aanwijsend

Aanwijzend is a term used in Dutch grammar to describe words that indicate or point to a referent in discourse. The standard spelling in modern Dutch is aanwijzend; aanwijsend is less common and is typically considered a variant or a present participle form related to aanwijzen. The concept covers two main subcategories: aanwijzende bepalers (demonstrative determiners) and aanwijzende voornaamwoorden (demonstrative pronouns).

Demonstrative determiners modify a noun and specify which entity is being referred to. Examples include deze, dit, dat, en die as used with nouns: Deze stoel is nieuw. Dit boek is interessant. Dat huis ziet er oud uit. Die kaarten liggen hier; they indicate proximity or distance and help identify the referent within the discourse.

Demonstrative pronouns stand in for a noun. Examples include Dit is mooi. Dat kost veel. Die gaan naar huis. In these cases, the demonstrative replaces the noun rather than modifying it directly, functioning as a deictic reference that points to a previously mentioned or understood entity.

Etymology and function: the term is derived from the verb aanwijzen (to indicate, to point out) with the prefix aan- and the participial ending -end. In Dutch grammar, aanwijzende woorden serve as deixis, anchoring references in time, space, or context.

See also: deixis, demonstrative pronouns, demonstrative determiners, Dutch grammar.