Language/Maltese/Grammar/Demonstrative-Pronouns
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As we continue our journey in learning the Maltese language, we will now focus on demonstrative pronouns. In this lesson, you will learn about the different forms of demonstrative pronouns in Maltese and how to use them correctly in sentences.
What are Demonstrative Pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are used to indicate or point to something specific within a sentence. They can be used to point to something present or something that has already been mentioned. In Maltese, like many other languages, demonstrative pronouns agree with both gender and number.
Maltese has three demonstrative pronouns, each with its own gender and number. They are:
- 'Dan' for masculine singular
- 'Din' for feminine singular
- 'Dawn' for plural
Here are a few examples to help you understand these pronouns better.
- Dan hu żewġra. (This is a book.)
- Din hi ktieb. (This is a book.)
- Dawn huma ktiebiet. (These are books.)
In each of these examples, the pronouns 'Dan', 'Din', and 'Dawn' are used to point to a specific object, and their form changes depending on whether the object is masculine singular, feminine singular or plural.
Usage of Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are commonly used in everyday language both in written and spoken. They can be used to describe objects or people, to point out an object in a sentence, or to ask about someone or something specific.
Here below are some examples:
- Dan jum il-Ħadd. - This is Sunday
- Din verga qasba. - This is a glass of juice.
- Dawn huma ħares tal-baħar. - These are seashells.
The examples above illustrate the usage of demonstrative pronouns in a sentence. By using 'Dan', 'Din', or 'Dawn', you’re pointing out something specific that you want to describe.
When using demonstrative pronouns, remember that they need to agree in both gender and number with the noun that they are being used to describe.
Table of Demonstrative Pronouns
To help you master the use of demonstrative pronouns, here's a table that lists their forms and corresponding translations:
| Maltese | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Dan | dahn | this (masculine singular) |
| Din | deen | this (feminine singular) |
| Dawn | dohn | these (plural) |
Exceptions to the Rule
As with any language, there are certain exceptions to the rule when it comes to demonstrative pronouns in Maltese. One of these exceptions is when a speaker wants to place emphasis on something.
When emphasis is wanted in a sentence, a speaker or writer might instead use the words 'Hawn', which means 'here' for the masculine singular or plural, or 'Hawnhekk' which means 'here or at this place'.
Here are some examples:
- Hawnhekk hemm il-karozza tagħti. - Here is the car key.
- Hawn qiegħed issa. - He is sitting here.
Practice Exercises
To reinforce your understanding of demonstrative pronouns, below are some exercise questions for practice. Use your knowledge of demonstrative pronouns to answer the following questions in Maltese:
- What is this? (masculine singular)
- What is this? (feminine singular)
- What are these? (plural)
When you have finished, click the 'Show answer' button to check your answers.
- 1 - Dan huwa?
Answer: Dan huwa? (This is what?)
- 2 - Din hi?
Answer: Din hi? (This is what?)
- 3 - Dawn huma?
Answer: Dawn huma? (These are what?)
Well done! You have successfully completed this lesson on demonstrative pronouns in Maltese.
Other Lessons
- Present Tense
- Adjectives
- Past Participle in Maltese
- Gender and Plurals
- Prepositions
- Basic Maltese Phrases
- Give your Opinion
- Plurals
- 0 to A1 Course
- Conditional Mood
Sources
| ◀️ Possessive Pronouns — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Regular Verbs ▶️ |