Demonstrative Adjectives and their Pronouns
There are three demonstrative adjectives in Spanish: este (this), ese (that), and aquel (that over there). Each exhibits four forms to encompass the noun's gender as well as whether or not it is singular or plural. This shouldn't be a surprise to learners of Spanish; most every adjective will be modified to fit the corresponding noun.
Este contains the following forms:
Este pupitre está sucio. Límpiamelo, por favor. This desk is filthy. Clean it for me, please.
Esta taza de café está tan caliente. This cup of coffee is too hot.
Estos libros son antiguos. These books are old.
Estas tiendas contienen de una variedad de verduras. These stores contain a variety of produce.
The demonstrative ese refers to "that", usually near the person you are talking to. It carries with it a sense of tangibility or physicality.
Me gusta ese suéter que llevas. ¿Donde lo compraste? I like that sweater you're wearing. Where did you buy it?
¿Me dejarías ver esas fotos? Would you let me see those photos?
Aquel is meant to point out an object that is removed from both the speaker and the listener; it is also the demonstrative for metaphysical or non-tangible objects or ideas.
Aquel amor que se sintía de ella era profundo. That love he felt for her was profound.
¿Te acuerdas de aquellas casas que vimos en Beverly Hills? Eran grandes y maravillosas. Do you remember those houses that we saw in Beverly Hills? They were big and marvelous.
Without exception, demonstrative adjectives can also act as pronouns by simply dropping the noun associated with it. Careful; this can only occur when the noun is understood or clarified. An accent (sometimes omitted) is placed on the second-to-last syllable to emphasize the sounding of the demonstrative pronoun:
¿Qué camisa te gusta...ésta o ésa? Which tee shirt do you like...this one or that one?
Me encantan las verduras naturales. No me gustan éstas porque están heladas. I like fresh vegetables. I don't like these because they are frozen.
There are also three demonstratives that are considered neutral: esto, eso and aquello. These usually point out an abstract notion or non-physical noun, such as an idea or concept:
Esto es tan malo. ¿Qué vamos a hacer? This is really bad. What are we going to do?
Eso me molesta increíblemente. That bothers me incredibly.
¿Te acuerdas del viaje que hicimos a Europa? Aquello ocurrió hace muchos años. Do you remember the trip that we did to Europe? That happened along time ago.
Este contains the following forms:
| Singular | ||
| Plural |
The demonstrative ese refers to "that", usually near the person you are talking to. It carries with it a sense of tangibility or physicality.
| Singular | ||
| Plural |
Aquel is meant to point out an object that is removed from both the speaker and the listener; it is also the demonstrative for metaphysical or non-tangible objects or ideas.
| Singular | ||
| Plural |
Without exception, demonstrative adjectives can also act as pronouns by simply dropping the noun associated with it. Careful; this can only occur when the noun is understood or clarified. An accent (sometimes omitted) is placed on the second-to-last syllable to emphasize the sounding of the demonstrative pronoun:
There are also three demonstratives that are considered neutral: esto, eso and aquello. These usually point out an abstract notion or non-physical noun, such as an idea or concept:
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