Demonstratives: bu, şu, o (this, that)
Turkish has three demonstratives: bu (this, near me), şu (that one there, often while pointing) and o (that, further away). Before a noun they never change; on their own they take endings with n.
| near | pointing | far | |
|---|---|---|---|
| demonstrative | bu | şu | o |
| plural (on its own) | bunlar | şunlar | onlar |
| place | burada (here) | şurada (there) | orada (over there) |
| with case endings | bunu, bunda | şunu, şunda | onu, onda |
Before a noun or on its own?
- Before a noun the demonstrative never changes, even in the plural: *bu evler* (these houses).
- On its own it takes plural and case endings with n: *bunlar* (these), *bunu* (this, as an object).
- o means both “that” and “he / she / it”.
- Unlike English, there is no this / these difference before a noun: *bu ev, bu evler*.
Examples
- Bu çay çok sıcak.This tea is very hot.
- Şu ev çok eski.That house is very old.
- Bunlar benim kitaplarım.These are my books.
- O kadın öğretmen.That woman is a teacher.
- Anahtar burada.The key is here.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Bunlar kitaplar çok eski.✓ Bu kitaplar çok eski.English changes “this” to “these” before a plural noun; Turkish bu stays the same: bu kitaplar.
- ✗ Şu alıyorum.✓ Şunu alıyorum.On its own, as an object (“I'll take that one”), şu needs the accusative with n: şunu.
- ✗ Şular senin mi?✓ Şunlar senin mi?On its own, şu forms the plural with n: şunlar, like bunlar and onlar.
- ✗ Anahtar ora.✓ Anahtar orada.English “there” is one word; Turkish needs the locative: orada.
- ✗ Şunu çantayı alıyorum.✓ Şu çantayı alıyorum.Before a noun only the noun takes the case ending: şu çantayı.