Questions & Answers about यह दवा ज़हर नहीं है।
Why does यह mean this here? I thought it could also mean he or it.
Yes—यह can mean this, he, or it depending on context.
In this sentence, यह दवा means this medicine, so यह is working as a demonstrative adjective, like this in English.
A few examples:
- यह दवा = this medicine
- यह आदमी = this man
- यह अच्छा है = this/he/it is good depending on context
Hindi often uses the same word where English uses different words.
Why is the word order यह दवा ज़हर नहीं है instead of something closer to English word order?
Hindi usually follows Subject – Object/Complement – Verb order, while English usually follows Subject – Verb – Complement.
So:
- यह दवा = subject
- ज़हर = complement
- नहीं है = is not
Literally, the structure is closer to:
- This medicine poison not is
That is normal Hindi word order.
What exactly does दवा mean?