Demonstratives (This/That)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Idu' for things close to you and 'Adu' for things further away.
- Use 'Idu' (ಇದು) for objects near the speaker: Idu pustaka (This is a book).
- Use 'Adu' (ಅದು) for objects away from the speaker: Adu mane (That is a house).
- These words function as both 'this/that' and 'it' in Kannada.
Meanings
Demonstrative pronouns are used to identify the location of an object relative to the speaker.
Proximal (Near)
Referring to something close to the speaker.
“Idu nanna pen.”
“Idu chalu.”
Distal (Far)
Referring to something at a distance.
“Adu nanna car.”
“Adu alli ide.”
Demonstrative Basics
| Kannada | Transliteration | English | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| ಇದು | Idu | This | Near |
| ಅದು | Adu | That | Far |
| ಇವು | Ivu | These | Near (Plural) |
| ಅವು | Avu | Those | Far (Plural) |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Idu + Noun | Idu mane |
| Negative | Idu + Noun + alla | Idu mane alla |
| Question | Idu + Noun + aa? | Idu manena? |
| Possessive | Idara + Noun | Idara banna |
| Dative | Idakke + Verb | Idakke kodi |
طیف رسمیت
Idu nanna pustaka. (Casual conversation)
Idu nanna pustaka. (Casual conversation)
Idu nanna book. (Casual conversation)
Idhu nandu. (Casual conversation)
Demonstrative Map
Near
- Idu This
Far
- Adu That
Examples by Level
Idu nanna pustaka.
This is my book.
Adu nanna mane.
That is my house.
Idu enu?
What is this?
Adu alli ide.
That is over there.
Idu nimmada?
Is this yours?
Adu nanna car alla.
That is not my car.
Idu thumba chennagide.
This is very good.
Adu yaaru?
Who is that?
Idara bele eshtu?
What is the price of this?
Adakke nanage ishta illa.
I don't like that.
Idu nanna kelsa.
This is my work.
Adu nanna jothe ide.
That is with me.
Idu nanna jeevanada prashne.
This is a matter of my life.
Adu nanna nirdhara.
That is my decision.
Idannu nanage kodi.
Give this to me.
Adannu alli idu.
Put that there.
Idara bagge matanadabeku.
We must talk about this.
Adakke sambandha patta vishaya.
The matter related to that.
Idu nanna kalpaneya kade.
This is the end of my imagination.
Adu nanna purva anubhava.
That is my previous experience.
Idara mulaka nanage tilidide.
Through this, I have understood.
Adara prabhava thumba ide.
The influence of that is significant.
Idu nanna nambike.
This is my belief.
Adu nanna gamyasthana.
That is my destination.
Easily Confused
Learners use Idu for people.
Learners use Idu for plural objects.
Learners use Adu for possessive.
اشتباهات رایج
Adu nanna kai (holding it)
Idu nanna kai
Idu nanna friend (person)
Ivanu nanna friend
Idu pustaka
Idu pustaka ide
Adu pustaka
Adu pustaka
Idu pustaka?
Idu pustakana?
Adu nimmadu?
Adu nimmada?
Idu-galu
Ivu
Idara nanna
Idara bagge
Adakke nanage
Adakke nanage ishta
Idu nanna kelsa
Idu nanna kelsa
Idara mulaka
Idara mulaka
Adara prabhava
Adara prabhava
Idu nambike
Idu nanna nambike
Sentence Patterns
Idu ___ ide.
Adu ___ alla.
Idu ___?
Idara ___ eshtu?
Real World Usage
Idara bele eshtu?
Idu nanna photo.
Adu alli ide.
Idu enu?
Adu nanna anubhava.
Idu nanna oota!
Keep it simple
Don't use for people
Add 'ide'
Pointing
Smart Tips
Use your whole hand to be polite.
Add 'aa' to the end of the sentence.
You can drop the verb 'ide'.
Never use Idu for people.
تلفظ
Vowel length
Keep 'I' and 'A' short.
Question
Idu pustakana? ↑
Rising pitch at the end.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Idu is near you (I-du), Adu is away from you (A-du).
Visual Association
Imagine holding a pen (Idu) and pointing at a mountain far away (Adu).
Rhyme
Idu is near, Adu is far, that is how we know where they are!
Story
I am holding a cup. I say 'Idu coffee'. I point at a tree outside. I say 'Adu mara'. My friend asks 'Idu nimmada?' and I say 'Adu nannadu'.
Word Web
چالش
Point at 5 things in your room and say 'Idu [name]' for each.
نکات فرهنگی
Pointing with a finger is considered rude in some contexts; use the whole hand.
Derived from ancient Dravidian roots.
Conversation Starters
Idu enu?
Idu nimmada?
Idu chennagideya?
Idara bele eshtu?
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
___ nanna pustaka (near).
___ nanna mane (far).
Find and fix the mistake:
Idu nanna friend (person).
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
What is this?
Answer starts with: Idu...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Idu (plural)?
A: Idu nimmada? B: ___
Score: /8
تمرینهای عملی
8 exercises___ nanna pustaka (near).
___ nanna mane (far).
Find and fix the mistake:
Idu nanna friend (person).
pustaka / Idu / ide
What is this?
Idu - ?
Idu (plural)?
A: Idu nimmada? B: ___
Score: /8
سوالات متداول (8)
No, it is rude. Use Ivanu/Avanu.
No, Idu and Adu are gender-neutral.
It means 'is'. Use it for complete sentences.
Use Ivu and Avu.
Yes, in casual speech.
Idu is 'this', Idara is 'of this'.
Add 'aa' to the end.
Yes, use your whole hand.
In Other Languages
esto/eso
Kannada is gender-neutral for objects.
kore/sore
Kannada has a simpler two-way system.
dieses/jenes
Kannada is much simpler.
ceci/cela
Kannada uses the same word for everything.
hatha/thalika
Kannada is gender-neutral.
zhe/na
Kannada adds verb markers.
