The Adjetivo demostrativo is used to modify a noun so that we know exactly which one is being referred to.
Learn about the Spanish demonstratives este, ese and aquel
Unlike English, Spanish has three sets of demonstrative adjectives, which agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, therefore there are 12 demonstrative adjectives in total.
Este / esta / estos / estas = this / these
|
Demonstrative adjective |
Masculine | Feminine |
|
Singular |
este this |
esta this |
|
Plural |
estos |
estas |
Read and listen to these examples:
In the examples above, este, esta, estos and estas are translated as this and these and they all refer to nouns in near proximity compared to the speaker.
Ese / esa / esos / esas = that / those
|
Demonstrative adjective |
Masculine | Feminine |
|
Singular |
ese that |
esa that |
|
Plural |
esos |
esas |
Read and listen to these examples:
In the examples above, ese, esa, esos and esas are translated as that and those and they all refer to:
1. objects/people that are near the listener (not the speaker)
2. objects/people that are far from the speaker (medium distance)
1. objects/people that are near the listener (not the speaker)
2. objects/people that are far from the speaker (medium distance)
Aquel / aquella / aquellos / aquellas = that (over there) / those (over there)
|
Demonstrative adjective |
Masculine | Feminine |
|
Singular |
aquel that (over there) |
aquella that (over there) |
|
Plural |
aquellos |
aquellas |
Read and listen to these examples:
In the examples above, aquel, aquella, aquellos and aquellas are translated as that (over there) and those (over there) and they all refer to a further distance from the speaker.
Bear in mind that although demonstrative adjectives are used generally to denote physical things/people, they can also be used to refer to abstract things or ideas. In these cases which demonstrative adjective we use depends on how "near" or "far" we feel from these abstract things or ideas.
Have a look at these examples:
The speaker feels "closer" to the trip on the first sentence while on the second the speaker sees it as a more "far away" idea, but they are both referring to the same trip. So, using ese or aquel is sometimes subjective.
Remember that in Spanish there are 3 distances when using demonstrative adjectives!
In English we only have 2: near and far. So the third one (aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas) is generally translated as "that/those over there".
In English we only have 2: near and far. So the third one (aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas) is generally translated as "that/those over there".
See also Using aquí, ahí and allí = here and there in Spanish.
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