Language/Spanish/Grammar/Demonstrative-Adjectives

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Spanish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Demonstrative Adjectives

Welcome to today's lesson on demonstrative adjectives in Spanish! As you dive into the beautiful world of the Spanish language, understanding how to point out objects and people around you is crucial. Demonstrative adjectives help us specify which items we’re talking about, whether they’re close, further away, or quite distant. In this lesson, we will focus on the adjectives este (this), ese (that), and aquel (that over there). These words not only enrich our vocabulary but also enhance our ability to communicate effectively.

Why Are Demonstrative Adjectives Important?

Demonstrative adjectives are essential for expressing location and proximity. They help you identify things in relation to yourself or the listener. Imagine being in a market in Spain and wanting to buy a particular fruit. Instead of just saying “fruit,” you would use these adjectives to specify which fruit you're referring to, making your communication clearer and more engaging.

In this lesson, we will explore:

• The meanings and uses of este, ese, and aquel.

• How these adjectives agree in gender and number with nouns.

• Plenty of examples to illustrate their use in context.

• Exercises to practice what you've learned.

Understanding Demonstrative Adjectives

Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish are used to indicate specific nouns in relation to the speaker's point of view. Here’s a breakdown of the three main demonstrative adjectives we'll be focusing on:

1. Este (This) - Refers to something that is close to the speaker.

2. Ese (That) - Refers to something that is a bit further away from the speaker but still near the listener.

3. Aquel (That over there) - Refers to something that is far from both the speaker and the listener.

Each of these adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).

Gender and Number Agreement

In Spanish, nouns have gender. They are either masculine or feminine. Demonstrative adjectives must align with the gender of the nouns they describe.

• Masculine Singular: este, ese, aquel

• Feminine Singular: esta, esa, aquella

• Masculine Plural: estos, esos, aquellos

• Feminine Plural: estas, esas, aquellas

To illustrate this, consider the following table:

Category	Singular	Plural
Masculine	este (this)	estos (these)
Feminine	esta (this)	estas (these)
Masculine	ese (that)	esos (those)
Feminine	esa (that)	esas (those)
Masculine	aquel (that over there)	aquellos (those over there)
Feminine	aquella (that over there)	aquellas (those over there)

Examples of Demonstrative Adjectives

Now, let's dive into some examples to clarify how we use these adjectives in sentences. Below, you will find a variety of scenarios illustrating the use of este, ese, and aquel.

Spanish	Pronunciation	English
Este libro es interesante.	ˈes.te ˈli.βɾo es inte.ɾeˈsan.te.	This book is interesting.
Esta casa es hermosa.	ˈes.ta ˈka.sa es eɾˈmo.sa.	This house is beautiful.
Estos zapatos son nuevos.	ˈes.tos θaˈpa.tos son ˈnwe.βos.	These shoes are new.
Estas flores son para ti.	ˈes.tas ˈflo.ɾes son ˈpa.ɾa ti.	These flowers are for you.
Ese coche es rápido.	ˈe.se ˈko.tʃe es ˈra.pi.ðo.	That car is fast.
Esa película fue buena.	ˈe.sa peˈli.ku.la fue ˈbwe.na.	That movie was good.
Esos niños son alegres.	ˈe.sos ˈni.ɲos son aˈle.ɾes.	Those children are cheerful.
Esas galletas son deliciosas.	ˈe.sas ɡaˈʝe.tas son de.liˈθjo.sas.	Those cookies are delicious.
Aquel árbol es muy alto.	aˈkel ˈaɾ.bol es mu.i ˈal.to.	That tree over there is very tall.
Aquella montaña es hermosa.	aˈke.ʝa monˈtaɲa es eɾˈmo.sa.	That mountain over there is beautiful.
Aquellos hombres son amables.	aˈke.ʝos ˈom.bɾes son aˈma.βles.	Those men over there are kind.
Aquellas estrellas brillan en el cielo.	aˈke.ʝas esˈtɾe.ʝas ˈbɾi.ʝan en el ˈθje.lo.	Those stars over there shine in the sky.

Practice Exercises

Now that we’ve gone over the theory and examples, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Here are ten practice exercises for you to complete. After each exercise, you'll find detailed solutions and explanations.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of the demonstrative adjective (este, ese, aquel).

1. ___ coche es muy viejo. (that)

2. ___ libro es mío. (this)

3. ___ flores son hermosas. (these)

4. ___ montaña es muy alta. (that over there)

5. ___ galletas son deliciosas. (these)

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Ese coche es muy viejo. (That car is very old.)

