Demonstrative Pronouns: 'This' (এটা - eta) and 'That' (ওটা - ota)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'eta' for things close to you and 'ota' for things further away.
- Use 'eta' (এটা) for objects near the speaker: 'Eta amar boi' (This is my book).
- Use 'ota' (ওটা) for objects at a distance: 'Ota ki?' (What is that?).
- These pronouns do not change based on gender or plurality in basic A1 usage.
Demonstrative Pronoun Usage
| Pronoun | Bengali | Distance | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
This
|
Eta
|
Near
|
Objects within reach
|
|
That
|
Ota
|
Far
|
Objects at a distance
|
|
These
|
Eta
|
Near
|
Plural objects (contextual)
|
|
Those
|
Ota
|
Far
|
Plural objects (contextual)
|
Common Variations
| Standard | Emphatic |
|---|---|
|
Eta
|
Eita
|
|
Ota
|
Oita
|
Meanings
These pronouns identify the location of an object relative to the speaker.
Proximal (Near)
Referring to an object within reach or immediate vicinity.
“Eta amar kolam.”
“Eta ki?”
Distal (Far)
Referring to an object that is visible but not within immediate reach.
“Ota amar bag.”
“Ota ki okhane?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Eta + Noun
|
Eta amar boi
|
|
Negative
|
Eta + Noun + na
|
Eta amar boi na
|
|
Question
|
Eta + ki + Noun?
|
Eta ki tomar boi?
|
|
Distal
|
Ota + Noun
|
Ota amar gari
|
|
Distal Question
|
Ota + ki + Noun?
|
Ota ki tomar gari?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Hyan/Na
|
Hyan, eta amar.
|
正式程度
Eta amar boi. (General identification)
Eta amar boi. (General identification)
Eta amar boi. (General identification)
Eta amar boi. (General identification)
Demonstrative Distance Map
Proximal
- Eta This
Distal
- Ota That
按水平分级的例句
Eta amar boi.
This is my book.
Ota ki?
What is that?
Eta khub bhalo.
This is very good.
Ota amar bari.
That is my house.
Eta ki tomar kolam?
Is this your pen?
Ota amar bondhur gari.
That is my friend's car.
Eta amar pochondo na.
I don't like this.
Ota ki okhane?
Is that over there?
Eta shunte khub ajib lagche.
This sounds very strange.
Ota korar kono dorkar nei.
There is no need to do that.
Eta amar jonno ekta boro sujog.
This is a big opportunity for me.
Ota ami agei bolechilam.
I already said that before.
Eta ekta jatil somossa, kintu ota somadhan kora sombhob.
This is a complex problem, but that can be solved.
Ota jodi hoy, tobe eta amar jonno bhalo.
If that happens, then this is good for me.
Eta amader somajer ekta boro dik.
This is a major aspect of our society.
Ota bhabar somoy ekhon nei.
Now is not the time to think about that.
Eta ke kebolmatro ekta choto bhul hisebe dekha uchit na.
This should not be viewed as just a small mistake.
Ota je amader bhabishyat ke probhabito korbe, ta nishchit.
It is certain that that will influence our future.
Eta amader purono obbhash.
This is our old habit.
Ota chara ar kono upay nei.
There is no other way except that.
Eta je koto boro ekta bishoy, ta apni kalponao korte parben na.
You cannot imagine how big this matter is.
Ota jodi amader kache ashe, tobe eta ekta boro joy.
If that comes to us, then this is a big victory.
Eta amader itihasher ekta onno odhyay.
This is another chapter of our history.
Ota niye ami ar kichu bolte chai na.
I don't want to say anything more about that.
容易混淆
Learners think they are different words.
Both refer to distance.
Both refer to 'here'.
常见错误
Eta-ra boi
Eta boi
Ota amar boi-er
Ota amar boi
Eta boi na
Eta boi na
Eta ki boi?
Eta ki boi?
Eita amar-er boi
Eita amar boi
Ota-te amar boi
Ota amar boi
Eta ki?
Eta ki?
Eta bhalo hoyeche
Eta bhalo
Ota ami korbo na
Ota ami korbo na
Eta-i amar boi
Eta amar boi
Eta-r upor
Eta-r upor
Ota-te ami jabo
Ota-te ami jabo
Eta-i holo amar boi
Eta amar boi
句型
___ amar boi.
___ ki tomar?
___ bhalo, kintu ___ bhalo na.
Ami ___ chai.
Real World Usage
Eta koto?
Eta dekho!
Ota ki station?
Eta amar order.
Eta amar obhigyota.
Eta amar chobi.
Keep it simple
Distance matters
Use gestures
Politeness
Smart Tips
Always point to the object.
Use rising intonation.
Use 'ota' for things already mentioned.
Use 'eita' instead of 'eta'.
发音
Eta
Pronounced as 'eh-ta'.
Ota
Pronounced as 'oh-ta'.
Question
Eta ki? ↗
Rising intonation for questions.
记住它
记忆技巧
Eta is near (E-ta), Ota is over there (O-ta).
视觉联想
Imagine holding a book close to your chest (Eta) and pointing at a bird in the sky (Ota).
Rhyme
Eta is here, near to my hand, Ota is there, across the land.
Story
I hold my phone (Eta) and look at the mountain (Ota). I say, 'Eta amar phone, ota amar swapno.'
Word Web
挑战
Point to 3 things near you and say 'Eta [name]', then 3 things far away and say 'Ota [name]'.
文化笔记
Used daily in markets and homes.
Similar usage, but occasionally 'eita' is more common.
Pronunciation might vary slightly.
Derived from Old Indo-Aryan roots.
对话开场白
Eta ki?
Eta tomar boi?
Eta bhalo na ota bhalo?
Eta niye ki bhabcho?
日记主题
常见错误
Test Yourself
___ amar boi.
___ (That) amar gari.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eta-ra boi.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
What is this?
Answer starts with: a...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Eta ki? B: ___.
Use 'Eta' and 'amar'.
Score: /8
练习题
8 exercises___ amar boi.
___ (That) amar gari.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eta-ra boi.
boi / amar / Eta
What is this?
This / That
A: Eta ki? B: ___.
Use 'Eta' and 'amar'.
Score: /8
常见问题 (8)
Usually no, use 'e' or 'ini' for people.
No, it stays 'eta'.
It is neutral.
It is an emphatic form of 'eta'.
Yes, 'eta' can refer to a time or event.
Use 'eta' as a default.
Yes, often.
Yes, 'ei' and 'oi' (this/that).
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
esto/eso
Spanish has gendered forms.
ceci/cela
French uses different structures for objects vs people.
dies/das
German has complex case endings.
kore/sore
Japanese has a three-way system (kore/sore/are).
hadha/dhalika
Arabic is gendered.
zhe/na
Chinese requires measure words.