Demonstrative Pronouns

1 Inflection

The demonstrative pronouns are shown in the following table.

Singular	Plural
tämä	nämä
tuo	nuo
se	ne

The demonstrative are declined in all cases. Some adverbial cases are also possible.

2 Usage

Demonstrative pronouns can stand alone or be used with a noun. When used with a noun, the demonstrative pronoun is between a preposition and attributes.

preposition + demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun

demonstrative pronoun + attributes + noun + postposition

2.1 Tämä and nämä

The pronouns tämä 'this' and nämä 'these' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are close to or within the reach of the speaker.

Tämä on hauskaa!	This is funny! (The speaker is participating in an action that he or she likes.)
Tämä kirja on uusi.	This book is new. (The speaker is holding the book in his or her hand or it is close to him or her.)

Tämä and nämä are declined according to the word they determine.

tässä suuressa kirjassa	in this big book
näissä suurissa kirjoissa	in these big books
ennen tätä kaunista päivää	before this nice day
näiden kauniiden päivien jälkeen	after these nice days

2.2 Tuo and nuo

The pronouns tuo 'that' and nuo 'those' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are far or not within the reach of the speaker, but they can be detected by the speaker.

Tuo on hauskaa!	That is funny! (The speaker is watching an action that he or she likes.)
Tuo kirja on uusi.	That book is new. (The speaker is seeing the book on the table, but he or she cannot reach it.)

Tuo and nuo are declined according to the word they determine.

tuohon vanhaan taloon	into that old house
noista uusista autoista	out of those new cars
tuon synkän metsän keskellä	in the middle of that dark forest
ennen noita kiireisiä ihmisiä	before those hurry people

2.3 Se and ne

The pronouns se 'it, the, such' and ne 'they, the, such' are used to point out objects, people, or actions that are unpresent or within the reach of the listener only.

Se on hauskaa!	It is funny! (The speaker has heard of an action that he or she likes.)
Se kirja on uusi.	The/That book is new. (The speaker is seeing the listener hold the book in his or her hand or the book is not present in the room where the speaker is.)

Se and ne are declined according to the word they determine.

sille vanhalle pöydälle	onto the/that old table
niiden pienten lasten	of the/those little children
siihen viimeiseen päivään asti	until the/that last day
kesken niiden pitkien puheluiden	in the middle of the/those long telephone calls