Definition
This house is pretty.
Este (___) es bonita.
casa
The adjective 'bonita' is feminine singular, so the noun must be feminine singular too, 'casa'.
Demonstrative adjectives are words used in Spanish to point out specific nouns and indicate their relative position in space or time with respect to the speaker. They correspond to English adjectives like this, that, these, and those. Demonstratives agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify.
Types of Demonstrative Adjectives
Spanish demonstrative adjectives are divided based on proximity:
- Close to the speaker: este, esta, estos, estas (this, these)
- Close to the listener: ese, esa, esos, esas (that, those)
- Far from both speaker and listener: aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas (that, those over there)
Agreement with Nouns
Demonstrative adjectives must match the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they modify. For example, este libro (this book - masculine singular) but esta mesa (this table - feminine singular).
Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives
| Spanish Demonstrative | English Equivalent | Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| este (m. sing.) | this | Este perro es grande. | This dog is big. |
| esta (f. sing.) | this | Esta casa es bonita. | This house is pretty. |
| esos (m. pl.) | those | Esos libros son caros. | Those books are expensive. |
| aquellas (f. pl.) | those over there | Aquellas flores son raras. | Those flowers over there are rare. |
Usage Tips
Which demonstrative adjective would you use for something close to the speaker?
¿Qué palabra usarías para algo cerca del hablante?
este, esta, estos, estas
'Este' and its forms are used for objects near the speaker.
- Use este and its forms when talking about something near the speaker.
- Use ese forms for something near the listener.
- Use aquel forms for something far from both speaker and listener.
- Remember to always make the demonstrative adjective agree with the noun it describes.
Demonstrative adjectives are essential in clarifying which object or person you are referring to in conversation or writing.
Last updated: Sun May 18, 2025
