Demonstrative Adjectives Demonstrative Pronouns Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Adjectives Demonstrative Pronouns Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns

* This, that, these and those
* As adjectives, the above agree with the gender and number of the noun
o number means singular vs. plural
* As adjectives, they come right before the noun
o este gato (this cat)
o esa pregunta (that question)
o aquel vampiro (that vampire)
Spanish singular English singular Spanish plural English plural
esta (fem.)
este (mas.) this one estas (fem.)
estos (mas.) those
esa (fem.)
ese (mas.) that one esas (fem.)
esos (mas.) those
aquella (fem.)
aquel (mas.) that one aquellas (fem.)
aquellos (mas.) those
* There is a spatial order to esta vs. esa vs. aquella
o Things labeled with esta are closer than things labeled with esa
o Things labeled with esa are closer than things labeled with aquella
o Where you draw the line is arbitrary
o One textbook seemed to imply that you might use esta for something by you, esa for something away from you and by the person you are talking to, and aquella for something away from you both. The writing appeared to be in the context of a suggestion.

DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

* This, that, these and those are demonstrative pronouns if they aren't used as adjectives
o These are the times that try the souls of humans
* In the above examples, you can see the noun that the demonstrative pronoun refers to and thus you know the gender.
Spanish singular English singular Spanish plural English plural
ésta (fem.)
éste (mas.) this one éstas (fem.)
éstos (mas.) those
ésa (fem.)
ése (mas.) that one ésas (fem.)
ésos (mas.) those
aquélla (fem.)
aquél (mas.) that one aquéllas (fem.)
aquéllos (mas.) those

NEUTER DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS

* What if you don't know the gender of the noun that the demonstrative pronoun refers to?
* You are in a deep forest and you come across a carcass of some creature you have never seen before. "What is that?" you scream, and since you don't know what to call it, you don't know if the noun is feminine or masculine.
* You use a neuter demonstrative pronoun- esto, eso, or aquello
* The esto form is closest to you, and the aquello form is farthest
Whether or not something is 'esto' close to you, 'eso' close to you, or 'aquello' close to you is arbitrary. There might be a correlation between your choice of esto, eso, or aquello, and how loud you scream. For the neuter demonstrative pronouns, you might not know what the 'it' is.
* * Esto es interesante.
* That is interesting.
* Eso es verdad
* That is true