An independent demonstrative behaves the same as a dependent demonstrative. The only difference is that we leave out the antecedent:

Dependent demonstrative	Independent demonstrative
Have you seen that movie?	Have you seen that?
This meal is very tasty.	This is very tasty.
These kittens are so cute.	These are so cute.
Those shoes were very expensive.	Those were very expensive.

We can simply repeat the table of the previous page and remove the antecedents:

Independent demonstrative pronouns

English	Dutch
this this house is big	dit :: singular het-nouns dit huis is groot
this this bike is yellow	deze :: singular de-nouns deze fiets is geel
these these houses are big these bikes are yellow	deze :: plural nouns deze huizen zijn groot deze fietsen zijn geel
that that house is big	dat :: singular het-nouns dat huis is groot
that that bike is yellow	die :: singular de-nouns die fiets is geel
those those houses are big those bikes are yellow	die :: plural nouns die huizen zijn groot die fietsen zijn geel

When an independent demonstrative pronoun is preceded by a preposition, it turns into a pronominal adverb. On one of the next pages, you can see how this is achieved.

Examples

Deze (singular):

Ik heb deze film al gezien.	I have already seen this movie.
Ik heb deze al gezien.	I have already seen this (one).

Deze (plural):

Deze katjes zijn zo schattig.	These kittens are so cute.
Deze zijn zo schattig.	These are so cute.

Dit (always singular):

Dit verhaal is waargebeurd.	This story really happened.
Dit is waargebeurd.	This really happened.

Dat (always singular):

Dat standbeeld staat er al 300 jaar.	That statue has already been there for 300 years.
Dat staat er al 300 jaar.	That has already been there for 300 years.

Die (singular):

Heb je die film gezien?	Have you seen that movie?
Heb je die gezien?	Have you seen that (one)?

Die (plural):

Die katjes zijn nog schattiger.	Those kittens are even cuter.
Die zijn nog schattiger.	Those are even cuter.

Independent demonstratives that are linked to nouns

When an independent demonstrative pronoun is linked to a noun by a link verb, something strange happens: We are only allowed to use 'dit' and 'dat' (which we normally use for 'het'-nouns), even if the antecedent is a 'de'-noun.

when an independent demonstrative pronoun
is linked to a noun with a link verb,
we always use singular 'dit' or 'dat'

Deze (singular) turning into dit

Deze stad is de hoofdstad van Europa.	This city is the capital of Europe.
Dit is de hoofdstad van Europa. Not: Deze is de hoofdstad van Europa	This is the capital of Europe.

Deze (plural) turning into dit

Deze mensen zijn onze buren.	These people are our neighbours.
Dit zijn onze buren. Not: Deze zijn onze buren.	These are our neighbours.

Die (singular) turning into dat

Die vrouw is onze burgemeester.	That woman is our mayor.
Dat is onze burgemeester. Not: Die is onze burgemeester.	That is our mayor.

Die (plular) turning into dat

Die kinderen worden topatleten.	Those children will become top athletes.
Dat worden topatleten. Not: Die worden topatleten.	Those (they) will become top athletes.

On the next page, you can view more examples of this peculiar phenomenon.