Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Demonstrative adjectives are used to discuss the space between a person and something. English uses this and that as demonstrative adjectives. If there are multiple items, then these or those are used.

This and these have ts, that and those do not.

Este/This is near the speaker.

Ese/That is not near the speaker.

Aquel is far away from the speaker.

Demonstrative adjectives come before their noun. Articles are never used with demonstrative adjectives.

To turn demonstrative adjectives into a pronoun, an accent is placed on the first e of the adjectives. With pronouns, there are no nouns after it.

Quiero ese libro. → Quiero ése.

I want that book. → I want that one.

Three demonstrative pronouns are neuter: esto, eso, and aquello. They will not carry an accent on their first e. Neuter demonstrative pronouns are only used with ideas or concepts that aren’t tied with something.