A2 Pronouns 11 min read Easy

Distant Pointers: That & Those (Dhālika, Tilka)

Match gender for singulars, but use 'tilka' (she) for ALL plural objects, animals, and concepts.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'Dhālika' for masculine distant objects and 'Tilka' for feminine distant objects to point out things that are not near you.

  • Use 'Dhālika' (ذلك) for singular masculine objects far away: 'Dhālika rajul' (That is a man).
  • Use 'Tilka' (تلك) for singular feminine objects far away: 'Tilka sayyārah' (That is a car).
  • These pronouns act as the subject of a sentence and do not require a verb 'to be'.
Distance + Gender + Object = ذلك (Masculine) / تلك (Feminine) + [Noun]

Overview

You use demonstrative pronouns to point to something specific. While English uses "this" and "that" (and their plurals "these" and "those"), Arabic distinguishes demonstratives based on both distance and gender. This reference focuses on the "distant" pointers: ذَلِكَ (dhālika) for masculine singular and تِلْكَ (tilka) for feminine singular and non-human plurals.

These function as the counterparts to the "near" demonstratives هَذَا (hādhā) and هَذِهِ (hādhihi), which refer to things close by.

Understanding distant demonstratives is fundamental for constructing clear sentences and precisely indicating which noun you are referring to. They integrate seamlessly into sentence structure, acting either as subjects, predicates, or modifiers. The choice between ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ is primarily morphological, governed by the grammatical gender and number of the noun they point to, rather than arbitrary usage.

This careful distinction reflects Arabic's highly inflected nature, where grammatical features are often encoded directly into word forms. Mastering these forms ensures your communication is both grammatically correct and contextually precise.

How This Grammar Works

Arabic demonstrative pronouns, known as أسماء الإشارة (asmā’ al-ishārah), function as pointers in speech and writing. Their form changes based on three critical factors: distance (near vs. far), gender (masculine vs.
feminine), and number (singular, dual, plural). This rule focuses exclusively on distant demonstratives, which refer to items or concepts that are spatially, temporally, or abstractly removed from the speaker. Unlike English "that" or "those," which are largely invariant, Arabic requires a specific form for each grammatical context.
The most distinctive feature of Arabic distant demonstratives, and demonstratives in general, is their morphological agreement. This means the demonstrative pronoun must match the noun it refers to in both gender and number. For instance, you use ذَلِكَ (dhālika) for كِتَابٌ (kitābun - book, masculine singular) and تِلْكَ (tilka) for سَيَّارَةٌ (sayyāratun - car, feminine singular).
This agreement is crucial for grammatical coherence and avoids ambiguity, ensuring that the listener immediately understands the referent's characteristics.
A pivotal concept to grasp is the treatment of non-human plurals. In Arabic, any plural noun referring to non-human entities (e.g., books, cars, trees, ideas) is grammatically treated as feminine singular. This is known as جمع التكسير لغير العاقل (jamʿ at-taksīr li-ghayr al-ʿāqil), or broken plural for non-rational beings.
Consequently, you will use تِلْكَ (tilka), the feminine singular distant demonstrative, to point to all non-human plural nouns, regardless of their original singular gender. For example, تِلْكَ الْكُتُبُ (tilka al-kutubu - those books) even though كِتَابٌ (kitābun) is masculine singular. This linguistic convention simplifies agreement rules by standardizing the demonstrative form for a broad category of plurals.
The underlying linguistic principle behind these distinctions is the specificity inherent in Arabic grammar. Every element often carries significant information about its grammatical role and relationship to other words in the sentence. This system provides a robust framework for clear expression, though it initially requires careful attention to gender and number agreement.

