There are several types of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in Spanish that indicate proximity or distance between an object/person and the speaker. Those beginning with "e" refer to things that are near ("este" = this, "estos" = these) while those with "a" refer to things farther away ("aquel" = that over there, "aquellas" = those over there). The neuter forms "esto", "eso", and "aquello" do not have number or gender and refer to ideas rather than concrete objects.

1. Th i s, that, these, those, etc. (the pointing-out adjectives and pronouns .) Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns (Los adjetivos y pronombres demostrativos) Demonstrative adjectives point out people and objects and the relative position and distance between the speaker and the object or person modified. Demonstrative adjectives are usually placed before the modified noun and agree with it in number and gender.

2. Este libro que yo tengo aquí es una novela. este Este refers to a masculine singular noun that is close to the speaker . El viejo y el mar

3. ¡ Esta mochila es muy bonita! esta Esta refers to a feminine singular noun that is close to the speaker .

4. Estos libros los debo devolver a la biblioteca. estos Estos* refers to a masculine plural noun that is close to the speaker . *Notice that the plural of este is est os , not est es . El viejo y el mar

5. estas ¿De quiénes son estas mochilas, me pregunto? Estas refers to a feminine plural noun that is close to the speaker .

6. Es de matemáticas. ¿De qué materia es ese libro que tú tienes allí? ese Ese refers to a masculine singular noun that is close to the listener . El viejo y el mar

7. Esa mochila no es tan grande como esta mochila. No, pero es más barata. esa Esa refers to a feminine singular noun that is close to the listener .

8. ¡Sí, mucho! ¡Sí, estos libros son muy buenos! ¿ Esos libros son interesantes? esos Esos* refers to a masculine plural noun that is close to the listener(s) . *Notice that the plural of ese is es os , not es es . El viejo y el mar

9. esas Esas mochilas son suyas, ¿verdad? Por supuesto. Sí, son nuestras. Esas refers to a feminine plural noun that is close to the listener(s) .

10. ¡Exacto! Aquel libro que está allá en la mesa es un diccionario, ¿no? aquel Aquel refers to a masculine singular noun that is far from both the speaker and the listener . El viejo y el mar

11. Aquella mochila es muy similar a esta mochila. Sí, es idéntica. aquella Aquella refers to a feminine singular noun that is far from both the speaker and the listener .

12. Yo tampoco. No, no las conozco. ¿Conocen Uds. a las chicas que leen aquellos libros? aquellos Aquellos refers to a masculine plural noun that is far from both the speaker and the listener(s) . El viejo y el mar

13. aquellas De acuerdo. No sé de quiénes son. Aquellas mochilas y éstas deben estar perdidas, yo creo. Aquellas refers to a feminine plural noun that is far from both the speaker and the listener(s) .

15. Summary It should be pointed out that, in actual usage, ese , esa , esos and esas (that, those) are often used instead of aquel , aquella , aquellos and aquellas (that over there, those over there), particularly if the object or person being referred to is relatively close. Esa (aquella) muchacha es mi prima, Isabel. That girl is my cousin, Isabel. However, if the object or person is quite far away, the aquel forms are preferred. Aquella casa allí en el cerro es de mi tío. That house over there on the hill is my uncle’s.

16. The Demonstrative Pronouns The forms that take the place of nouns. (Los pronombres demostrativos)

17. Notice that, in this scene, the speakers are referring to the hats but have omitted the word sombrero , which now turns aquél and éste into pronouns. In English, the man would say “I like that one a lot.” and his friend would say “Umm . . . and this one ?” When written, these pronominal forms bear an accent on the stressed e .

19. esto, eso, aquello The neuter forms esto , eso , and aquello do not take a written accent nor do they have plural forms. They are used to point out ideas, actions or concepts, or to refer to unspecified objects or things. Aquello no me gusta. I don’t like that (business, matter). No dije eso . I didn’t say that. Esto está mal. This is wrong. These forms are also used to ask for a definition of something. ¿Qué es eso ? What is that? Es una biblioteca. It’s a library. ¿Qué es esto ? What is this? Es una pulsera. It’s a bracelet.

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