Mastering Demonstrative Pronouns in Spanish: This, That, These, and Those Explained

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Introduction

One of the key elements of communication in any language is the ability to point out or refer to objects, people, or places. In English, we use demonstrative pronouns like this, that, these, and those to indicate proximity. In Spanish, demonstrative pronouns serve the same purpose, but they change based on gender, number, and distance. For learners fluent in Hindi and English, mastering these pronouns in Spanish can be quite straightforward once you understand the rules.

In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the use of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish, explaining how they function, how they compare to their English and Hindi equivalents, and where you might encounter exceptions. We’ll also provide example sentences to help clarify these concepts, so you can use them confidently in conversation and writing.

Demonstrative Pronouns in Spanish: A Quick Overview

In Spanish, demonstrative pronouns are used to point out specific people or objects. They vary depending on the proximity of the object to the speaker and the listener, and unlike English, they change according to gender and number.

The Three Categories of Distance in Spanish:

1. Near the speaker:
   • This/These → Este/Esta/Estos/Estas
2. Near the listener (but farther from the speaker):
   • That/Those → Ese/Esa/Esos/Esas
3. Far from both the speaker and listener:
   • That over there/Those over there → Aquel/Aquella/Aquellos/Aquellas

Comparison to English and Hindi

In English, demonstrative pronouns remain constant regardless of gender or number:

• This (singular, near)
• That (singular, far)
• These (plural, near)
• Those (plural, far)

In Hindi, demonstrative pronouns also reflect distance and number, but with some added complexity based on context:

• यह/ये (yah/ye) → This/These (near)
• वह/वे (vah/ve) → That/Those (far)

Comparison Example:
In English, we say this book for something near and that book for something far. In Hindi, you would use यह किताब (yah kitaab) for “this book” and वह किताब (vah kitaab) for “that book.” Spanish has similar distinctions, but it also accounts for gender and pluralization.

Grammar Breakdown: Demonstrative Pronouns in Spanish

Here’s how demonstrative pronouns in Spanish change based on gender and number. Like Hindi, Spanish also distinguishes between masculine and feminine nouns.

1. Near the Speaker: Este, Esta, Estos, Estas

Use este/esta/estos/estas when referring to something close to the speaker.

Example:

• Spanish: Este libro es mío.
  English: This book is mine.
  Hindi: यह किताब मेरी है।

2. Near the Listener: Ese, Esa, Esos, Esas

Use ese/esa/esos/esas for something closer to the listener but farther from the speaker.

Example:

• Spanish: Esa casa es bonita.
  English: That house is beautiful.
  Hindi: वह घर सुंदर है।

3. Far from Both: Aquel, Aquella, Aquellos, Aquellas

Use aquel/aquella/aquellos/aquellas for objects far from both the speaker and listener.

Example:

• Spanish: Aquel coche es rápido.
  English: That car over there is fast.
  Hindi: वह गाड़ी बहुत तेज़ है।

Important Rules and Exceptions

1. Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Demonstrative Adjectives

It’s important to note the difference between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives in Spanish. While they look similar, demonstrative pronouns replace a noun, while demonstrative adjectives describe a noun.

• Demonstrative Pronoun:
  • Spanish: ¿Quieres este? (Do you want this one?)
  • Hindi: क्या तुम यह चाहते हो?
• Demonstrative Adjective:
  • Spanish: Quiero este libro. (I want this book.)
  • Hindi: मैं यह किताब चाहता हूँ।

2. Accent Marks on Demonstrative Pronouns

Historically, demonstrative pronouns had accent marks (éste, ésa, aquél) to distinguish them from demonstrative adjectives. However, modern usage has mostly eliminated these accents, and context is used to differentiate between them.

3. Neuter Form: Esto, Eso, Aquello

Spanish has neuter forms of demonstrative pronouns (esto, eso, aquello) used to refer to abstract ideas, unidentified objects, or concepts without a specific gender.

• Esto (this)
• Eso (that)
• Aquello (that over there)

Example:

• Spanish: ¿Qué es esto?
  English: What is this?
  Hindi: यह क्या है?

These neuter pronouns are often used in impersonal contexts or when the noun they refer to isn’t yet defined.

• Mastering French Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns: Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces, Celui, Celle, Ceux, Celles
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• 8 ways to ask ‘what are you doing’ in Spanish with examples
• 5 words and phrases you can use to say ‘what’ in Spanish
• Mastering Spanish Gender Rules: Masculine, Feminine, and Common Exceptions

Example Sentences Using Demonstrative Pronouns

Here are six example sentences with translations into English and Hindi to demonstrate the use of este, ese, aquel, and their variants.

1. Spanish: Estos zapatos son caros.
   • English: These shoes are expensive.
   • Hindi: ये जूते महंगे हैं।
2. Spanish: Esa chica es mi amiga.
   • English: That girl is my friend.
   • Hindi: वह लड़की मेरी दोस्त है।
3. Spanish: Aquellos árboles son altos.
   • English: Those trees over there are tall.
   • Hindi: वे पेड़ बहुत ऊँचे हैं।
4. Spanish: ¿Puedes darme esto?
   • English: Can you give me this?
   • Hindi: क्या तुम मुझे यह दे सकते हो?
5. Spanish: Aquel día fue inolvidable.
   • English: That day over there was unforgettable.
   • Hindi: वह दिन अविस्मरणीय था।
6. Spanish: Este reloj es caro, pero ese es barato.
   • English: This watch is expensive, but that one is cheap.
   • Hindi: यह घड़ी महंगी है, लेकिन वह सस्ती है।

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Understanding demonstrative pronouns in Spanish is essential for accurate communication, especially when distinguishing between objects based on distance or context. With three levels of proximity (near, farther, and far away) and additional considerations for gender and number, demonstrative pronouns in Spanish offer a richer way to point out and describe objects than their English and Hindi counterparts.

By practicing their use in context and paying attention to gender and number, you’ll soon find yourself confidently using este, ese, aquel, and their forms in everyday conversation.

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