In this lesson, we’ll explore the correct and practical use of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in Spanish — essential tools for identifying and pointing out objects based on their distance from the speaker.
You’ll learn how to use:
- Este / Esta / Estos / Estas → for things close to you
- Ese / Esa / Esos / Esas → for things at a medium distance
- Aquel / Aquella / Aquellos / Aquellas → for things far away
We’ll break down how these words match in gender and number with the nouns they describe and how to use them as both adjectives (with nouns) and pronouns (replacing nouns).
Through real-life examples — like pointing to a book on your desk (“este libro”), choosing between two jackets (“esa chaqueta”), or referring to a house on a distant hill (“aquella casa”) — you’ll develop a strong and practical understanding of how to communicate location and reference clearly in Spanish.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to confidently choose the right word to say this, that, or those in any situation!
Bilingual Guide
Este (masculino) / Esta (femenina)
Situación: Estás señalando un libro en tu escritorio.
Uso: “Este libro es interesante.” (El libro está muy cerca, en tu escritorio).
Estos (masculino) / Estas (femenino)
Situación: Estás rodeado de libros en tu escritorio.
Uso: “Estos libros son interesantes.” (Los libros están muy cerca, en tu escritorio).
Ese (masculino) / Esa (femenina)
Situación: Indicas una silla al otro lado de la habitación.
Uso: “Esa silla es roja.” (La silla está a una distancia media, al otro lado de la habitación).
Esos (masculino) / Esas (femenino)
Situación: Indicas varias sillas al otro lado de la habitación.
Uso: “Esas sillas son rojas.” (Las sillas están a una distancia media, al otro lado de la habitación).
Aquel (masculino) / Aquella (femenina)
Situación: Señalas una casa en una colina lejana.
Uso: “Aquella casa es antigua.” (La casa está lejos, en la colina).
Aquellos (masculino) / Aquellas (femenino)
Situación: Señalas varias casas en una colina lejana.
Uso: “Aquellas casas son antiguas.” (Las casas están lejos, en la colina).
Este (masculine) / Esta (feminine)
Situation: You are pointing to a book on your desk.
Use: “Este libro es interesante.” (This book is interesting.) (The book is very close, on your desk).
Estos (masculine) / Estas (feminine)
Situation: You are surrounded by books on your desk.
Use: “Estos libros son interesantes.” (These books are interesting.) (The books are very close, on your desk).
Ese (masculine) / Esa (feminine)
Situation: You point to a chair on the other side of the room.
Use: “Esa silla es roja.” (That chair is red.) (The chair is at a medium distance, on the other side of the room).
Esos (masculine) / Esas (feminine)
Situation: You indicate several chairs on the other side of the room.
Use: “Esas sillas son rojas.” (Those chairs are red.) (The chairs are at a medium distance, on the other side of the room).
Aquel (masculine) / Aquella (feminine)
Situation: You are pointing at a house on a distant hill.
Use: “Aquella casa es antigua.” (That house over there is old.) (The house is far away, on the hill).
Aquellos (masculine) / Aquellas (feminine)
Situation: You are pointing at several houses on a distant hill.
Use: “Aquellas casas son antiguas.” (Those houses over there are old.) (The houses are far away, on the hill).
Escenarios para Practicar "Aquí", "Allí", "Allá" con la Familia García
- En la Cocina con Penélope (Este):
Penélope is showing a freshly baked cake that is on the table.
- You can say: "Este pastel parece delicioso".
2. En el Jardín de Flores (Esa):
Antonio points to a flower a few meters away in the garden.
- You can say: "Esa flor es la más bonita del jardín".
3. Observando la Playa (Aquel):
From the terrace, Juan sees a boat on the horizon.
- You can say: "Aquel barco está muy lejos".
4. En la Sala con la Familia (Este):
You are sitting with the García family, and there is a photo album on the coffee table.
- You can say: "Este álbum tiene fotos hermosas".
5. Mirando hacia la Calle (Esa):
From the balcony, you see a bicycle parked on the other side of the street.
- You can say: "Esa bicicleta parece nueva".
6. Viendo las Estrellas (Aquel):
On a clear night, everyone looks at the sky, and Juan points to a constellation.
- You can say: "Aquella constelación es la Osa Mayor".
7. En el Restaurante de Antonio (Este):
Antonio shows you a special dish he has just prepared.
- You can say: "Este plato se ve exquisito".
8. Paseando por el Pueblo (Esa):
Walking through the village, you see an old church in the distance.
- You can say: "Esa iglesia es muy antigua".
