Demonstrative Pronouns

In English the demonstrative pronouns are used to indicate specific items similar to the Demonstrative Adjectives.

Remember that the Demonstrative Adjectives point out specific nouns and include the nouns themselves. For example, we can point out one particular dog by saying "this dog" or "that dog". We include the word "dog" in the statement.
The Demonstrative Pronouns serve the same purpose as the Demonstrative adjectives in pointing out a specific noun, BUT they replace the noun itself:

Instead of saying "I like this dog better that that dog," we can say "I like this dog better than That One." The phrase "that one" means "that dog", but by using the demonstrative pronoun we don't need to repeat the noun "dog".

In Spanish we use the same form as the Demonstrative Adjectives, but add an accent mark to differentiate them from the adjectives. I like to think of it as changing the noun into an accent mark:

Este perro -----> Éste [This dog ------> this one]

Here are the Demonstrative Pronoun:

"This" and "These"	Singular	Plural
Masculine	éste	éstos
Feminine	ésta	éstas

"That" and "Those"	Singular	Plural
Masculine	ése	ésos
Feminine	ésa	ésas

"That one over there" and "Those ones over there"	Singular	Plural
Masculine	aquél	aquéllos
Feminine	aquélla	aquéllas

Just like the Demonstrative adjectives, the Demonstrative pronouns éste, ésta, éstos and éstas are used to indicate which are physically close to the speaker as well as to whomever he or she is speaking, usually within easy reaching distance. It corresponds to the English "this one" or "these ones" and would be used under the same circumstances.

Ése, ésa, ésos and ésas are used to point out nouns which are further away from the speaker (but not necessarily to the listeners), not within easy reaching distance. It corresponds to the English "that one" or "those ones" and would be used under the same circumstances.

Aquél, aquélla, aquéllos and aquéllas are used to indicate out nouns which are far away from both the speaker and the listeners, but within visual distance. It corresponds to the English "that one (way) over there" or "those ones (way) over there" and would be used under the same circumstances.

Demontrative Adjectives		Demonstrative Pronouns
Este suéter	This sweater	Éste	This one (refers to the sweater)
Estos suéteres	These sweaters	Éstos	These (ones)
Ese suéter	That sweater	Ése	That one
Esos suéteres	Those sweaters	Ésos	Those (ones)
Aquel suéter	That sweater over there	Aquél	That one over there
Aquellos suéteres	Those sweaters over there	Aquéllos	Those (ones) over there

Note: There are two nuetral forms (that is, forms without gender or plurality): esto and eso.

They do not need an accent mark since there is no conflicting adjective form, nor do they represent specific nouns. Esto and Eso refer to ideas, concepts, situations or unidentified items.

¿Qué es esto ? What is going on here?! Why is my boyfriend Keanu in your kitchen?!
Keanu is now dating the French teacher! No me gusto eso. I don't like that!
¿Qué es aquello ? What the heck is that thing over there? I can't make it out.

Practice Demonstrative *Adjectives* on the Web!

Practice the Demonstratives *pronouns*

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