Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns (Los adjetivos y pronombres demostrativos) This, that, these, those, etc. (the pointing-out adjectives and pronouns.) 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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). Aquellas mochilas y éstas deben estar perdidas, yo creo. No sé de quiénes son. De acuerdo.

Here are some memory devices that may help: Summary Este, esta = this Estos, estas = these Ese, esa = that Esos, esas = those Aquel, aquella = that (over there) Aquellos, aquellas = those (over there) Here are some memory devices that may help: This and these have t’s; that and those don’t. 1 2 If it has a t, it’s close to me. If it has a t, then it’s touchable. 3

Summary Esa (aquella) muchacha es mi prima, Isabel. 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.

The demonstrative pronouns (Los pronombres demostrativos) The forms that take the place of nouns.

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.

Summary éste, ésta = this one éstos, éstas = these (ones) ése, ésa = that one ésos, ésas = those (ones) aquél, aquélla = that one (over there) aquéllos, aquéllas = those (ones) (over there)

esto, eso, aquello Aquello no me gusta. 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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