer
Answer: our
Example: Let's do our best.
Example: Let's do our best.
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๐ Challenge Questions (10 Questions with Answers)
These questions test trickier uses and distinctions.
Challenge Q.1
"I prefer _____ shoes here, not _____ on display." (these/those)
Show Answer
Answer: these; those
Example: I want these apples, not those.
Example: I want these apples, not those.
Challenge Q.2
"Everyone should bring _____ own lunch." (his/their)
Show Answer
Answer: their
Explanation: 'Their' is now widely accepted as a singular gender-neutral pronoun. Traditionally 'his' was used.
Example: Somebody left their bag here.
Explanation: 'Their' is now widely accepted as a singular gender-neutral pronoun. Traditionally 'his' was used.
Example: Somebody left their bag here.
Challenge Q.3
"_____ of you who finished, may leave." (Those/These)
Show Answer
Answer: Those
Example: Those who wish to participate, raise your hands.
Example: Those who wish to participate, raise your hands.
Challenge Q.4
"The baby is sleeping in _____ crib." (its/her)
Show Answer
Answer: its (or her/his if gender known)
Example: The infant found its toy.
Example: The infant found its toy.
Challenge Q.5
"_____ is exactly what I meant." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: That / This (both work; 'That' refers back to something just said.)
Example: That is a good point.
Example: That is a good point.
Challenge Q.6
"The students submitted _____ assignments on time." (their/its)
Show Answer
Answer: their
Example: The jury gave its verdict. (collective singular)
Example: The jury gave its verdict. (collective singular)
Challenge Q.7
"_____ is my seat; _____ one by the window is yours." (This/That)
Show Answer
Answer: This; that
Example: This jacket is mine; that one is my brother's.
Example: This jacket is mine; that one is my brother's.
Challenge Q.8
"Is _____ yours?" (this/these) — only one book.
Show Answer
Answer: this
Example: Is this your coat?
Example: Is this your coat?
Challenge Q.9
"The dog has hurt _____ paw." (its/it's)
Show Answer
Answer: its
Example: The company is proud of its employees.
Example: The company is proud of its employees.
Challenge Q.10
"I'll never forget _____ summer of 2019." (this/that)
Show Answer
Answer: that
Example: That year was memorable.
Example: That year was memorable.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
FAQ 1
What are demonstrative determiners?
Show Answer
Answer: Words that point to specific things: 'this' (singular near), 'that' (singular far), 'these' (plural near), 'those' (plural far). They come before a noun.
FAQ 2
What are possessive determiners?
Show Answer
Answer: Words that show ownership: my, your, his, her, its, our, their. They always come before the noun they modify (my book, her car).
FAQ 3
What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?
Show Answer
Answer: 'Its' is possessive, meaning belonging to it (The cat licked its paws). 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is' or 'it has' (It's raining).
FAQ 4
Can 'that' and 'those' refer to things in the past?
Show Answer
Answer: Yes. 'That' and 'those' often refer to things distant in time as well as space. Example: "Those were the days." "That was a great party."
FAQ 5
Is 'their' always plural?
Show Answer
Answer: Traditionally yes, but modern English accepts 'their' as a singular gender-neutral possessive determiner when the gender of the person is unknown or non-binary. Example: "Someone left their book."
