demonstrativepossessive

Demonstrativepossessive is a linguistic term used to describe constructions in which a demonstrative element (such as this, that, these, those) interacts with possession. It covers patterns where possession is indicated together with a deictic reference to the referent, either through a possessive determiner, a possessive pronoun, or a post-nominal possessive phrase. The label is often used in typological or descriptive grammar to discuss how deictic reference and ownership are combined in different languages.

In English, possession related to demonstratives can appear in a few ways. A simple example is a demonstrative noun phrase followed by a separate possessive pronoun: “This is mine.” Another pattern is a demonstrative noun phrase with a post-nominal possessive phrase: “this book of mine.” English can also form compounds such as “this one’s” or “this one is mine,” where a demonstrative pronoun and a possessive pronoun combine to indicate ownership of a referent.

Cross-linguistically, demonstratives and possessives may splice together in various ways. Some languages use demonstratives with a possessive pronoun or a genitive marker to express possession in a deictic context, for example, phrases equivalent to “este mío” in Spanish or “celui-ci est à moi” in French. Others attach possessive marking to determiners or use demonstrative pronouns that incorporate possessive meaning.

Function and usage: Demonstrativepossessive constructions emphasize ownership in relation to a nearby or previously identified referent and help anchor discourse about who owns what. The exact morphology and word order vary by language, and some grammars treat these patterns as a subtype of determiner–possessive constructions rather than as a distinct category.