Asking 'What is this?': Identifying Objects
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
To ask 'What is this?', use the word 'inch' (what) followed by 'e' (is) and 'sa' (this).
- Use 'Sa' for objects near you: 'Sa inch e?' (What is this?)
- Use 'Da' for objects near the listener: 'Da inch e?' (What is that?)
- Use 'Na' for objects far away: 'Na inch e?' (What is that over there?)
Meanings
This structure is used to identify unknown objects by asking for their name or nature.
Direct identification
Asking for the identity of a physical object.
“Sa inch e?”
“Da inch e?”
Demonstrative Pronoun Table
| Pronoun | Meaning | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Sa | This | Near |
| Da | That | Mid |
| Na | That over there | Far |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Sa + inch + e | Sa inch e? |
| Negative | Sa + inch + e + che | Sa inch e che? |
| Question | Sa + inch + e? | Sa inch e? |
| Plural | Sranq + inch + en? | Sranq inch en? |
| Formal | Aysy + inch + e? | Aysy inch e? |
| Past | Sa + inch + er? | Sa inch er? |
طيف الرسمية
Aysy inch e? (General)
Sa inch e? (General)
Inch e sa? (General)
Inch a? (General)
The 'Inch' Map
Pronouns
- Sa This
- Da That
- Na That over there
أمثلة حسب المستوى
Sa inch e?
What is this?
Da inch e?
What is that?
Na inch e?
What is that over there?
Sa ghrich e.
This is a pen.
Aysy inch e?
What is this one?
Aydy inch e?
What is that one?
Sa im inch e?
What is this of mine?
Da qon inch e?
What is that of yours?
Dranc inch en?
What are those?
Sranq inch en?
What are these?
Inch e sa, vor du gnel es?
What is this that you bought?
Sa ayn inch e, vor menq pntrum einq.
This is that which we were looking for.
Inchi masin e sa?
What is this about?
Sa ayn e, inch vor petq e.
This is that which is needed.
Inch e sa, vor aysqan tank e?
What is this that is so expensive?
Sa ayn inch e, vor du chgiteir.
This is that which you didn't know.
Inch e sa, ete voch hrashq?
What is this, if not a miracle?
Sa ayn inch e, vor kphoxi amen inch.
This is that which will change everything.
Inch e sa, vor ayspes e zarganum?
What is this that is developing like this?
Sa ayn inch e, vorin spasum einq.
This is that which we were waiting for.
Inch e sa, vor aysqan xorhrdavor e?
What is this that is so mysterious?
Sa ayn inch e, vorin dzhvar e havatal.
This is that which is hard to believe.
Inch e sa, vor aysqan hin e?
What is this that is so old?
Sa ayn inch e, vorin menq chenq karogh dimadrel.
This is that which we cannot resist.
سهل الخلط
Using 'ov' for objects.
أخطاء شائعة
E sa inch?
Sa inch e?
Sa ov e?
Sa inch e?
Sa inch en?
Sa inch e?
Inch e sa, vor?
Inch e sa?
أنماط الجُمل
___ inch e?
Real World Usage
Sa inch e?
Da inch e?
Sa inch e?
Aysy inch e?
Na inch e?
Inch e sa?
Listen to locals
Don't use 'ov'
Use your hands
Be polite
Smart Tips
Always raise your pitch.
Use your hand.
Use 'Da'.
Use 'en'.
النطق
Intonation
Raise your pitch at the end of the question.
Rising
Sa inch e? ↗
Question
احفظها
وسيلة تذكّر
Inch is a pinch of curiosity.
ربط بصري
Imagine a giant question mark made of 'inch' hovering over an object.
Rhyme
Sa inch e? What is this? Don't miss!
Story
I walked into a shop. I saw a strange box. I pointed and asked 'Sa inch e?'. The shopkeeper smiled and said 'It's a gift'.
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Point at 5 objects in your room and ask 'Sa inch e?' out loud.
ملاحظات ثقافية
Asking 'Sa inch e?' is a great way to start a conversation with locals.
Ancient Indo-European roots.
بدايات محادثة
Sa inch e?
مواضيع للكتابة اليومية
Test Yourself
___ inch e?
What is this?
Find and fix the mistake:
E sa inch?
inch / Sa / e
What is that?
Answer starts with: Da ...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Sa is for far objects.
A: ___? B: Sa ghrich e.
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercises___ inch e?
What is this?
Find and fix the mistake:
E sa inch?
inch / Sa / e
What is that?
Sa = ?
Sa is for far objects.
A: ___? B: Sa ghrich e.
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
No, use 'ov'.
At the end.
Sa is near, Da is mid.
It is neutral.
Sranq inch en?
Yes, it's very common.
It's the Armenian word for what.
No, it's very easy.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
¿Qué es esto?
Verb position.
Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Complexity.
Was ist das?
Verb position.
Kore wa nan desu ka?
Particles.
Ma hadha?
Word order.
Zhe shi shenme?
No conjugation.
