Demonstratives
If the object is very close to the speaker use:
1. este= this
a. singular/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –o
b. este libro= this book
2. esta= this
a. singular/ feminine= the next word probably ends in an –a
i. esta silla= this chair
3. estos=these
a. plural/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –os
i. estos libros= these books
4. estas=these
a. plural/feminine= the next word probably ends in an –as
i. estas sillas=these chairs
If the object is close to the speaker but not too close:
1. ese= that
a. singular/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –o
i. ese libro= that book
2. esa= that
a. singular/ feminine= the next word probably ends in an –a
i. esa silla= that chair
3. esos=those
a. plural/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –os
i. esos libros= those books
4. esas=those
a. plural/feminine= the next word probably ends in an –as
i. esas sillas=those chairs
If the object is far away from the speaker:
1. aquel= that
a. singular/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –o
i. aquel libro= that book
2. aquella= that
a. singular/ feminine= the next word probably ends in an –a
i. aquella silla= that chair
3. aquellos=those
a. plural/masculine= the next word probably ends in an –os
i. aquellos libros= those books
4. aquellas=those
a. plural/feminine= the next word probably ends in an –as
i. aquellas sillas=those chairs
DEMONSTRATIVES
Pattern:
Demonstrative adjectives clarify which object the speaker is referring
to. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace or
modify.
In English, the demonstrative adjectives and pronouns are the same (this, that, these, those).
English only has two options, nearest the speaker (this/these) or close to the speaker (that/those).
In Spanish, there are three options: nearest the speaker (este), close to the speaker (ese), and farthest from the speaker (aquel). Don't forget to choose the form of each that matches the noun!
Spanish demonstrative adjectives:
este [esta, estos, estas], ese [esa, esos, esas], aquel [aquella, aquellos, aquellas]
Demonstrative Adjectives
Adjectives
are words that add information about nouns. In the case of
demonstrative adjectives, the information added is regarding spacial
relationship.
Here is an example in English:
This apple is sweet. That apple is sweeter.
In Spanish, there is an additional option: a far away object. Here is an example:
Esta manzana es dulce. Esa manzana es más dulce. Aquella manzana es la más dulce de todas.
(This apple is sweet. That apple is sweeter. That far away apple is the sweetest of all.)
Examples
Remember that demonstrative adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they are modifying.
este
este libro = this book
estos libros = these books
esta silla = this chair
estas sillas = these chairs
ese
ese plato = that plate
esos platos = those plates
esa chica = that girl
esas chicas = those girls
aquel
aquel carro = that car (way over there)
aquellos carros = those cars (way over there)
aquella casa = that house (way over there)
aquellas casas = those houses (way over there)
