SearchUse pronouns этот, эта, это, эти (this, these) if the thing is located close to you;
Use pronouns тот, та, то, те (that, those) if the thing is located far from you.
Demonstrative pronouns agree with nouns in gender, number and case.
Demonstrative pronouns decline as adjectives.
| Thing | Pronoun | Demonstrative pronouns if the thing is located close to you | Demonstrative pronounsif the thing is located far from you |
| стол (table - masculine gender) | он (he) | ЭТОТ
(This) этот стол красивый. this table is beautiful. | ТОТ (That) тот стол лучше этого. that table is better than this one |
| ручка (pen - feminine gender) | она (she) | ЭТА (This) эта ручка не пишет this pen does not write | ТА
(That) та ручка мне больше нравится. I like that pen better |
| окно (window - neuter gender) | оно (it) | ЭТО (This) это окно грязное. this window is dirty | ТО
(That) то окно не помыто. that window wasn't washed |
| дома (houses - plural) | они (they) | ЭТИ (These) эти дома дорогие. these houses are expensive | ТЕ
(Those) те дома принадлежат мне. those houses belong to me |
Exception: In the questions: «Кто это?»(Who is this?), «Что это?»(What is this?) and in replies to those questions like «Это стол.» (It's a table) «Это ручка.» (It's a pen) «Это окно.» (It's a window) «Это дома.» (It's a house) the word ЭТО doesn't change its gender and number.
