Demonstrative Pronouns

Lesson objective

In this lesson, you will learn how to say this, that, these, and those.

Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns

Words such as this, that, these and those can be used in two ways.

Before a noun

When the word comes before a noun, it is a demonstrative adjective — for example: this car, that book, these towels, those flowers.

Without a noun

When the word is used alone, it is a demonstrative pronoun — for example: This is John’s. I want that. I like these.

It is not necessary to remember the grammar names immediately — the important thing is to notice whether the word appears before a noun or is used alone.

Demonstrative pronouns in Darija

English	Darija
This — masculine	hada
This — feminine	hadi
These — plural	hadu
That — masculine	hadak
That — feminine	hadik
Those — plural	haduk

These forms can appear at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, or in a question, and they can be used for objects and people.

Examples with objects

hada kursi. — This is a chair. (kursi is masculine, so hada is used)

hadi ṭbla. — This is a table. (ṭbla is feminine, so hadi is used)

Examples with people

hada Abdallah. — This is Abdallah.  ·  hadi Aicha. — This is Aicha.

Asking about an object

English	Darija
What is this? — masculine	šnu hada? / aš hada?
What is this? — feminine	šnu hadi? / aš hadi?
What is that? — masculine	šnu hadak? / aš hadak?

Asking about a person

English	Darija
Who is this? — masculine	škun hada?
Who is this? — feminine	škun hadi?
Who is that? — feminine	škun hadik?

At the beginning, it may be difficult to know whether a noun is masculine or feminine — Moroccan speakers should usually understand you even when you make a gender mistake.

Sentence-building exercise

Create correct sentences by combining a demonstrative pronoun, a noun, and a matching adjective.

hada rajl mzyan. — This is a good man.

Adjectives: mzyan / mzyanin / mzyana / mzyanat (good), kbir / kbira / kbar (big), frнan / frнanin / frнana / frнanat (happy). The noun and adjective should agree in gender and number.