Demonstratives
Type the missing word in each sentence. You hear each sentence read by a native voice.
libros son de mi hermana mayor.
These books are my older sister's.
The rule
" English has two levels of distance (this/that), but Spanish has three. These words appear constantly in reading and conversation, and they change form to match the noun they describe.
The pattern
Spanish demonstratives agree with the noun, meaning they change form to match its gender and number.
| masculine | feminine | plural m. | plural f. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| near (this) | este | esta | estos | estas |
| mid (that) | ese | esa | esos | esas |
| far (that over there) | aquel | aquella | aquellos | aquellas |
Use este/esta for something near the speaker. Use ese/esa for something near the listener or recently mentioned. Use aquel/aquella for something far from both, or distant in time.
Demonstratives can also stand alone as pronouns: Este es mi favorito (This one is my favourite). The neuter forms esto, eso, and aquello refer to ideas, situations, or unnamed things: Eso no es verdad (That is not true).
Examples
- Este libro es interesanteThis book is interesting
- Esa casa es de mi abuelaThat house is my grandmother's
- Aquellos años fueron difícilesThose years were difficult
- ¿Qué es esto?What is this?
- No me gusta esoI do not like that
- Esta mañana llovióThis morning it rained
- Esos zapatos son carosThose shoes are expensive
- Aquella noche no dormíThat night I did not sleep
Watch out
- Esto libro es mío. Este libro es mío.Esto is neuter and cannot go in front of a noun. Use este for a masculine noun.
- Me gusta este (referring to an idea, not to a noun). Me gusta esto.When referring to an idea or situation rather than a specific noun, use the neuter form.
- Esa días fueron buenos. Esos días fueron buenos.Día is masculine, so the demonstrative must be masculine too.
- Ese es lo que quiero. Eso es lo que quiero.Use the neuter eso when referring to an idea, not a specific noun.