Demonstrative Pronouns

Whereas demonstrative adjectives modify a noun (e.g. este carro, this car) by explaining which car you are talking about, demonstrative pronouns replace a noun altogether (e.g. ése, that one).

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.

A preposition may precede que, as:

• ¿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.

Demonstrative Pronouns