Demonstrative Pronouns
Follow the links below:
| singular | plural | |
| Masculine | éste (this one) | éstos (these) |
| Feminine | ésta (this one) | éstas (these) |
| singular | plural | |
| Masculine | ése(that one) | ésos (those) |
| Feminine | ésa (that one) | ésas (those) |
| singular | plural | |
| Masculine | aquél (that one over there) | aquéllos (those over there) |
| Feminine | aquélla (that one over there) | aquéllas (those over there) |
- Mi bicicleta es mejor que aquélla.
My bicycle is better than that one. - Estas manzanas son mejores que aquéllas.
These apples are better than those.
Demonstrative pronouns can also be used to express the former and the latter in English.
- Maria e Irma son chicas bonitas; ésta de México, aquélla de Guatemala.
Mary and Irma are beautiful girls; the former from Mexico, the latter from Guatemala.
The following chart will help you decide which demonstrative pronoun you will need to use.
Neuter form Esto, eso, aquello[2] (this, that). This has no plural and is used--
1. In reference to a whole sentence, as:
- El mercado del algodón está muy abatido; esto me desanima
The cottonmarket is very flat; this disconcerts me.
2. In reference to something pointed at, without referring to what the
thing is, as:
- ¿Qué es eso?
What is that? (thing there, whatever it may be.) - Eso es ridículo.
That (what you just said) is ridiculous.
Este, ese, aquel, etc., are accented when a stress is placed on them; Éste is also used for "the latter" and Aquél for "the former."[4]
Instead of ese, etc., aquel, etc., before que and de, the
definite article is generally used, as:
- El aumento de precio de hoy y el[5] que tuvimos ayer
The increase in price to-day and that we had yesterday. - La remesa anterior y la que haremos hoy
The previous shipment and that we are sending to-day. - El flete del aceite y el de los vinos
The freight on oil, and that on wine. - Mis documentos y los de mi jefe
My documents and those of my chief (employer). - Lo que (instead of "aquello que") escribo es la pura verdad
That which (what) I write is the honest truth.
- ¿Qué libro es ese? Es el en que escribimos ayer
What book is that? It is that in which we wrote yesterday. - ¿Qué carta quiere V.? La á que me referí ayer
What letter do you want? That to which I referred yesterday. - ¿Qué plumas son estas? Son las con que yo escribía
What pens are these? They are those with which I wrote.
Esta translates the commercial phrase, "our place," "our market."
Esa translates the commercial phrase, "your place," "your market."
As:
- El mercado en esta está muy flojo
The market here is very slack. - Nos dicen los armadores que el cargamento llegará á esa el 15 del mes entrante
The shipowners inform us that the cargo will reach your town on the 15th prox.
