Arabic has two sets of demonstratives, also known as “أسْماء الإشارة,” which are similar to the English ones this/these and that/those. The demonstrative phrase in Arabic consists of distinctly masculine and feminine cases for each set in the singular and dual forms. However, for plural forms, there is no distinction between genders.

Demonstratives are not subject to noun cases except within the dual form where they differ by nominative or accusative-genitive case distinctions.

Demonstratives table

Ways of use

The demonstrative can be used:

• As an adjective / بَدَل
• As a pronoun / ضمِير

The demonstrative as an adjective

The demonstrative acts as a demonstrative adjective when it is put in apposition (بَدَل) before the noun defined by the article. This is not an annexation: the demonstrative has no influence on the case of the noun that follows but agrees with it in gender (except in the plural) and number.

When a demonstrative is used to qualify the first term of annexation, it must be positioned after the entire phrase (after the 2nd term) similarly to other regular adjectives. In this case, we’ll only use the demonstrative of proximity.

Note: The demonstrative may come before the last term of an annexation, which is the only exception to the general rule that nothing separates two terms in an annexation.

The gallery of this museum is filthy	رُواقُ هَذه المَتْحَفِ وَسِخةٌ
This princess’s ring is beautiful	خاتِمُ هَذِه الأَمِيرةِ جَميلٌ

The demonstrative as a pronoun