code: DEMOP
xiao_number: C58
name: Demonstrative pronouns
definition: >-
Demonstratives functioning as pronouns standing alone: this, that, these, those.
normalization: words
parent: DEMO_ALL
detection:
- source: mfte
requires:
- word
- pos
cql: '[word="this|that|these|those" & pos="DT"]'
combine: "_ & !DEMO"
description: >-
MFTE (line 1008) tags ALL demonstratives (DT) as DEMO, with no
distinction between determiner and pronoun uses. The mfte comparison
maps DEMO→DEMO+DEMOP, so this rule catches pronominal uses that
DEMO's "DT followed by NN/JJ" rule misses.
- requires:
- word
- pos
- dep
semgrex: '{word:/this|that|these|those/; pos:DT}=dem !>det {}'
refines: DT
description: >-
Demonstrative not in a determiner relation with a following noun.
Identifies pronominal use. Refines DT.
- source: pybiber
requires:
- word
- pos
- dep
cql: '[pos!="N.*|CD|.*DT.*"] [word="that|this|these|those" & pos="DT" & dep="nsubj|nsubjpass|dobj|pobj"]'
anchor: last
description: >-
pybiber: demonstrative with dep_rel containing nsubj/dobj/pobj
(str.contains matches nsubjpass too) AND preceding token tag not
starting with N, not CD, and not containing DT (excludes PDT too).
Anchor on last (the demonstrative) for counting.
sources:
- biber_1988
- mfte
- pybiber
- xiao_2009
notes: >-
D1 loading .76 (involved). Pronominal demonstratives are a strong
involvement marker — more common in speech and interactive registers.
examples:
- text: that is good
- text: this was unexpected
- text: those were dark days