Unit 20 (Unidad 20)
Demonstrative adjectives and
pronouns (Los adjetivos y
pronombres demostrativos)
Level 1
1.1 Demonstrative adjectives (Adjetivos demostrativos)
1.2 Demonstrative pronouns (Pronombres demostrativos)
1.3
´
Este and aqu ´el = the latter and the former
1.4 Neuter pronouns (Pronombres neutros)
1.1 Demonstrative adjectives
i There are three demonstrative adjectives in Spanish. They correspond to the English
this, these, that and those. They agree with the noun to which they relate, in the
same manner as adjectives:
m. f. neuter
este esta esto this
sing. ese esa eso that (near you)
aquel aquella aquello that (further away)
estos estas – these
plur. esos esas – those (near you)
aquellos aquellas – those (further away)
ii Este denotes what is close by, or associated with, the speaker. Ese relates to the thing
that is close to the person addressed and not far from the speaker or addressee.
Aquel is far or remote from both. They precede the nouns to which they belong.
However, they can follow the noun (see level 2.1).
Examples
este timbre (M)/sello que tengo aqu´ı this stamp I have here
Esta rec´amara (M)/habitaci´on est´a sucia This (bed)room is dirty
Estos sobres no tienen timbres (M)/sellos These envelopes don’t have stamps
Estas papas (M)/patatas est´an buenas These potatoes are nice

´
Este (este coche) es m´as caro que aqu´el This one (this car) is more expensive than
that one
´
Ese es un autor de primera categor´ıa That is a first-class author
Aqu´ella es una ´epoca fabulosa That is a fabulous period
Prefiero aqu´ellas en el escaparate Iprefer those in the store window
1.3
´
Este and aqu
´
el = the latter and the former
A further difference between
´
este and its variants, and aqu
´
el and its variants is that
´
este, etc., has the value of the latter,while aqu
´
el has the value of the former:
Hay una lucha entre los aztecas y los There is a struggle between the Aztecs
espa˜noles.
´
Estos tienen ca˜nones en tanto aqu´ellos . . . and the Spaniards. The latter have cannons
while the former...
1.4 Neuter pronouns
The neuter pronoun forms, esto, eso and aquello are also used but only absolutely:
that is to say, they are never found associated with nouns. They do not refer to anything
specific, persons or things. They apply to statements and abstract ideas:

b Estas naranjas son bastante caras
c ¿Pasa este tren por C´ordoba?
d Esta lecci´on es muy f´acil
e Me pregunto qu´ehay en este paquete
f Voyavenderle los relojes a este cliente
iii Complete the following with aqu ´el, aqu ´ella, etc., as in the example
No quieren estas manzanas, sino ( ) > ...sino aqu´ellas
a No quieren este chocolate, sino (
)
b No quiero estos sillones, sino (
)
c No prefiero este carro (M)/coche, sino (
)
d No me gusta esta alfombra, sino (
)
e No comprar´e este disco, sino (
)
f No prefiero estas macetas, sino (
)
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ASTUDENT GRAMMAR OF SPANISH
iv Complete the following with ´este, ´esta, etc
Example
Aquella computadora (M)esm´as r´apida que (
) > ...que´esta
a Ese ordenador es m´as caro que (
)
b Aquella lavadora es m´as eficiente que (
)
c Aquel cami´on (M)esm´as lento que (

cases, they frequently, but not always, suggest a pejorative or ironic touch.
La carretera esa es muy peligrosa That road is very dangerous
El chico aquel nunca estudia That boy never studies
La lavadora esta funciona fatal, es un cacharro This washing machine is hopeless, it’s a
piece of junk
la taimada esa that sly so and so
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20 Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns
2.2 Uses of the pronoun el
i El,inits several forms, when used as a pronoun, does not accompany a noun, but
serves to avoid the repetition of one; it is equivalent to the English that, those, the
one, the ones, referring to something already mentioned or understood:
Compr´emicomputadora (M)yla que tiene mi hija I bought my computer and the one my
daughter has / my daughter’s
Me gusta mi ordenador y el que compraste I like my computer and the one you bought
Romp´ılapluma (M)m´ıa y la de mi cuate (M)/
amigo
Ibroke my pen and that of my friend / my
friend’s
Son muy bonitas las plantas en el jard´ın y las de al
lado
The plants in the yard/garden and those at
the side are very attractive
ii When a relative pronoun follows, el, los, la, las are used instead of the personal
pronouns ´el, los, la and las:
El que habl´oayerescolombiano The one who spoke yesterday is Colombian
La que nos encontramos es muy rica The one we met is very rich
Los que murieron eran canadienses Those who died were Canadians
Las que te ayudaron son muy majas Those who helped you are very nice
iii But when the relative following is governed by a preposition, aqu ´el is more usual as

)deArmando
g ¿Qu´evas a hacer con mi bicicleta y (
)deCarlos?
h No me convencen las ideas de Pedro y (
)deRoberto
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