Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative pronouns can replace both nouns and adjectives (unlike personal pronouns, which can only replace nouns). They function generally in the same way as the English pronouns 'this' and 'that'. Demonstrative pronouns inflect for case and number. The forms are as follows:

Direct

Oblique

Singular

यह yeh 'this'

वह vo 'that'

इस is 'this'

उस us 'that'

Plural

ये ye 'these'

वे ve 'those'

इन in 'these'

उन un 'those'

When replacing adjectives, the pronouns यह yeh and ये ye are usually used when the person or object referred to is nearby, while the pronouns वह vo and वे ve are usually used when the person or object is far away.

Demonstrative pronouns are identical in form to the personal pronouns of the third person.