Formation Pattern

1
The formation of distant demonstratives is straightforward once you internalize the agreement rules for gender and number. These words are مَبْنِيٌّ (mabniyyun), meaning they are indeclinable; their form does not change based on their grammatical case (nominative, accusative, genitive). This simplifies their usage considerably, as you do not need to worry about case endings.
2
Here is a precise breakdown of the forms:
3
| Category | Arabic Form | Transliteration | Pronunciation (Approx.) | Usage | Example (Arabic) | Example (English) |
4
| :------------------------- | :---------- | :-------------- | :---------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------- | :------------------------ |
5
| Masculine Singular | ذَلِكَ | dhālika | dha-li-ka | For a single masculine noun or concept. | ذَلِكَ الرَّجُلُ | That man |
6
| | | | | | ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتُ | That house |
7
| Feminine Singular | تِلْكَ | tilka | til-ka | For a single feminine noun or concept. | تِلْكَ الْمَرْأَةُ | That woman |
8
| | | | | | تِلْكَ السَّيَّارَةُ | That car |
9
| Human Plural | أُولَئِكَ | ulā'ika | oo-la-i-ka | For any group of human beings (male, female, or mixed). | أُولَئِكَ الطُّلَّابُ | Those students |
10
| | | | | | أُولَئِكَ الْمُعَلِّمَاتُ | Those female teachers |
11
| Non-Human Plural | تِلْكَ | tilka | til-ka | For any plural noun that refers to non-human entities (animals, objects, ideas). This is the feminine singular form. | تِلْكَ الْكُتُبُ | Those books |
12
| | | | | | تِلْكَ الْأَشْجَارُ | Those trees |
13
Key Morphological Details:
14
The ذَال (dhāl) and تَاء (tā’) Roots: The initial letters ذ and ت in ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ respectively correspond to the gender marker. ذ typically indicates masculine, while ت indicates feminine, a pattern seen across many Arabic words (e.g., هُوَ vs. هِيَ, or verb conjugations).
15
The لام (lām) for Distance: The ل (lām) in both ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ (-lika, -lka) is a critical component signifying distance. It acts as a marker contrasting these forms with the near demonstratives هَذَا (hādhā) and هَذِهِ (hādhihi), which lack this lām. This lām effectively translates to "far" or "that far."
16
The كاف (kāf) for Address: The final ك (kāf) in ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ is a كاف المخاطب (kāf al-mukhāṭab), a suffix of address. It literally means "to you" (singular masculine). While it's fixed in the standard forms, historically and in some dialectal variations, this kāf could change to agree with the person being addressed (e.g., ذَلِكِ for feminine singular address, ذَلِكُمَا for dual). However, in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ are used universally regardless of who you are speaking to.
17
The ألف (alif) in أُولَئِكَ (ulā'ika): The long ā sound after the initial أ is an integral part of this plural form, marking it specifically for rational beings. This word أُولَئِكَ (ulā'ika) is also مَبْنِيٌّ (mabniyyun) and serves universally for all human plurals.
18
Understanding these components helps you appreciate the structured nature of Arabic word formation. For example, to say ذلك الطالب (dhālika al-ṭālibu - that male student), you use the masculine singular form ذَلِكَ because طالب (ṭālib) is masculine singular. If you're referring to تلك السيارة (tilka as-sayyāratu - that car), you use تِلْكَ because سيارة (sayyārah) is feminine singular. And for أولئك المدرسون (ulā'ika al-mudarrisūna - those teachers), أُولَئِكَ is used because المدرسون (al-mudarrisūna) is a human plural.

