Demonstratives (es, eg, is)
Three-way demonstratives: es (near me), eg (near you), is (far from both).
I can point to things with es, eg and is depending on where they are.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ეს ჩემი დედაა.
This is my mother.
ეგ რა არის?
What is that (you have)?
ის მთა ძალიან მაღალია.
That mountain is very high.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Demonstratives
Georgian points in three steps, not two: ეს = this (near the speaker), ეგ = that (near the listener), ის = that over there (far from both). English merges ეგ and ის into one "that".
Typical use of ეგ: asking about something the other person is holding - ეგ რა არის? (What is that in your hand?).
Using only ეს/ის like English this/that and forgetting ეგ for things near the listener. Confusing demonstrative ის with the personal pronoun ის (same word, context decides).
Common Error Patterns
Two-way pointing instead of three-way
Practice the speaker/listener/far distinction with classroom objects.
ეს ჩემი დედაა.
This is my mother.
ეს = this (near me); დედაა = დედა + -ა (is).
ეგ რა არის?
What is that (you have)?
ეგ = that near you - the form English lacks.
ის მთა ძალიან მაღალია.
That mountain is very high.
ის = that over there, far from both speakers.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises