demonstrative

/dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪˈmɑːnstrətɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /di-ˈmän(t)-strə-tiv/ (ame, mw)

demonstrative — adjective

  • demonstrativepositive
  • more demonstrativecomparative
  • most demonstrativesuperlative

1. willing to express warm emotions, such as love or excitement, through hugs, kiss

1.形容詞C1
釋義

willing to express warm emotions, such as love or excitement, through hugs, kisses, or other visible signs, rather than keeping them private.

例句

Theo's grandmother was very demonstrative, hugging him tightly whenever he visited.

be + demonstrative + present participle clause showing the affection

Élise grew up in a demonstrative family where everyone said 'I love you' before bed.

noun phrase: a demonstrative family / person

同義詞
  • affectionate

    broader; describes general warmth, not just outward display

  • effusive

    stronger; suggests overflowing or excessive emotion

  • expressive

    wider scope; covers expressing any emotion, not only love

反義詞

用法筆記

Subject is almost always a person or a group of people; the object of the affection is introduced with 'with' or 'toward' (e.g. demonstrative with her grandchildren). Often appears in negative or comparative shape ('not very demonstrative', 'more demonstrative than').

常見錯誤

❌The room was demonstrative.
✅The host was demonstrative.
💡this sense describes people and their behavior, not places or objects.

2. in grammar, describing the small set of words — 'this', 'that', 'these', 'those'

2.形容詞C1
釋義

in grammar, describing the small set of words — 'this', 'that', 'these', 'those' — that a speaker uses to single out which person or object they mean.

例句

Anthony explained that 'these' and 'those' are the plural demonstrative pronouns in English.

compound noun: demonstrative pronoun / adjective / determiner

In the sentence 'I want that book', the word 'that' is a demonstrative adjective.

metalinguistic frame: 'the word X is a demonstrative Y'

同義詞
  • pointing

    informal everyday way to describe what these words do

  • deictic

    technical linguistics term covering a wider class than just this/that

文法句型

demonstrative + pronoun/adjective/determiner

用法筆記

Used only as a grammatical term, almost always before another noun ('demonstrative pronoun', 'demonstrative adjective', 'demonstrative determiner'). Distinguish from sense 1 by context: a grammar lesson, textbook, or language-learning discussion versus a description of someone's behavior.

常見錯誤

❌This is a demonstrative.' (in everyday talk about feelings)
✅This is a demonstrative pronoun.
💡in this sense the word almost always sits before a noun like 'pronoun' or 'adjective'.

3. (formal) acting as clear proof or evidence that a particular fact or quality is

3.形容詞C2
釋義

(formal) acting as clear proof or evidence that a particular fact or quality is true — for example, a smile demonstrative of relief, or test results demonstrative of progress.

例句

The smile on Paloma's face was demonstrative of her relief after the exam.

pattern: be demonstrative of + noun (= showing / proving)

Christopher's careful notes were demonstrative of how seriously he took the class.

pattern: be demonstrative of + how-clause

同義詞
  • indicative

    much more common in everyday English with the same 'of + noun' pattern

  • illustrative

    suggests serving as an example, not necessarily as proof

  • telling

    informal; emphasises that the evidence is revealing

文法句型

demonstrative of + noun

用法筆記

Almost always used after a linking verb in the pattern 'X is/was demonstrative of Y' and never before a noun. Y is usually an abstract quality, attitude, or process. Belongs to formal writing — academic, medical, or legal reports — and would sound stiff in casual conversation.

常見錯誤

❌a demonstrative result
✅a result demonstrative of progress
💡this sense does not sit directly in front of the noun; it follows a linking verb or trails the noun with 'of'.

demonstrative — noun