Demonstrative Pronoun in Arabic: Ism isharah Complete Examples

Ism ishara introduction

In Arabic, demonstrative pronouns (أسماء الإشارة) are used to point to or identify something. They are similar to English demonstrative pronouns like "this" and "that" (allowing speakers to indicate and point to specific people, objects, or ideas).

Demonstrative pronouns in Arabic can be singular, dual, or plural. They also have different forms for masculine and feminine nouns.

The demonstrative pronouns in Arabic are not only used to point out specific objects but also play a crucial role in the agreement with the gender and number of the noun they refer to. 

It is essential to maintain agreement in Arabic grammar to ensure coherence and accuracy in speech and writing. Re-study the complete rules here:  The rules of demonstrative pronoun in Arabic

In this article, we will explain the different types of ism isharah in Arabic and give some complete examples of how to use them.

Ism Isharah Comprehensive Examples

Ism isharah position in Arabic sentence: Short video

Ism isharah as a mubtada' (subject)

هَذَا فَلاَّحٌ
This is a farmer.

هَذَا : ism isharah for mufrad, mudhakkar, qarib  (demonstrative pronoun for singular, masculine, near speaker). It is acted as mubtada' or subject.

فَلاَّحٌ: ism mufrad, mudhakkar (singular masculine noun). It is khabar or predicate.


هَذَانِ فَلاَّحَانِ
These are two farmers.

هَذَانِ : ism ishara for muthanna, mudhakkar, qarib (demonstrative pronoun for dual, masculine, near speaker). It's acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَانِ: ism muthanna, mudhakkar (dual masculine noun). It is a khabar.


هَؤُلاَءِ فَلاَّحُونَ
These are farmers.

هَؤُلاَءِ : ism ishara for jama', mudhakkar, qarib (demonstrative pronoun for plural, masculine, near speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحُونَ : ism jama', mudhakkar (plural masculine noun). It is a khabar.


هَذِهِ فَلاَّحَةٌ
This is a female farmer.

هَذِهِ : ism ishara for mufrad, muannath, qarib (demonstrative pronoun for singular, feminine, near speaker). It's acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَةٌ : ism mufrad muannath (singular feminine noun). It's a khabar.


هَاتَانِ فَلاَّحَتَانِ
These are two female farmers.

هَاتَانِ : ism ishara for muthanna, muannath, qarib (demonstrative pronoun for dual, feminine, near speaker). It's acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَتَانِ : ism muthanna muannath (dual feminine noun). It's a khabar.


هَؤُلاَءِ فَلاّحَاتٌ
These are female farmers.

هَؤُلاَءِ : ism ishara for plural, muannath, qarib (demonstrative pronoun for plural, feminine, near speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاّحَاتٌ : ism jama' muannath (plural feminine noun). It's a khabar.


ذَلِكَ فَلاَّحٌ
That is a farmer.

ذَلِكَ : ism ishara for mufrad, mudhakkar, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for singular, masculine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحٌ: ism mufrad, mudhakkar (singular masculine noun). It is khabar or predicate. It's a khabar.


ذَانِكَ فَلاَّحَانِ
Those are two farmers.

ذَانِكَ : ism ishara for muthanna, mudhakkar, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for dual, masculine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَانِ: ism muthanna, mudhakkar (dual masculine noun). It is a khabar.


أُولَئِكَ فَلاَّحُونَ
Those are farmers.


أُولَئِكَ : ism ishara for jama', mudhakkar, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for plural, masculine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحُونَ : ism jama', mudhakkar (plural masculine noun). It is a khabar.


تِلْكَ فَلاَّحَةٌ
That is a female farmer.

تِلْكَ : ism isharah for mufrad, muannath, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for singular, feminine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَةٌ : ism mufrad muannath (singular feminine noun). It's a khabar.


تَانِكَ فَلاَّحَتَانِ
Those are two female farmers.

تَانِكَ : ism ishara for muthanna, muannath, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for dual, feminine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاَّحَتَانِ : ism muthanna muannath (dual feminine noun). It's a khabar.


أُولَئِكَ فَلاّحَاتٌ
Those are female farmers.

أُولَئِكَ : ism ishara for jama', muannath, ba'id (demonstrative pronoun for plural, feminine, far from speaker). It is acted as mubtada'.

