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Questions and Answers
In Spanish, the demonstrative esto agrees with masculine singular nouns.
In Spanish, the demonstrative esto agrees with masculine singular nouns.
False
The plural feminine demonstrative is estas for the word ellas.
The plural feminine demonstrative is estas for the word ellas.
True
The sentence '¿Por qué éstas personas está muy tristes?' has incorrect subject-verb agreement.
The sentence '¿Por qué éstas personas está muy tristes?' has incorrect subject-verb agreement.
True
Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish must agree with the gender of the noun they modify.
Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish must agree with the gender of the noun they modify.
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The sentence 'está el hombre en la habitación' shows a subject-predicate reversal common in Spanish.
The sentence 'está el hombre en la habitación' shows a subject-predicate reversal common in Spanish.
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One of the roles of Spanish demonstrative adjectives is to express generality.
One of the roles of Spanish demonstrative adjectives is to express generality.
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The Spanish demonstrative adjectives are used to show who or what is being referred to.
The Spanish demonstrative adjectives are used to show who or what is being referred to.
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The forms of demonstrative adjectives in Spanish do not change when they come before a vowel.
The forms of demonstrative adjectives in Spanish do not change when they come before a vowel.
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'Éstos' in Spanish is the plural form for masculine nouns.
'Éstos' in Spanish is the plural form for masculine nouns.
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'Esas' in Spanish is used to express proximity.
'Esas' in Spanish is used to express proximity.
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'Ésto' and 'ésas' are used to give a general reference without specifying anything in particular.
'Ésto' and 'ésas' are used to give a general reference without specifying anything in particular.
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Using 'ésas' instead of 'ésto' in Spanish helps to clarify discussions based on someone else's opinion.
Using 'ésas' instead of 'ésto' in Spanish helps to clarify discussions based on someone else's opinion.
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Study Notes
Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish
Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish are used to show which person or thing is being referred to. They indicate proximity, familiarity, generality, and specificity. There are three sets of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: masculine singular este, feminine singular esta, plural estos (masculine) and estas (feminine). These forms change when they come before a vowel (e or (i)) or after a consonant. Here's how they change:
| Original Form | After Vowel | Before Consonant |
|---|---|---|
| esto | éste | ese |
| esta | esta | esa |
| estos | esos | ellos |
| estas | esas | ellas |
The first form ésta (singular feminine), ésos (plural masculine), and esas (plural feminine) are also used to express distance, which makes them more general. For example, "aunque eso sea cierto, están en lo más alto de la escalera" ("although that is true, they are at the top of the stairs") shows that ésto has no particular reference, it's just plain truth. However, if you want to discuss someone else's opinion or information found somewhere else, using ésas instead can help to clarify this.
In terms of usage, demonstratives have agreements with their respective gender and number:
- Masculine singular: esto / él
- Feminine singular: esta / ella
- Plural masculine: estos / ellos
- Plural feminine: estas / ellas
So, for example, one might say "estamos viendo una película maravillosa," where "esta" agrees with "película," which is a feminine singular noun. Here's another example: "¿Por qué éstas personas está muy tristes?" This sentence uses the appropriate agreement of está with the third person plural form of the verb hablar - "hablan." This ensures that the sentence sounds correct from both grammatical and stylistic perspectives.
It's worth noting that in some cases, the word order may differ depending on whether or not an adverbial clause follows the main clause. In a simple sentence, the subject comes before the predicate, while in a sentence with an adverbial clause, the subject often comes after the predicate. This can affect the way demonstrative adjectives are used and how they agree with their respective nouns. For example:
| Original | With Adverbial Clause Followed by Main Clause | Without Adverbial Clause |
|---|---|---|
| está el hombre en la habitación | Estaba ella de pie junto a él. | Está el hombre en su casa. |
| son los libros más temibles | Tenemos la mejor relación con ellos. | Son los libros traducidos. |
In conclusion, Spanish demonstrative adjectives play a crucial role in expressing proximity, familiarity, generality, and specificity. They have different forms depending on gender and number, and they must agree with the noun they modify. Understanding these rules allows for accurate communication in the Spanish language.
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Description
Learn about the usage and rules of demonstrative adjectives in Spanish, including their forms, agreements with gender and number, and how they express proximity, familiarity, generality, and specificity. Explore examples and understand the importance of agreement with nouns.