When To Use It

Distant demonstratives (ذَلِكَ, تِلْكَ, أُولَئِكَ) are employed in Arabic when the referent is not immediately proximate to the speaker, either physically, temporally, or abstractly. Their usage extends beyond simple pointing, enabling precise communication about things not within arm's reach or within the current moment of discourse.
  1. 1Physical Distance: This is the most intuitive application. You use these forms to indicate objects, people, or places that are visually perceptible but physically far away. The distance is relative and depends on context.
  • ذَلِكَ الْجَبَلُ بَعِيدٌ. (dhālika al-jabalu baʿīdun. - That mountain is far away.)
  • تِلْكَ الْمَدِينَةُ جَمِيلَةٌ. (tilka al-madīnatu jamīlatun. - That city is beautiful.)
  • أُولَئِكَ الْعُمَّالُ فِي الْحَقْلِ. (ulā'ika al-ʿummālu fī al-ḥaqli. - Those workers are in the field.)
  1. 1Temporal Distance (Past or Future): You also use distant demonstratives to refer to events, periods, or situations that occurred in the past or are projected into the future. They help to establish a temporal remove.
  • ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ كَانَ صَعْبًا. (dhālika al-yawmu kāna ṣaʿban. - That day was difficult.) - Referring to a specific day in the past.
  • تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةُ سَتَكُونُ هَادِئَةً. (tilka al-laylatu satakūnu hādi'atan. - That night will be quiet.) - Referring to a specific night in the future.
  1. 1Abstract or Conceptual Distance: Distant demonstratives are frequently used to refer back to previously mentioned ideas, statements, or abstract concepts within a discourse. They function as anaphoric references, connecting current speech to prior information. This is particularly common in formal writing or academic discussions.
  • قَالَ الْمُدِيرُ إِنَّ الْمَشْرُوعَ نَاجِحٌ. ذَلِكَ خَبَرٌ جَيِّدٌ. (qāla al-mudīru inna al-mashrūʿa nājiḥun. dhālika khabarun jayyidun. - The manager said the project is successful. That is good news.) - ذَلِكَ refers to the successful project.
  • تِلْكَ الْفِكْرَةُ لَيْسَتْ جَدِيدَةً. (tilka al-fikratu laysat jadīdatan. - That idea is not new.) - Referring to an idea previously discussed.
  1. 1Emphasis or Deference: In some contexts, using a distant demonstrative (ذَلِكَ or تِلْكَ) even for something physically close can imbue it with a sense of importance, reverence, or formality. This subtle nuance elevates the referent. For instance, in religious texts or formal speeches, referring to God with ذَلِكَ can signify His exalted status beyond physical proximity.
Mastering these contextual usages allows for more sophisticated and nuanced communication in Arabic, moving beyond merely pointing at tangible objects.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when employing Arabic distant demonstratives. These errors often stem from direct translation from English or an incomplete grasp of Arabic's gender and number agreement rules. Recognizing these common mistakes and their underlying reasons is crucial for developing accurate usage.
  1. 1Ignoring Grammatical Gender for Singulars: A prevalent error is applying ذَلِكَ universally as "that" without regard for the noun's grammatical gender. You must consistently match the demonstrative to the noun's gender.
  • Incorrect: ذَلِكَ سَيَّارَةٌ (dhālika sayyāratun) - literally "That (masc.) car (fem.)."
  • Correct: تِلْكَ سَيَّارَةٌ (tilka sayyāratun) - "That (fem.) car (fem.)."
  • Reason: سَيَّارَةٌ (sayyāratun - car) is grammatically feminine, requiring تِلْكَ. Failing to observe this agreement is a fundamental grammatical error that can sound jarring to native speakers.
  1. 1Misapplying أُولَئِكَ for Non-Human Plurals: This is perhaps the most significant challenge for learners. The rule that non-human plurals are treated as feminine singular for demonstratives (and adjectives) is counter-intuitive if your first language distinguishes human and non-human plurals differently.
  • Incorrect: أُولَئِكَ الْكُتُبُ (ulā'ika al-kutubu) - "Those (human plural) books."
  • Correct: تِلْكَ الْكُتُبُ (tilka al-kutubu) - "Those (feminine singular) books."
  • Reason: الْكُتُبُ (al-kutubu - books) is a non-human plural, thus requiring تِلْكَ. This is not a matter of logic but of Arabic grammatical convention. Embrace تِلْكَ for anything plural and non-human, from أَشْجَارٌ (ashjārun - trees) to أَفْكَارٌ (afkārun - ideas).
  1. 1Incorrect Agreement with Definite vs. Indefinite Nouns: The structure changes slightly depending on whether the noun being pointed to is definite (has الـ, al-) or indefinite (no الـ).
  • When the noun is indefinite: The demonstrative acts as the subject, and the noun as its predicate. ذَلِكَ بَيْتٌ. (dhālika baytun. - That is a house.)
  • When the noun is definite: The demonstrative precedes the definite noun and functions as an adjective-like modifier within a noun phrase. ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتُ. (dhālika al-baytu. - That house...) This phrase is incomplete and needs a predicate to form a full sentence, e.g., ذَلِكَ الْبَيْتُ جَمِيلٌ. (dhālika al-baytu jamīlun. - That house is beautiful.)
  • Reason: Confusing these two structures leads to grammatically incomplete sentences or misunderstanding the sentence's predicate. Always check if the noun following the demonstrative is definite or indefinite.
  1. 1Pronunciation of ذَلِكَ: The small dagger alif (الألف الخنجرية) above the لام (lām) in ذَلِكَ (ذَٰلِكَ) indicates a long ā sound, even though there's no visible ألف (alif). Learners often pronounce it as a short a.
  • Incorrect: dha-li-ka (short 'a' on dha)
  • Correct: dhā-li-ka (long 'a' on dhā)
  • Reason: Ignoring the dagger alif alters the correct pronunciation, making the word less recognizable.
By consciously avoiding these common pitfalls, you can significantly improve your accuracy and fluency with distant demonstratives in Arabic.

