Pronombre demonstrativo
Demonstrative pronouns are referring pronouns, e.g. this or that.
In Spanish, there are three demonstrative pronouns that refer to three different spatial relationships between the speaker and the person or thing to which they refer:
este (this/these), ese (that), aquel (those)
| este | ese | coche | this car here | that car there |
| esta | esa | camisa | this shirt here | that shirt there |
| estos | esos | niños | these kids here | that kids there |
| estas | esas | sillas | these chairs here | that chairs thee |
| esto | eso | — | this here | that there |
| aquel | coche | those car there |
| aquella | camisa | those shirt there |
| aquellos | niños | those kids there |
| aquellas | sillas | those chairs there |
| aquello | — | those there |
Este – esta – esto
- is local or temporal in the immediate vicinity of the speaker
Example.: Este libro que esto leyendo es muy triste.
Esa – esa – eso
- is not locally or temporally in the immediate vicinity of the speaker
Example.: Esas niñas gritan mucho.
Aquel – aquella – aquello
- is not local or temporal near the speaker – further away
Example: Aquellas personas no tienen dinero.
The demonstrative pronouns can be supplemented by local adverbs:
Este / esta / estos / estas de aquí – this/these here
Ese / esa / esos / esas de ahí – this/these there
Aquel / aquella / aquellos / aquelllas de allí – those there
Demonstrative pronouns, like all pronouns, replace a noun. However, these pronouns can also stand as a demonstrative companion before the noun. To better distinguish between demonstrative pronouns earlier pronouns were pronouns with an accent. However, this is no longer necessary today.
However, the pronouns esto, eso, aquello never stand for a noun. They are always used as pronouns. They do not necessarily have to refer to something that has already been mentioned. They may also indicate a thing or a fact.
¿Para qué es eso? – ¿Esto? Se usa para pintar.
¿Qué significa esto? – Todo esto es para el evento y aquello es un regalo.
Besides, it is often used in phrases or fixed expressions, such as:
Eso es – that’s right, yes
Eso sí – Yes
Por eso – Therefore
A eso de las – about (times)
Eso mismo – exactly
No por eso – nonetheless
Y eso que – And that regardless of the fact, that
¿y eso? – why?
Exercise:
este – esta – esto – ese – esa – eso – aquel – aquella – aquello
- __________ tardes de verano son muy lindas.
- __________ no es verdad.
- __________ árboles no tienen hojas.
- __________ es mentira.
- __________ no me gusta nada.
- ¡ __________ es absurdo!
- __________ revista es mía, pero ésa es suya.
- Este coche es mío, pero __________
- __________ es un problema.
- __________ es mi hermano.