[18] pointing out stuff - demonstrative and presentational particles

The demonstrative and presentational particles explained

Demonstrative and presentational particles are very different from one another. If you say: "this is a chair" or "that is a table" you are using the demonstrative particle. The demonstrative particle is used to explain to us what an object is. However, if you say: "here is a chair" or "there is a table" you are using the presentational particle. The presentational particle is used to inform us of where an object is.   Demonstrative particles هَذا  هُوَ دا 1  da - masc. هَذان  هُما 1-1 dual masculine this is/that is   هَذِهِ هِيَ دي 2  di - fem. هَتان هُما 2-2 dual fem. this is/that is   هَؤلاء هُمْ دولْ 3  dool - masc./fem. plural these are/those are     Presentational Particles ها هُوَ أهو 5  aho - masc. here is/there is   ها هِيَ أهي 4 ahi - fem. ها هُما 4-1 dual masc./fem. here is/there is   ها هُمْ أهُمْ 6 ahom - masc./fem. plural here are/there are

Be careful...

Arabic does not distinguish between “near” and “far” when using demonstrative and presentational particles. In English, “this” is used for relatively near objects and “that” is used for relatively far objects.