Real Conversations

While formal Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) rigidly adheres to ذَلِكَ, تِلْكَ, and أُولَئِكَ, actual spoken Arabic (dialects) often presents simplified or alternative forms. However, the underlying grammatical principles of gender and number agreement typically persist, albeit with different word choices.

In many Levantine and Egyptian dialects, for instance, you'll frequently encounter هَدَاك (hadāk) for masculine singular "that" and هَدِيْك (hadīk) for feminine singular "that," which are essentially contractions or dialectal modifications of the MSA هَذَا كَ and هَذِهِ كَ. The ـك (-k) suffix still conveys distance or reference. For plurals, هَدُولَاك (hadūlāk) is common for humans. Critically, the rule for non-human plurals taking a feminine singular demonstrative often holds true in spoken Arabic too, using هَدِيْك (hadīk) for "those books" (هَدِيْك الْكُتُب).

Example in a casual chat:

A

A

شُفْتَ الْفِيلْمَ الْجَدِيدَ؟ (shufta al-fīlma al-jadīda? - Did you see the new movie?)
B

B

أَيُّ فِيلْمٍ تَقْصِدُ؟ (ayyu fīlmin taqṣidu? - Which movie do you mean?)
A

A

ذَلِكَ الَّذِي كَانَ عَنِ الْحَرْبِ. (dhālika alladhī kāna ʿan al-ḥarb. - That one that was about the war.)

Here, ذَلِكَ is used to refer back to a movie previously implied, demonstrating abstract distance.*

Social Media context:

A post with a picture of a newly built, large house: تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الَّتِي حَلُمْتُ بِهَا. (tilka ad-dāru allatī ḥalumtu bihā. - That's the house I dreamed of.)

الدَّارُ (ad-dāru - house) is feminine, hence تِلْكَ.*

Work email:

نُؤَكِّدُ عَلَى النِّقَاطِ الَّتِي نَاقَشْنَاهَا فِي الِاجْتِمَاعِ الْمَاضِيَةِ. تِلْكَ النِّقَاطُ هِيَ الْأَوْلَوِيَّةُ. (nu'akkidu ʿalá an-niqāṭi allatī nāqashnāhā fī al-ijtimāʿi al-māḍīyati. tilka an-niqāṭu hiya al-awlawiyyah. - We emphasize the points we discussed in the last meeting. Those points are the priority.)

النِّقَاطُ (an-niqāṭu - points) is a non-human plural, taking تِلْكَ.*

Observing these patterns in authentic communication helps solidify your understanding and bridges the gap between formal grammar and everyday expression. While dialectal variations exist, mastering MSA forms provides a solid foundation for comprehension across all contexts.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I use ذَلِكَ for a feminine object if it's very far away?

No. Grammatical gender takes precedence over physical distance. A feminine noun always pairs with تِلْكَ, regardless of its proximity. For example, تِلْكَ الْبِنْتُ (tilka al-bintu - that girl) is correct.

