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What’s a Demonstrative adjective? Demonstratives Adjectives in Spanish are used to determine a relation of proximity between the person that speaks and the object or person we’re referring to.

I don’t think it is necessary any theory to learn this, as it’s probably enough to know the equivalent in English.

Let’s see a few examples:

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Demonstratives adjectives and pronounsGrammar

Series

�Este/Esta This

Estos/Estas These

Ese/Esa That

Esos/Esas Those

Aquel/Aquella That

Aquellos/Aquellas ThoseEste coche es azul

Ese camión es rojo Aquella guagua es amarilla

➡ Thanks to the demonstrative adjectives, we know that the car is closer than the truck, and the lorry

closer than the bus

Este plátano es de Canarias Esa naranja es de Valencia

Aquellas uvas son de Valdepeñas

➡ Which fruit would you say is closer to the speaker and which

one is further?

closer to you

further to the you

Este coche Esta bicicletaEse libro Esa carpeta

Aquel árbol Aquella camisa

You’ve probably identified the masculine, feminine, singular and plural forms:

Masculine Feminine

Sing

ular Estos papeles Estas botellas

Esos policías Esas mujeresAquellos semáforos Aquellas casas

Masculine Feminine

Plur

al

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Let’s see some more examples:

Estos aguacates no están maduros, dame aquellas naranjas Esas calles tienen mala fama. Mejor que las evites.

Esos niños están todo el día en la calle. ¿Es que no estudian? En aquellos tiempos se vivía mejor

Esta semana tengo muchas cosas que hacer Ese día lo recuerdo muy bien

�These avocados are not ripe, give me those orangesThose streets have a bad reputation. You'd better avoid them Those children are all day out (in the streets). Don't they study? We used to live better in those timesI have many things to do this week I remember very well that day

Have you noticed something in the last three sentences? Yes, we can also use demonstrative adjectives to point out times

For example:

−¿Puedes venir a la quedada del viernes? −No, ese día tengo examen de español

−¿Cómo se vivía en 1980? −En aquellos tiempos no había tanta tecnología

−¿Tienes mucho que hacer esta semana? −Esta semana no, pero la que viene sí

−¿Te acuerdas de cómo lo pasamos el día de Navidad el año pasado?

−Claro, ese día nos reunimos toda la familia

−Can you come to Friday's meet-up? −No, I have a Spanish exam that day

−How was life in 1980? −In those times there wasn't so much technology

−Do you have many things to do this week? −Not this week, but I will next week

−Do you remember the good time we had on Christmas Day last year? −Sure, that day all the family got together

OK, but, what about the demonstrative pronouns…?

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➤ find more at:

�As you know, pronouns are words that replace a noun. Therefore, they function without it. Let's see if you are able to identify them here…

− No quiero estos aguacates, quiero aquellos− Este árbol da muchos frutos. Esos no

− Aquellas casas son más luminosas que estas − ¿Te vas a poner esta camisa? −No, prefiero aquella

− I don't want these avocados, I want those ones − This tree produces a lot of fruit. Those ones don't− Those houses are brighter than these ones − Are you going to put this shirt on? −No, I prefer that one.

Surely, demonstrative pronouns are the ones in italics. As we have said, the only difference is that the demonstrative adjective goes along a noun and the pronoun doesn't (instead, it replaces it)

Here, there or ...there? This words are place adverbs (this is not important for you to know), and they are useful to specify even more the proximity or distance of the object.

Have a look at the examples on the right hand side

The equivalent in English is:

Aquí ➡ Here Ahí ➡ There Allí/Allá ➡ There

Therefore:

We must use aquí (here) with este, esta, estos y estas (this, these) We use ahí (there) with ese, esa, esos and esas (that, those)

And we use allí (there) with aquel, aquella, aquellos y aquellas (that, those)

Dame este aguacate de aquí Give me this avocado over here

Quiero esa manzana de ahí I want that apple over there

No me gusta aquella piña de allí, pero aquella de allá sí. I don't like that pineapple over there, but I do that one over there

Este caramelo de aquí sabe a fresa, ese de ahí sabe a menta This sweet over here tastes of strawberry, that one over there tastes of mint

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