Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish: A2 Grammar Guide

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Key Takeaways

• Master the three sets of demonstrative adjectives (this, that, that over there)
• Understand how to choose the correct form based on distance and gender
• Learn the difference between demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
• Practice using estos, esas, aquel and other forms in real conversations
• Avoid common mistakes with gender agreement and distance selection

Point Out Objects with Precision

Demonstrative adjectives are the words we use to point out specific nouns and indicate their distance from the speaker. Think of them as the Spanish equivalents of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” but with an extra level for objects that are even farther away. Mastering these will make your Spanish much more precise and natural.

The Three Levels of Distance

Spanish has three sets of demonstratives, unlike English which only has two:

Distance	Concept	English Equivalent
Near Speaker	Close to me	This, These
Near Listener	Close to you	That, Those
Far from Both	Far from both of us	That over there, Those over there

Demonstrative Adjectives Chart

Distance	Masculine Singular	Feminine Singular	Masculine Plural	Feminine Plural
Near Speaker (this/these)	este	esta	estos	estas
Near Listener (that/those)	ese	esa	esos	esas
Far from Both (that over there)	aquel	aquella	aquellos	aquellas

💡 Grammar Tip: Remember the pattern: E-A-A for the first letter of each distance level: Este (close), Ese (medium), Aquel (far).

Examples in Context

Near Speaker (Este/Esta/Estos/Estas):

• “Este libro es mío.” (This book is mine.) – book is close to me
• “Estas llaves están aquí.” (These keys are here.) – keys are near me

Near Listener (Ese/Esa/Esos/Esas):

• “¿De quién es ese coche?” (Whose is that car?) – car is close to you
• “Esas flores son bonitas.” (Those flowers are pretty.) – flowers are near you

Far from Both (Aquel/Aquella/Aquellos/Aquellas):

• “Mira aquel edificio.” (Look at that building over there.) – building is far from both
• “Aquellas montañas son altas.” (Those mountains over there are high.) – mountains are in the distance

Demonstrative Adjectives vs. Pronouns

Adjectives modify nouns, while pronouns replace them:

Demonstrative Adjective:	Demonstrative Pronoun:
“Este coche es rojo.” (This car is red.)	“Éste es rojo.” (This one is red.)
“Esa casa es grande.” (That house is big.)	“Ésa es grande.” (That one is big.)

🔍 Grammar Focus: Notice the accent mark on the pronouns (éste, ése, aquél) to distinguish them from adjectives. However, recent spelling rules consider the accent optional, but it’s still commonly used for clarity.

Common Usage Patterns

In Stores and Markets:

• “Me gusta esta camisa.” (I like this shirt.)
• “¿Cuánto cuestan esos zapatos?” (How much do those shoes cost?)
• “Prefiero aquel vestido azul.” (I prefer that blue dress over there.)

Giving Directions:

• “Tome esta calle.” (Take this street.)
• “Gire en esa esquina.” (Turn at that corner.)
• “Verá el hotel en aquel edificio.” (You’ll see the hotel in that building over there.)

Putting It All Together: Shopping Conversation

Cliente: Hola, me interesa esta blusa blanca. ¿Tiene esa azul en mi talla?
Vendedor: Esta blanca es la última. Pero esas azules tienen todas las tallas.
Cliente: ¿Y aquellos pantalones negros? ¿Son de algodón?
Vendedor: Sí, aquellos son de algodón puro. Estos otros son mezclilla.

Translation:
Customer: Hi, I’m interested in this white blouse. Do you have that blue one in my size?
Salesperson: This white one is the last one. But those blue ones have all sizes.
Customer: And those black pants over there? Are they cotton?
Salesperson: Yes, those over there are pure cotton. These others are denim.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Forgetting gender agreement: “Este casa” (wrong) → “Esta casa” (correct)
2. Confusing distance levels: Using “ese” when you mean “aquel”
3. Mixing adjectives and pronouns: “Este es libro” (wrong) → “Este libro” or “Éste” (correct)
4. Overusing “ese”: Remember the three-level system in Spanish
5. Ignoring the accent in pronouns: While optional, it adds clarity

Quick Reference Chart

Situation	Form to Use	Example
Object is near me	este, esta, estos, estas	Este bolígrafo
Object is near you	ese, esa, esos, esas	Esa mochila
Object is far from both	aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas	Aquel edificio
Replacing a noun (masculine)	éste, ése, aquél	Éste es mío
Replacing a noun (feminine)	ésta, ésa, aquélla	Ésa es tuya

Practice Exercise: Choose the Correct Form

Select the correct demonstrative:

1. (This) ______ silla es cómoda. (cerca de mí)
2. (That) ______ cuadro es bonito. (cerca de ti)
3. (Those) ______ montañas son lejanas. (lejos de ambos)
4. (These) ______ libros son interesantes. (cerca de mí)

Answers:

1. Esta silla es cómoda.
2. Ese cuadro es bonito.
3. Aquellas montañas son lejanas.
4. Estos libros son interesantes.

📚 Ready for more adjectives? Explore our guide to Spanish Possessive Adjectives

Ready to Point Things Out?

Think you’ve mastered demonstrative adjectives? Test your ability to choose the right form based on distance and gender!

Take Our Demonstrative Adjectives Quiz ►

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