فَلاّحَاتٌ : ism jama' muannath (plural feminine noun). It's a khabar.

Ism isharah as a fa'il (subject/doer)

جَلَسَ هَذَا الطَّالِبُ
This student sat.

جَلَسَ : fi'l madi. (this is a fi'l madi form of 3rd person, singular, masculine "هُوَ")

هَذَا : ism ishara for singular masculine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطَّالِبُ : singular masculine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَذَا"

جَلَسَ هَذَانِ الطَّالِبَانِ
These two students sat.

جَلَسَ : fi'l madi

هَذَانِ : ism ishara for dual masculine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطَّالِبَانِ : dual masculine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَذَانِ"

جَلَسَ هَؤَلاَءِ الطُّلاَّبُ
These students sat.

جَلَسَ : fi'l madi

هَؤَلاَءِ : ism ishara for plural masculine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطُّلاَّبُ : plural masculine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَؤَلاَءِ"

جَلَسَتْ هَذِهِ الطَّالِبَةُ
This female student sat.

جَلَسَتْ : form of fi'l madi for 3rd person, singular, feminine (هِيَ)

هَذِهِ : ism isharah for singular feminine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطَّالِبَةُ : singular feminine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَذِهِ"

جَلَسَتْ هَاتَانِ الطَّالِبَتَانِ
These two female students sat.

جَلَسَتْ : form of fi'l madi for 3rd person, singular, feminine (هِيَ)

هَاتَانِ : ism ishara for dual feminine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطَّالِبَتَانِ : dual feminine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَاتَانِ"

جَلَسَتْ هَؤُلاَءِ الطَّالِبَاتُ
These female students sat.


جَلَسَتْ : form of fi'l madi for 3rd person, singular, feminine (هِيَ)

هَؤُلاَءِ : ism ishara for plural feminine. It's acted as fa'il.

الطَّالِبَاتُ : plural feminine noun. It's badal of fa'il "هَؤُلاَءِ"

Ism isharah as a maf'ul bih (object)

نَصَحْتُ ذَلِكَ الطَّالِبَ
I advised that student.

نَصَحْتُ : fi'l madi with "تُ" as damir muttasil that is acted as fa'il.

"تُ" refers to 1st person singular (I).

ذَلِكَ : ism isharah for singular masculine. It's acted as maf'ul bih or object.

الطَّالِبَ : singular masculine noun. It's badal of maf'ul bih "ذَلِكَ"

نَصَحْتُ هَذَيْنِ الطَّالِبَيْنِ
I advised these two students.

نَصَحْتُ:  fi'l madi with "تُ" as damir muttasil that is acted as fa'il.

"تُ" refers to 1st person singular (I).

هَذَيْنِ : ism isharah for dual masculine. It is acted as maf'ul bih. It's mansub (accusative case), the indication of the nasb is harf "ي".

الطَّالِبَيْنِ : dual masculine noun. It's badal of maf'ul bih "هَذَيْنِ". It's in accusative case, the indication of the nasb is harf "ي".

نَصَحْتُ هَؤُلاَءِ الطُّلاَّبَ
I advised these students.

نَصَحْتُ:  fi'l madi with "تُ" as damir muttasil that is acted as fa'il.

"تُ" refers to 1st person singular (I).

هَؤُلاَءِ : ism isharah for plural masculine. It's acted as maf'ul bih or object.

الطُّلاَّبَ : plural masculine noun. It's badal of the object "هَؤُلاَءِ".

Conclusion

Understanding the use of ism isharah (demonstrative pronouns) in Arabic is crucial for maintaining the appropriate agreements in gender and number, which contributes to the coherence and accuracy of both spoken and written language.

By mastering various examples of ism isharah as the subject, doer, and object in sentences, you will build a solid foundation in Arabic grammar and communication.

Finally, you've comprehended the use of demonstrative pronouns (ism isharah) in Arabic, covering their various forms for singular, dual, and plural nouns, as well as masculine and feminine gender.

I hope this article has helped you understand the demonstrative pronouns in Arabic and how to use them correctly. If you have any questions or feedback, please let me know in the comments below. شُكْرًا (Shukran) - Thank you!