este, ese, aquel: this, that, that over there
Three distances: este (here), ese (there), aquel (over there)
Part of the free A1 Spanish course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.
Three distances
A demonstrative is a pointing word: this, that. English has two distances; Spanish has three:
- este: near me (this), linked to aquí (here);
- ese: near you, or a little way off (that), linked to ahí (there);
- aquel: far from both of us (that … over there), linked to allí (over there).
Like other adjectives, they agree with the noun in gender and number:
| masc. singular | fem. singular | masc. plural | fem. plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| this, these | este | esta | estos | estas |
| that, those | ese | esa | esos | esas |
| that, those over there | aquel | aquella | aquellos | aquellas |
Note the masculine singular: este, ese end in -e, but the plural is estos, esos.
- Este libro es muy interesante.This book is very interesting.
- ¿Te gusta esta camiseta?Do you like this T-shirt?
- Estas flores son para ti.These flowers are for you.
- Esos zapatos son nuevos, ¿verdad?Those shoes are new, aren't they?
- ¿Cuánto cuesta esa bolsa?How much is that bag?
- Aquella casa es de mis abuelos.That house over there is my grandparents'.
- Aquellos chicos son mis primos.Those boys over there are my cousins.
Esta or está?
esta (this) and está (is, from estar) differ only by the accent, which also moves the stress: ESta / esTÁ.
- Esta playa está muy limpia.This beach is very clean.
Time
este año (this year), esta semana (this week), esta mañana (this morning), ese día (that day), aquel verano (that summer, long ago).
Without a noun
They can stand alone, meaning this one, that one: Quiero este (I want this one), ¿Prefieres esa? (Do you prefer that one?). Older texts write them with an accent (éste, ésa); since 2010 the Real Academia Española recommends no accent, and you'll see both.
Esto, eso, aquello
These neuter forms point at something unknown or an idea, never at a named noun. They never go before a noun:
- ¿Qué es esto?What's this?
- Eso no es verdad.That's not true.
Common mistakes
Este casa→ Esta casa. Casa is feminine.Estes libros→ Estos libros.Esto libro→ Este libro. Esto never goes before a noun.Esta muy bien→ Está muy bien. The verb needs the accent.Estos mesas→ Estas mesas.
Latin America
The system is the same. In everyday speech in many places, ese is often used for things far away too, and aquel is more common in stories and for the distant past.
Practice
- _____ ordenador es muy rápido.Options: Este · Esta · Esto
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Este — Ordenador is masculine: este. Esto never goes before a noun.
- ¿Te gustan _____ gafas?Options: estas · estos · esta
Show the answer
estas — Las gafas: feminine plural.
- _____ chaqueta es muy bonita.
Show the answer
esa
- _____ montañas son los Pirineos.
Show the answer
aquellas