9.10 demonstratives referring to sentences
Demonstratives can also be pronouns or determiners which refer back to an entire sentence or a number of sentences.
- 'You're the new doctor, aren't you?' --- 'That's right.'
- 'Were you worried about the disrespect for the law exhibited by your two heroes?' --- 'That's a hard question to answer.'
- 'I'll think about it, Mother.' That statement was the end of most of their discussions.
- I accept neither of these arguments.
Note that when 'these' and 'those' are pronouns referring back to an entire statement they are only used in front of the verb 'be'.
- It was hard for me to believe these were his real reasons for wanting to get rid of me.
- I put my arms around her. 'Thanks, Ollie.' Those were her last words.