šajā / tajā / šo / to

This and That in Other Cases

Level 2

The pointing words change with their noun: šajā mājā (in this house), tajā dienā (on that day), šo grāmatu (this book, as an object), ar to cilvēku (with that person).

How It Works

1. Singular. Masculine / feminine:

  • nominative: šis / šī, tas / tā
  • genitive: šā / šīs, tā / tās
  • dative: šim / šai, tam / tai
  • accusative: šo, to (both genders)
  • instrumental: ar šo, ar to (both genders)
  • locative: šajā, tajā (both genders)

For the masculine genitive of šis you will also often see šī: šī gada next to šā gada (of this year).

2. Plural. Masculine / feminine:

  • nominative: šie / šīs, tie / tās
  • genitive: šo, to (both genders)
  • dative: šiem / šīm, tiem / tām
  • accusative: šos / šīs, tos / tās
  • instrumental: ar šiem / ar šīm, ar tiem / ar tām
  • locative: šajos / šajās, tajos / tajās

3. Other spellings. You will also meet šinī and tanī for šajā and tajā, and šai in set phrases like šai ziņā (in this respect). Šajā and tajā are the everyday forms.

4. Forms that look alike. Tā is "that" with a feminine noun (tā māja), but it is also the masculine genitive: tā cilvēka vārds (that person's name). To is the singular object form, and also the plural genitive. The noun's ending tells you which one it is.

5. Time phrases. The locative is common with time words: tajā dienā (on that day), šajā nedēļā (this week), tajā laikā (at that time).

For the nominative forms, see this and that. An adjective after these words usually takes the definite ending: šajā lielajā mājā. See definite adjectives after my and this. The question word kas changes in a similar way: ko, kam and kā.

Examples (6)

  1. Es dzīvoju šajā mājā.

    I live in this house.

    Locative: šajā mājā.

  2. Tajā dienā lija lietus.

    It rained that day.

    Tajā dienā answers when: on that day.

  3. Es gribu šo grāmatu.

    I want this book.

    As an object, šī grāmata becomes šo grāmatu.

  4. Vai tu runāji ar to cilvēku?

    Did you talk to that person?

    After ar, tas cilvēks becomes to cilvēku.

  5. Iedod, lūdzu, šo vēstuli tam zēnam.

    Please give this letter to that boy.

    Dative masculine: tam zēnam.

  6. Es nepazīstu tos cilvēkus.

    I don't know those people.

    Masculine accusative plural: tos cilvēkus.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the nominative šī in the locative.

    Es dzīvoju šī mājā.
    Es dzīvoju šajā mājā.

    In the locative, šis and šī both become šajā: šajā mājā.

  • Using šī for a feminine object.

    Es gribu šī grāmatu.
    Es gribu šo grāmatu.

    As an object, both genders use šo: šo grāmatu, šo galdu.

  • Leaving tas unchanged after ar.

    Vai tu runāji ar tas cilvēks?
    Vai tu runāji ar to cilvēku?

    After ar, both words change: tas cilvēks → ar to cilvēku.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

šajā / tajā / šo / toLevel 2This and That in Other Cases

Learn This First

Šis and tas agree with the noun in gender, number and case, using their own case forms.

Words in This Pattern

šītajāšimšaitai