Q: Why do non-human plurals behave as feminine singular in Arabic?

This is a fundamental, historical feature of Arabic morphology and a common characteristic in Semitic languages. It standardizes agreement for demonstratives, adjectives, and verb conjugations with جمع التكسير لغير العاقل. Accept it as a core rule of the language.

Q: How do I distinguish between "that is a book" and "that book..."?

The key is the definite article الـ (al-) on the noun.

  • "That is a book": ذَلِكَ كِتَابٌ. (dhālika kitābun.) (Indefinite noun, demonstrative is subject, noun is predicate).
  • "That book (is beautiful)": ذَلِكَ الْكِتَابُ جَمِيلٌ. (dhālika al-kitābu jamīlun.) (Definite noun, demonstrative acts as modifier within a noun phrase).
Q: Are ذَلِكَ and تِلْكَ limited to physical objects?

No. They also denote temporal distance (e.g., ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمُ - that day) and abstract conceptual distance (e.g., تِلْكَ الْفِكْرَةُ - that idea). Their application is broad.

Distant Pointer Table

Gender Pointer Arabic Usage
Masculine
Dhālika
ذلك
Singular objects
Feminine
Tilka
تلك
Singular objects
Non-human Plural
Tilka
تلك
Plural objects

Meanings

These are demonstrative pronouns used to identify or point to objects, people, or places that are physically distant from the speaker.

1

Physical Distance

Pointing to an object far from the speaker.

“ذلك بيتٌ بعيدٌ”

“تلك شجرةٌ عاليةٌ”

2

Abstract Reference

Referring to an idea or event previously mentioned.

“ذلك أمرٌ مهمٌ”

“تلك فكرةٌ رائعةٌ”

3

Historical/Time Distance

Referring to something in the past.

“تلك أيامٌ خلت”

“ذلك زمنٌ جميلٌ”

Reference Table

Reference table for Distant Pointers: That & Those (Dhālika, Tilka)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Dhālika + Noun
ذلك بيت
Negative
Dhālika + laysa + Noun
ذلك ليس بيتاً
Question
Hal + Dhālika + Noun
هل ذلك بيت؟
Feminine
Tilka + Noun
تلك سيارة
Plural (Non-human)
Tilka + Noun
تلك كتب

Formality Spectrum

Formal
ذلك مبنى ضخم.

ذلك مبنى ضخم. (Describing a landmark.)

Neutral
ذلك مبنى كبير.

ذلك مبنى كبير. (Describing a landmark.)

Informal
هذاك مبنى كبير.

هذاك مبنى كبير. (Describing a landmark.)

Slang
ذاك مبنى كبير.

ذاك مبنى كبير. (Describing a landmark.)

Demonstrative Map

Pointers

Near

  • هذا This (m)
  • هذه This (f)

Far

  • ذلك That (m)
  • تلك That (f)

Gendered Pointers

Masculine
ذلك That
Feminine
تلك That
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Examples by Level

1

ذلك كتابٌ.

That is a book.

2

تلك مدرسةٌ.

That is a school.

3

ذلك بيتٌ.

That is a house.

4

تلك نافذةٌ.

That is a window.

1

هل ذلك رجلٌ؟

Is that a man?

2

تلك ليست سيارتي.

That is not my car.

3

ذلك هو صديقي.

That is my friend.

4

تلك شجرةٌ كبيرةٌ.

That is a big tree.

1

ذلك أمرٌ لا يصدق.

That is unbelievable.

2

تلك كانت أفضل لحظة.

That was the best moment.

3

ذلك ما كنت أبحث عنه.

That is what I was looking for.

4

تلك الفكرة ممتازة.

That idea is excellent.

1

ذلك المشروع يتطلب وقتاً.

That project requires time.

2

تلك السياسات غير عادلة.

Those policies are unfair.

3

ذلك الشخص هو المدير.

That person is the manager.

4

تلك النتائج مذهلة.

Those results are amazing.

1

ذلك هو جوهر المشكلة.

That is the essence of the problem.

2

تلك الحقبة شهدت تغييرات.

That era witnessed changes.

3

ذلك الادعاء يحتاج إثباتاً.

That claim needs proof.

4

تلك المبادئ لا تتغير.

Those principles do not change.

1

ذلك ما أشار إليه الكاتب.

That is what the author pointed to.

2

تلك الرؤية تتجاوز الحاضر.

That vision transcends the present.

3

ذلك التناقض يثير التساؤل.

That contradiction raises questions.

4

تلك كانت ذروة الأحداث.

That was the climax of events.

Easily Confused

Distant Pointers: That & Those (Dhālika, Tilka) vs Hādhā vs Dhālika

Both are demonstratives.

Distant Pointers: That & Those (Dhālika, Tilka) vs Dhālika vs Tilka

Both mean 'that'.

Distant Pointers: That & Those (Dhālika, Tilka) vs Plural usage

Using Dhālika for plural.

Common Mistakes

✗

هذا كتاب بعيد

✓

ذلك كتاب

Don't use 'this' for far objects.
✗

ذلك سيارة

✓

تلك سيارة

Wrong gender for the noun.
✗

ذلك كتب

✓

تلك كتب

Non-human plurals take feminine singular.
✗

ذلك هو يكون كتاب

✓

ذلك كتاب

No 'to be' verb needed.

Sentence Patterns

___ هو صديقي.

___ ليست سيارتي.

هل ___ بيتٌ كبيرٌ؟

___ هي الفكرة التي أعجبتني.

Real World Usage

Travel very common

ذلك الفندق جميل.

Social Media common

تلك صورة رائعة!

Job Interview occasional

ذلك المشروع كان ناجحاً.

Ordering Food common

أريد ذلك الطبق.

Texting constant

ذلك صحيح.

Academic Lecture common

تلك النظرية مهمة.

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💡

Check the Noun

Always look at the noun's ending to decide between Dhālika and Tilka.
⚠️

No 'To Be'

Don't translate 'is' into Arabic in these sentences.
🎯

Plurals

Remember that non-human plurals are feminine singular.
💬

Dialects

Be aware that spoken Arabic often simplifies these forms.

Smart Tips

Use Tilka immediately.

ذلك سيارة → تلك سيارة

Use 'laysa' for masculine, 'laysat' for feminine.

ذلك لا بيت → ذلك ليس بيتاً

Treat them as feminine singular.

ذلك كتب → تلك كتب

Add 'Hal' at the start.

ذلك بيت؟ → هل ذلك بيت؟

Pronunciation

TH-aa-li-ka

Dhālika

The 'dh' is a soft interdental sound.

Statement

ذلك بيتٌ ↘

Falling intonation for facts.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Dhālika is for the 'D'ude (masculine), Tilka is for the 'T'all (feminine) lady.

Visual Association

Imagine a man standing on a distant hill (Dhālika) and a woman standing on a distant tower (Tilka).

Rhyme

Dhālika for the guy, Tilka for the lady in the sky.

Story

I pointed to a distant mountain (Dhālika) and said it was huge. Then I pointed to a distant star (Tilka) and said it was bright. My friend asked if I was sure. I said yes, that is the truth.

Word Web

ذلكتلكبعيدهناكأولئك

Challenge

Point at 5 objects in your room that are far away and name them using Dhālika or Tilka.

Cultural Notes

Often use 'Hadāk' instead of 'Dhālika'.

Often use 'Dah' or 'Dīk'.

Strictly uses 'Dhālika' and 'Tilka'.

Derived from the demonstrative 'dha' plus distance markers.

