Editing Suzhou dialect (section)

===Demonstrative===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="2" | Proximal
! colspan="2" | Neutral
! colspan="2" | Distal
|-
| 哀
| e1
| rowspan="2" | 搿
| rowspan="2" | geq8
| 弯
| ue1
|-
| 该
| ke1
| 归
| kue1
|}

In the Suzhou dialect, ''geq8'' {{IPA|/ɡəʔ/ [gə̯]}} is a very special demonstrative that is used alongside a separate set of proximal and distal demonstratives. ''geq8'' can indicate referents appearing in a speech situation, which may be close to or far away from the deictic center, and under these conditions, ''geq8'' is always used in combination with gestures. Hence ''geq8'' can serve both proximal and distal functions.<ref>{{Citation|last=Chen|first=Yujie|editor1-first=Hilary M|editor1-last=Chappell|title=The semantic differentiation of demonstratives in Sinitic languages|date=2015|url=https://oxford.universitypressscholarship.com/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198723790.001.0001/acprof-9780198723790-chapter-4|work=Diversity in Sinitic Languages|place=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198723790.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-872379-0|access-date=2021-12-06|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

哀 with 该 and 弯 with 归 means exactly the same thing and only differ in pronunciation. 
The use of neutral demonstrative pronoun became clear once proximal and neutral demonstrative pronouns are used.

* 哀杯茶是吾葛，掰杯茶是僚葛，弯杯茶是俚葛。

When "搿" refers to time, there is no need to use the proximal and distal in opposition. The role of the neutral demonstrative is very obvious.

* 抗战是民国二十六年到民国三十四年，掰歇(弯歇)辰光日脚勿好过。

In this sentence, "掰歇(弯歇)" cannot be replaced by "哀歇" because the Anti-Japanese War happened more than fifty years ago, so only the neutral or distal demonstrative can be used, not proximal.

When not referring to time, the proximal "哀" and the neutral demonstrative "掰" can be interchanged. For example, the "掰" in "掰个人勿认得" can be replaced by "哀".

"哀", "该", "掰", "弯" and "归" cannot be used as subjects or objects alone, but must be combined with the following quantifiers, locative words, etc.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! colspan="2" | Suzhou
! Mandarin
! English
|-
| 哀葛
| e1 keq7
| 这个
| this (thing)
|-
| 哀点
| e1 tie3
| 这些
| these
|-
| 哀歇
| e1 shieq3
| 这时候
| this (moment)
|-
| 哀呛
| e1 tie3
| 这阵子
| this (period)
|-
| 哀面
| e1 mie6
| 这边
| this (side)
|-
| 哀搭
| e1 taeq7
| 这里
| this place (here)
|}

Example phrases:
* 哀歇啥辰光则？
现在什么时候了？
What time is it now?
* 哀呛倷身体好啘？
现阵子你身体好吗？
How are you now?