Demonstrative adjectives
This, that, these and those are called demonstrative adjectiveWords for this, that, these and those. Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out a specific thing or person or to emphasise something.. They are used to point out a specific thing or person, or to emphasise something.
There are three groups of demonstrative adjectives in Spanish. They need to agree with the nounThe name of a thing such as an object, a place or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words. they are describing, eg me gustan estos pasteles (I like these cakes). There are two different ways of saying that and those in Spanish. For example:
- Esa casa es pequeña - That house is small (the house is nearby)
- Aquella casa es pequeña - That house is small (the house is further away)
- Esas casas son pequeñas - Those houses are small (the houses are nearby)
- Aquellas casas son pequeñas - Those houses are small (the houses are further away)
| this/these | that/those (nearby) | that/those (further away) | |
| masculine singular | este | ese | aquel |
| feminine singular | esta | esa | aquella |
| masculine plural | estos | esos | aquellos |
| feminine plural | estas | esas | aquellas |
| masculine singular | |
| this/these | este |
| that/those (nearby) | ese |
| that/those (further away) | aquel |
| feminine singular | |
| this/these | esta |
| that/those (nearby) | esa |
| that/those (further away) | aquella |
| masculine plural | |
| this/these | estos |
| that/those (nearby) | esos |
| that/those (further away) | aquellos |
| feminine plural | |
| this/these | estas |
| that/those (nearby) | esas |
| that/those (further away) | aquellas |
Question
Complete the sentences with the correct demonstrative adjective.
- Prefiero _______________ (these) libros.
- Vivo en _______________ (that - nearby) edificio.
- _______________ (those - far away) casas son enormes.
- _______________ (this) bocadillo es delicioso.
- Me gustarĂa visitar _______________ (those - nearby) tiendas.
- Prefiero estos libros (I prefer these books). The noun libros is masculine plural, so it needs the demonstrative adjective estos.
- Vivo en ese edificio (I live in that building). The noun edificio is masculine singular, so it needs the demonstrative adjective ese.
- Aquellas casas son enormes (Those houses are enormous). The noun casas is feminine plural, so it needs the demonstrative adjective aquellas.
- Este bocadillo es delicioso (This sandwich is delicious). The noun bocadillo is masculine singular, so it needs the demonstrative adjective este.
- Me gustarĂa visitar esas tiendas (I would like to visit those shops). The noun tiendas is feminine plural, so it needs the demonstrative adjective esas.