Conversation Starters

“

ما ذلك؟

“

هل تلك مدرستك؟

“

ما رأيك في ذلك؟

“

هل تلك هي الحقيقة؟

Journal Prompts

Describe three things you see out of your window.
Write about a building you admire.
Discuss a historical event.
Reflect on a life lesson.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ بيتٌ بعيدٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك
Bayt is masculine.
Choose the correct pointer. Multiple Choice

___ سيارةٌ جميلةٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك
Sayyārah is feminine.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ذلك سيارة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك سيارة
Gender mismatch.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

ذلك بيت.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك ليس بيتاً
Use laysa for negation.
Match the pointer to the noun. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-A, 2-B
Gender matching.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Order: [جميلة] [تلك] [شجرة]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك شجرة جميلة
Correct word order.
Choose for plural. Multiple Choice

___ كتبٌ كثيرةٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك
Non-human plural.
Fill in the blank.

هل ___ رجلٌ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك
Rajul is masculine.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ بيتٌ بعيدٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك
Bayt is masculine.
Choose the correct pointer. Multiple Choice

___ سيارةٌ جميلةٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك
Sayyārah is feminine.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

ذلك سيارة.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك سيارة
Gender mismatch.
Change to negative. Sentence Transformation

ذلك بيت.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك ليس بيتاً
Use laysa for negation.
Match the pointer to the noun. Match Pairs

Match: (1) Dhālika (2) Tilka with (A) Kitāb (B) Sayyārah

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-A, 2-B
Gender matching.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Order: [جميلة] [تلك] [شجرة]

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك شجرة جميلة
Correct word order.
Choose for plural. Multiple Choice

___ كتبٌ كثيرةٌ.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تلك
Non-human plural.
Fill in the blank.

هل ___ رجلٌ؟

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذلك
Rajul is masculine.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

12 exercises
Fill in the blank with the correct demonstrative. Fill in the Blank

___ (That) girl is my sister.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تِلْكَ
Match the Arabic word to its English meaning. Match Pairs

Match the demonstratives

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["\u0630\u064e\u0644\u0650\u0643\u064e::That (masc)","\u062a\u0650\u0644\u0652\u0643\u064e::That (fem)","\u0623\u064f\u0648\u0644\u064e\u0626\u0650\u0643\u064e::Those (people)"]
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which sentence means 'That lesson is easy'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ذَلِكَ الدَّرْسُ سَهْلٌ
Fix the gender mismatch. Error Correction

Dhālika al-jāmiʿa kabīra (That university is big).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Change Dhālika to Tilka
Complete the phrase. Fill in the Blank

Look at ___ (those) stars!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تِلْكَ
Translate the demonstrative. Translation

___ (That) computer is old.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dhālika
Which phrase is correct for 'Those teachers'? Multiple Choice

Choose the correct Arabic:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: أُولَئِكَ الْمُعَلِّمُونَ (Ulā'ika al-muʿallimūn)
Select the correct form. Fill in the Blank

I don't like ___ (that) idea.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تِلْكَ
Correct the non-human plural mistake. Error Correction

Ulā'ika al-aqlām (Those pens).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tilka al-aqlām
Connect the noun to the correct distant pointer. Match Pairs

Match noun to pointer

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ["Boy (walad)::Dh\u0101lika","Car (sayy\u0101ra)::Tilka","Doctors (a\u1e6dibb\u0101')::Ul\u0101'ika","Dogs (kil\u0101b)::Tilka"]
Identify the abstract usage. Multiple Choice

How to say 'That is impossible'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dhālika mustaḥīl
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Do you remember ___ (that) night?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: تِلْكَ

Score: /12

FAQ (8)

Books are non-human plurals, which are treated as feminine singular in Arabic.

No, you must use Tilka for feminine nouns.

No, Arabic nominal sentences don't use 'is'.

Dhālika and Tilka are used for all distant objects.

Use 'laysa' for masculine and 'laysat' for feminine.

Standard Arabic uses them, but dialects have variations.

Yes, but only for singular people.

Hādhā is for near, Dhālika is for far.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Aquel/Aquella

Spanish has three degrees of distance, Arabic has two.

French moderate

Ce/Cette/Cela

French relies on context or suffixes (-ci/-là).

German moderate

Jener/Jene

German is more complex due to case endings.

Japanese low

Are

Japanese is not gendered.

Chinese low

Nà

Chinese is not gendered.

Arabic high

Dhālika

N/A

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Arabic 'This': Using (هذا & هذه)
Next
The 'Lego' Suffixes: Me, You, Him (-nī, -ka, -hu)

Learn These First

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