Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives: Complete A1 Beginner’s Guide
◄ Back to A1 Grammar Hub | Practice with Demonstrative Adjectives Quiz ►
Key Takeaways
- Master este, ese, aquel and their variations
- Understand distance distinctions (this, that, that over there)
- Learn gender and number agreement rules
- Practice with real-life examples and conversations
Introduction to Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives point out specific people, places, or things – they answer the question “which one?” While English has simple “this” and “that,” Spanish has more precise forms that indicate distance. These small words make your Spanish much more specific and natural!
Basic Demonstrative Adjectives
Close to Speaker (This/These):
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| this | este | esta | estos | estas |
Close to Listener (That/Those):
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| that | ese | esa | esos | esas |
Far from Both (That/Those over there):
| English | Masculine | Feminine | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| that (over there) | aquel | aquella | aquellos | aquellas |
Understanding the Distance Concept
Este/Esta (Close to Me):
- Something near the speaker
- “Este libro” (this book – near me)
- “Esta casa” (this house – where I am)
Ese/Esa (Close to You):
- Something near the listener
- “Ese libro” (that book – near you)
- “Esa casa” (that house – where you are)
Aquel/Aquella (Far from Both):
- Something distant from both speaker and listener
- “Aquel edificio” (that building over there)
- “Aquella montaña” (that mountain way over there)
Real-Life Usage Examples
Pointing Out Objects:
- “Este coche es mío.” (This car is mine – near me)
- “Ese coche es tuyo.” (That car is yours – near you)
- “Aquel coche es de Juan.” (That car over there is Juan’s – far away)
In Conversations:
- “Esta película es aburrida.” (This movie is boring – we’re watching it)
- “Esa idea es buena.” (That idea is good – you suggested it)
- “Aquella época fue difícil.” (That time period was difficult – in the past)
Shopping and Descriptions:
- “Me gusta esta camisa.” (I like this shirt – I’m holding it)
- “¿Te gusta esa falda?” (Do you like that skirt – you’re looking at it)
- “Mira aquel vestido.” (Look at that dress over there – across the store)
Gender and Number Agreement
Must Match the Noun:
Masculine Examples:
- “este libro” (this book)
- “estos libros” (these books)
- “ese coche” (that car)
- “esos coches” (those cars)
Feminine Examples:
- “esta casa” (this house)
- “estas casas” (these houses)
- “esa mesa” (that table)
- “esas mesas” (those tables)
Demonstrative Pronouns vs Adjectives
Demonstrative Adjectives (WITH Noun):
- “Este libro es interesante.” (This book is interesting.)
- “Esas casas son grandes.” (Those houses are big.)
Demonstrative Pronouns (INSTEAD of Noun):
- “Éste es interesante.” (This one is interesting.)
- “Ésas son grandes.” (Those ones are big.)
Note: The accent marks (éste, ése, aquél) are optional in modern Spanish but help distinguish pronouns from adjectives.
Common Usage Patterns
In Stores and Markets:
- “¿Cuánto cuesta este?” (How much is this one?)
- “Prefiero esa.” (I prefer that one.)
- “Aquellos son muy caros.” (Those over there are very expensive.)
Giving Directions:
- “Toma esta calle.” (Take this street.)
- “Gira en esa esquina.” (Turn at that corner.)
- “Ve hacia aquel edificio.” (Go toward that building over there.)
Talking About Time:
- “Este año voy a viajar.” (This year I’m going to travel.)
- “En ese momento supe la verdad.” (At that moment I knew the truth.)
- “En aquel entonces éramos jóvenes.” (Back in those days we were young.)
Memory Tricks and Tips
The Three Distances:
- Este = “This here” (close to me)
- Ese = “That there” (close to you)
- Aquel = “That way over there” (far from both)
Finger Pointing Method:
- Point to something nearby: “este”
- Point to something near listener: “ese”
- Point to something far away: “aquel”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don’t forget gender agreement – este libro vs esta casa
- Don’t ignore number agreement – este libro vs estos libros
- Don’t confuse distance levels – use the appropriate distance
- Don’t mix up adjectives and pronouns – este libro vs éste es mi libro
Quick Reference Chart
| Distance | Masculine | Feminine | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Close to me | este | esta | this |
| Close to you | ese | esa | that |
| Far from both | aquel | aquella | that over there |
| Plural (close to me) | estos | estas | these |
| Plural (close to you) | esos | esas | those |
| Plural (far from both) | aquellos | aquellas | those over there |
Ready to Practice?
Now that you understand Spanish demonstrative adjectives, it’s time to test your knowledge!
Take our Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives Quiz ► to practice choosing the right forms, understanding distance distinctions, and using them in context.
What’s Next in Your A1 Spanish Journey?
◄ Spanish Possessive Adjectives | Spanish Verbs ►
Need More Detailed Information?
- For advanced usage: Complete Demonstrative Adjectives Guide ►
- For exam preparation: DELE A1 Demonstratives Guide ►
Remember: Demonstrative adjectives make your Spanish precise and natural. Practice pointing things out in your daily life, and soon you’ll use them automatically!
