Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives (Chapter 11 Grammar Booklet A)

Demonstrative Adjectives

• This, that, these, and those are demonstrative adjectives used to indicate a specific thing or person, or to emphasize something.

Agreement with Nouns

• Demonstrative adjectives must agree with the noun they are describing in Spanish.

Forms of That and Those

• There are two distinct forms for that and those in Spanish:
  • Nearby: ese (that) and esos (those) for masculine singular and plural, respectively
  • Further away: aquel (that) and aquellos (those) for masculine singular and plural, respectively
• For feminine singular and plural, the forms are respectively:
  • Nearby: esa and esas
  • Further away: aquella and aquellas

Demonstrative Adjective Forms

• Masculine singular: este, ese, aquel
• Feminine singular: esta, esa, aquella
• Masculine plural: estos, esos, aquellos
• Feminine plural: estas, es-as, aquellas

Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns

• Used for abstract ideas or when the gender of the noun is unknown: esto, eso, aquello
• Do not change form

Worked Examples

• Este libro es interesante (This book is interesting): "este" is used because "libro" (book) is masculine and singular
• Esa mujer es mi profesora (That woman is my teacher): "esa" is used because "mujer" (woman) is feminine and singular
• Aquellos estudiantes son inteligentes (Those students over there are smart): "aquellos" is used because "estudiantes" (students) is masculine and plural
• Me encantan estas flores (I love these flowers): "estas" is used because "flores" (flowers) is feminine and plural
• ¿Qué es eso? (What is that?): "eso" is used as a neuter form to refer to an unknown object or idea

Learn about demonstrative adjectives in Spanish, including this, that, these, and those, and how to use them to indicate specific things or people.