Demonstratives
Este, Ese, Aquel: Your Guide to Pointing Things Out in Spanish
Table of Contents
Learning Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will understand the concept of demonstratives in Spanish and identify their different types including near, middledistance, and far demonstratives. You will practice using demonstratives as both adjectives and pronouns to indicate objects' relative distance. Additionally, you will demonstrate proficiency in combining spatial adverbs with demonstratives to specify locations accurately in practical scenarios.
What are Demonstratives?
Demonstratives are words that indicate the relative distance of something from the speaker.
They are essential for pointing out specific people, places, or things and answer the question "Which one?"
In Spanish, demonstratives can function as:
Adjectives:
They modify a noun, providing more information about it.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| este libro | this book | ||
| esa mesa | that table | ||
| aquella casa | that house |
Pronouns:
They replace a noun that has already been mentioned.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Cuál libro quieres? Quiero este. | Which book do you want? I want this one. | ||
| ¿Te gusta esta camisa o esa? | Do you like this shirt or that one? | ||
| Entre todos los carros, prefiero aquel. | Among all the cars, I prefer that one. |
Demonstrative adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
According to the latest rules from the Real Academia Española (RAE), demonstrative pronouns no longer require accent marks.
Near Demonstratives
Near Demonstratives indicate objects that are very close to or within reach of the speaker.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| este | this | masculine, singular | |
| esta | this | feminine, singular | |
| estos | these | masculine, plural | |
| estas | these | feminine, plural |
Middle-Distance Demonstratives
Middle-Distance Demonstratives indicate objects that are at a moderate distance or near the listener.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ese | that | masculine, singular | |
| esa | that | feminine, singular | |
| esos | these | masculine, plural | |
| esas | these | feminine, plural |
Far Demonstratives
Far Demonstratives indicate objects that are far away from both the speaker and the listener.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| aquel | that (over there) | masculine, singular | |
| aquella | that (over there) | feminine, singular | |
| aquellos | those (over there) | masculine, plural | |
| aquellas | those (over there) | feminine, plural |
Spatial Adverbs (Adverbios de lugar)
Spatial adverbs work together with demonstratives to indicate location. Like demonstratives, they follow a three-level distance system.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| aquí/acá | here | Very close to or at the speaker's location | |
| ahí | there | Near the listener or at a moderate distance | |
| allí/allá | over there | Far from both speaker and listener |
While aquí/acá and allí/allá are often interchangeable, acá and allá tend to indicate a more general area, while aquí and allí point to more specific locations.
| Spanish | English | Information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| este libro aquí | this book here | ||
| esa casa ahí | that house there | ||
| aquel árbol allí | that tree over there |
Conclusion
Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns words help us indicate specific objects, people, or concepts while conveying their relative distance from the speaker and listener. By using the three-level system of este/ese/aquel and their variations, you can precisely point out things in your environment.
Remember that while the rules may seem complex at first, regular practice in real-world situations will help you develop an intuitive feel for which demonstrative to use.