Portuguese demonstrative pronouns are used to point to or refer to specific people, places, things or ideas. They indicate the proximity of the noun in relation to the speaker and the listener. There are three types of Portuguese demonstrative pronouns: este/esta/isto (this), esse/essa/isso (that) and aquele/aquela/aquilo (that). In this article, we will look at each of these pronouns in detail, providing examples to illustrate their usage.
Este/Esta/Isto (This)
Este, esta and isto are used to refer to something that is close to the speaker. Este is used for masculine nouns, esta for feminine nouns, and isto is used for situations where the gender of the noun is unclear or irrelevant. Examples of usage include:
Este carro é novo. (This car is new.)
Esta casa é grande. (This house is big.)
Isto é muito importante. (This is very important.)
Esses/Essa/Isso (That)
Esses, essa and isso are used to refer to something that is not close to the speaker, but close to the listener or in the past. Esses is used for masculine nouns, essa for feminine nouns, and isso is used for situations where the gender of the noun is unclear or irrelevant. Examples of usage include:
Esses sapatos são bonitos. (Those shoes are pretty.)
Essa loja é cara. (That store is expensive.)
Isso aconteceu há muito tempo. (That happened a long time ago.)
Aquele/Aquela/Aquilo (That)
Aquele, aquela and aquilo are used to refer to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener, or to something that is abstract. Aquele is used for masculine nouns, aquela for feminine nouns, and aquilo is used for situations where the gender of the noun is unclear or irrelevant. Examples of usage include:
Aquele edifício é muito alto. (That building is very tall.)
Aquela cidade é bonita. (That city is pretty.)
Aquilo que você disse é verdade. (What you said is true.)
Demonstrative Pronouns with Prepositions
Portuguese demonstrative pronouns can also be used with prepositions to indicate more specific information about the noun being referred to. Here are some examples:
Este livro é para mim. (This book is for me.)
Esses sapatos são de minha irmã. (Those shoes are my sister’s.)
Aquele carro é de meu pai. (That car belongs to my father.)
Este filme é sobre a vida na cidade. (This movie is about life in the city.)
Essa blusa é feita de algodão. (That blouse is made of cotton.)
Aquela casa é perto do rio. (That house is near the river.)
Conclusion
Portuguese demonstrative pronouns are an important part of the language and are used to refer to specific people, places, things or ideas. There are three types of Portuguese demonstrative pronouns: este/esta/isto (this), esse/essa/isso (that) and aquele/aquela/aquilo (that). These pronouns indicate the proximity of the noun in relation to the speaker and the listener. Portuguese demonstrative pronouns can also be used with prepositions to indicate more specific information about the noun being referred to. Mastery of these pronouns is crucial for effective communication in Portuguese.
Originally posted 2023-07-17 13:40:40.