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Tïjonïk 35 Je wa’ we nukaslemal! (This is my life!)
Demonstrative Pronouns

Introduction

Pronouns are words that can substitute for nouns, names and phrases. Similar to demonstrative articles, demonstrative pronouns also indicate closeness or visibility to the speaker. The demonstrative pronouns are wa’, la’ and ri’.  When they appear by themselves, they are postponed to the noun. Their forms correspond to the demonstrative articles:

KEMCHI’Grammar

 

wa’ This (very close to speaker, companion to we)

1.

Chikop wa’.
This (here very close) is an animal

2.

Are wa’.
This (here very close) is it.

la’ That (one over there; in the vision field of the speaker, or spoken as if it were) companion to le)

3.

Me’s la’.
That one (over there) is a cat.

ri’ That (not present to the vision of the speaker, something done in the past, or not yet done, event in the future, companion of ri)

4.

Kej ri’.
That is a horse.

The following example show how these pronouns function as substitutes for nouns, verbs, phrases:

5.

Ajchak we ala.
This boy is a worker.

6.

Ajchak wa’.
This here is a worker.

7.

Nim we ab’aj.
This rock is big.

8.

Nim wa’.
This one is big.

9.

Utz we kinchakuj.
I like this work (I like what I am working on/laboring over).

10.

Utz wa’.
This is good!

11.

Xkos le achi.
That man is tired.

12.

Xkos la’.
That one is tired out.

13.

K’a’n le tz’i’.
That is a mean dog.

14.

K’a’n la’.
That is a mean one

15.

Utz le xub’ij le achi.
That which the man said was good.

16.

Utz la’.
That’s good

17.

Jachin ri achi?
Who is that man?

18.

Jachin ri’?
Who is that?

19.

Xpax ri b’o’j.
 That pot broke.

20.

Xpax ri’.
It (that) broke.

21.

K’ax ri kach’awik.
It is harsh the way he speaks.

22.

K’ax ri’.
That is harsh.

Demonstrative pronouns can be used together with demonstrative articles to intensify them. In this case the demonstrative pronouns precedes the demonstrative article. Non-third person pronouns can also be emphasized by a demonstrative pronoun:

23.

Wa’ we achi.
This man here

24.

La’ le achi.
That man over there.

25.

Ri’ ri achi.
That very man.

26.

In wa’ we kiny’ow le tzijonem.
I am the one here giving the lecture

27.

La at ri’ ri katyo’w le tzijonem?
Are you the one here giving the lecture?

 

Demonstrative pronouns combine with the demonstrative article/relative pronoun to from relative clauses:

28.

K’ax ri’ ri kach’awik.
It is difficult/harsh what he is saying.

29.

Utz la’ le xub’ij le achi.
It is good what the man said

 

Demonstrative pronouns may combine with are (independent personal pronoun) to form stative predicates:

30.

Are wa’ nuwuj.
This here is my book.

31.

A’re wa’ e wal.
These here are my children

32.

Are la’ kinchakuj.
That is my work.

33.

A’re la’ e ral.
Those are her/his children.

34.

Are ri’ qo’ch.
That over there is our house.

35. 

A’re ri’ a’jk’ayib’.
Those are the merchants.

36.

In wa’ in ral le al Mari’y.
I am the son of Mari’y.

37.

La oj wa’ oj ajtijab’?
Are we the teachers here?

 

Together with je’ demonstratives indicate manner or direction:

38.

Je wa’ le nukej.
My horse is like this.

39.

Je wa’ we nukaslemal.
This is my life!

40.

Je wa’ katpetik.
You come this way.

41.

Je wa’ kixpe wi.
You all come this way.

42.

Je la’ xub’ij le achi chwe.
Like that, there, said the man to me.

43.

Xeb’e le winaq je la’.
The people went that way.

44.

Je ri’ kachakun ri achi.
This is the man’s work. Lit: The man works like that

CHAK KECH TIJOXELAB’Exercises

Translate the following phrases to English:

  1. Nim achak wa’ we kachakuj.
  2. Jachin la’?
  3. Kape chi na ri’ chwe’q?
  4. La’ xujuch’ab’ej iwir.
  5. Jas che na kasipaj ta wa’ chqe?
  6. Chajij alaq ronojel la’ le ximb’ij chech alaq.
  7. Are ri’ nutz’i’ ri xink’ayij che ri achi.
  8. La are la’ ri tinamit ri kab’e wi na la?
  9. Are wa’ xub’ij ri nutat chwe aretaq ximb’e ruk’ pa chak.
  10. A’re la’ e ral le ixoq le xch’aw quk’ iwir.
  11. Je la’ kel le b’e le kab’e’ pa tinamit.
  12. Je ri’ kach’aw le watz.
  13. Kixok’owa je wa’.
  14. Xo’k’ow ri’ ri winaq.
  15. K’ax xub’ij ri’ ri achi chwe.

Translate the following phrases to K’iche’:

  1. This one is sick
  2. This man here will go with us tomorrow.
  3. That man there gave us the land as a gift
  4. These are the man’s horses.
  5. That is our house there.
  6. Those (not present) are good children.
  7. My house is like that one there.
  8. The sick one was cured over there.
  9. The boy’s clothes are like these.
  10. That one died yesterday.