Demonstratives (bu, şu, o)
Learn to use 'this', 'that' (nearby), and 'that' (far away)
Three-Way Distance System
Turkish has three demonstratives based on distance from the speaker:
bu - this (near speaker)
şu - that (middle distance)
o - that (far from both)
These can be used alone or before nouns.
Bu kalembu = this (near me)
Şu kitapşu = that (middle distance)
O arabao = that (far)
Using Demonstratives Alone
Demonstratives can stand alone as pronouns meaning 'this one' or 'that one'.
Bu güzelbu used alone
Şu benimşu used alone
O ne?o used alone
With Suffixes
Demonstratives can take case endings and other suffixes following vowel harmony.
Bunlar kitapbu + lar (plural) = bunlar
Bunu alıyorumbu + u (accusative) = bunu
Exercises
Complete: __ ev benim (This house is mine)
Answer: Bu
bu = this (near speaker)
Translate: That pen (middle distance)
Answer: Şu kalem
şu = that (middle distance) + kalem
Which demonstrative for something far away?
Answer: o
o = that (far from both speaker and listener)