Demonstrative pronouns in Spanish are used to indicate the location of a noun in relation to the speaker and the listener. They are used to point out specific people, things or places, and are often translated into English as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” There are three sets of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: singular, plural, and neuter.
In this article, we will focus on the singular and plural forms of Spanish demonstrative pronouns, and explore their usage and examples in context.
Singular Demonstrative Pronouns
There are three singular demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: este (masculine), esta (feminine), and aquel (masculine), aquella (feminine). Let’s take a closer look at each one and its usage.
Este (masculine) / Esta (feminine)(this)
The demonstrative pronoun este is used to refer to something that is near the speaker, and the pronoun esta is used to refer to something that is near the speaker and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Este coche es mío. (This car is mine.)
Esta camisa es muy bonita. (This shirt is very pretty.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is close to them. The gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Ese (masculine) / Esa (feminine)(that)
The demonstrative pronoun ese is used to refer to something that is near the listener, and the pronoun esa is used to refer to something that is near the listener and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Ese perro es muy grande. (That dog is very big.)
Esa casa es muy bonita. (That house is very pretty.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is closer to the listener than to the speaker. Again, the gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Aquel (masculine) / Aquella (feminine)(that)
The demonstrative pronoun aquel is used to refer to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener, and the pronoun aquella is used to refer to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Aquel árbol es muy alto. (That tree over there is very tall.)
Aquella montaña es impresionante. (That mountain over there is impressive.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is far away from both them and the listener. Again, the gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Plural Demonstrative Pronouns
There are also three plural demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: estos (masculine), estas (feminine), and aquellos (masculine), aquellas (feminine). Let’s take a closer look at each one and its usage.
Estos (masculine) / Estas (feminine)(these)
The demonstrative pronoun estos is used to refer to something that is near the speaker and is masculine, and the pronoun estas is used to refer to something that is near the speaker and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Estos zapatos son muy cómodos. (These shoes are very comfortable.)
Estas flores son preciosas. (These flowers are beautiful.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is close to them. The gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Esos (masculine) / Esas (feminine)(those)
The demonstrative pronoun esos is used to refer to something that is near the listener and is masculine, and the pronoun esas is used to refer to something that is near the listener and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Esos libros son muy interesantes. (Those books are very interesting.)
Esas frutas se ven deliciosas. (Those fruits look delicious.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is closer to the listener than to the speaker. Again, the gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Aquellos (masculine) / Aquellas (feminine)(those)
The demonstrative pronoun aquellos is used to refer to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener and is masculine, and the pronoun aquellas is used to refer to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener and is feminine. Here are a few examples:
Aquellos edificios son muy altos. (Those buildings over there are very tall.)
Aquellas nubes son muy bonitas. (Those clouds over there are very pretty.)
In both of these examples, the speaker is pointing to something that is far away from both them and the listener. Again, the gender of the pronoun matches the gender of the noun it is referring to.
Conclusion
In conclusion, demonstrative pronouns in Spanish are an important part of the language and are used to indicate the location of a noun in relation to the speaker and the listener. There are three sets of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish: singular, plural, and neuter. In this article, we have focused on the singular and plural forms and explored their usage and examples in context.
Remember that when using demonstrative pronouns in Spanish, it is important to match the gender of the pronoun with the gender of the noun it is referring to. With practice and repetition, you will become more comfortable with using demonstrative pronouns in Spanish, and your language skills will continue to improve
Originally posted 2023-07-17 17:06:13.