Demonstrative Pronouns with 'sı, si, sü, su'

01

As the Subject: Using the -sı Suffix

When these words function as the subject of a sentence, they cannot stand alone. They must take the third-person possessive suffix, which follows four-way vowel harmony: -sı, -si, -su, or -sü.

This changes the words to:

• burası - this place
• şurası - that place (nearby)
• orası - that place (far)
• neresi - which place

In this form, the word itself is the main topic of the sentence.

• Burası çok soğuk.

  This place is very cold.

• Orası bir müze mi?

  Is that place a museum?

• Türkiye'nin en güzel yeri neresi?

  Where is the most beautiful place in Turkey?

02

In Other Roles: Using Case Suffixes

When these words are not the subject but instead specify the location, origin, or destination of an action, they take case suffixes directly, without the possessive -sı.

Locative (-da / -de): at, in

This suffix indicates a static location.

• Anahtarlarım burada değil.

  My keys are not here.

• Orada kimse yok.

  There is no one there.

• Toplantı nerede?

  Where is the meeting?

Dative (-a / -e): to

This suffix indicates direction towards a place. A buffer letter 'y' is added because the root words end in a vowel.

• Lütfen buraya oturun.

  Please sit here (to this place).

• Oraya nasıl gidebilirim?

  How can I go there?

• Nereye bakıyorsun?

  Where are you looking (to)?

Ablative (-dan / -den): from

This suffix indicates origin or movement away from a place.

• Buradan çıkalım.

  Let's get out of here (from this place).

• Oradan bir ses geldi.

  A sound came from there.

• Nereden geliyorsunuz?

  Where are you coming from?

03

Direct Comparison: Subject vs. Other Roles

Notice the clear difference in meaning and function. The -sı form identifies the place, while the case suffix forms locate an action or object relative to the place.

Identifying the place (Subject)

• Burası benim ofisim.

  This place is my office.

Locating something within the place

• Benim ofisim burada.

  My office is here.

Identifying the place (Subject)

• Orası çok kalabalık.

  That place is very crowded.

Moving away from the place

• Oradan hemen uzaklaş.

  Get away from there immediately.

Asking to identify the place (Subject)

• Burası neresi?

  What is this place? (lit. "This place is which place?")

Asking for a location

• Postane nerede?

  Where is the post office?