2. Este libro es mío. (This book is mine.)

3. Estas flores son hermosas. (These flowers are beautiful.)

4. Aquella montaña es muy alta. (That mountain over there is very tall.)

5. Estas galletas son deliciosas. (These cookies are delicious.)

Exercise 2: Choose the right adjective

Select the correct demonstrative adjective for each sentence.

1. ___ (Este/Ese) día está soleado.

2. No me gusta ___ (aquel/esa) vestido.

3. ___ (Estos/Esos) amigos son divertidos.

4. ___ (Aquella/Esa) casa es antigua.

5. Me gustan ___ (estas/esas) manzanas.

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Este día está soleado. (This day is sunny.)

2. No me gusta ese vestido. (I don't like that dress.)

3. Estos amigos son divertidos. (These friends are funny.)

4. Aquella casa es antigua. (That house over there is old.)

5. Me gustan estas manzanas. (I like these apples.)

Exercise 3: Translate the sentences

Translate the following sentences into Spanish using the appropriate demonstrative adjective.

1. That chair is broken.

2. This dog is very friendly.

3. Those children are playing outside.

4. That over there is my house.

5. These apples are fresh.

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Esa silla está rota. (That chair is broken.)

2. Este perro es muy amigable. (This dog is very friendly.)

3. Esos niños están jugando afuera. (Those children are playing outside.)

4. Aquella es mi casa. (That over there is my house.)

5. Estas manzanas están frescas. (These apples are fresh.)

Exercise 4: Correct the sentences

Identify and correct the errors in the use of demonstrative adjectives in the following sentences.

1. Aquellos casa es bonita.

2. Este galleta está rica.

3. Esa montañas son grandes.

4. Estos libro es interesante.

5. Aquel perro son amigables.

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Aquella casa es bonita. (That house is beautiful.)

2. Esta galleta está rica. (This cookie is delicious.)

3. Esas montañas son grandes. (Those mountains are big.)

4. Este libro es interesante. (This book is interesting.)

5. Aquel perro es amigable. (That dog is friendly.)

Exercise 5: Match the sentences

Match the Spanish sentence with its English translation.

1. Este edificio es alto.

2. Esa mochila es nueva.

3. Aquella playa es hermosa.

4. Estos libros son interesantes.

5. Esos coches son rápidos.

a. Those cars are fast.

b. That backpack is new.

c. That beach over there is beautiful.

d. This building is tall.

e. These books are interesting.

Solutions and Explanations:

1 - d: Este edificio es alto. (This building is tall.)

2 - b: Esa mochila es nueva. (That backpack is new.)

3 - c: Aquella playa es hermosa. (That beach over there is beautiful.)

4 - e: Estos libros son interesantes. (These books are interesting.)

5 - a: Esos coches son rápidos. (Those cars are fast.)

Exercise 6: Create your own sentences

Write a sentence for each demonstrative adjective (este, ese, aquel).

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Este gato es muy juguetón. (This cat is very playful.)

2. Ese árbol es frondoso. (That tree is leafy.)

3. Aquella estrella brilla en el cielo. (That star over there shines in the sky.)

Exercise 7: Identify the demonstrative adjectives

Read the following sentences and underline the demonstrative adjectives.

1. Este coche es mejor que ese.

2. Aquella casa es más grande que esta.

3. Esos libros están en la mesa.

4. Estas flores son para mi madre.

5. Aquel lugar es muy especial para mí.

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Este coche es mejor que ese. (This car is better than that one.)

2. Aquella casa es más grande que esta. (That house is bigger than this one.)

3. Esos libros están en la mesa. (Those books are on the table.)

4. Estas flores son para mi madre. (These flowers are for my mom.)

5. Aquel lugar es muy especial para mí. (That place over there is very special to me.)

Exercise 8: Fill in the correct form

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the demonstrative adjective based on the noun provided.

1. ___ (aquel) perro = ___ perro (that over there)

2. ___ (este) computadora = ___ computadora (this)

3. ___ (ese) camisa = ___ camisa (that)

4. ___ (aquel) casas = ___ casas (those over there)

5. ___ (esta) mesa = ___ mesa (this)

Solutions and Explanations:

1. Aquel perro = ese perro (That over there dog = that dog.)

2. Esta computadora = esta computadora (This computer = this computer.)

3. Esa camisa = esa camisa (That shirt = that shirt.)

4. Aquellas casas = aquellas casas (Those over there houses = those over there houses.)

5. Esta mesa = esta mesa (This table = this table.)

Exercise 9: True or False

Determine if the following statements are true or false.

1. Este is used for things that are far away. (False)

2. Esa refers to something that is further away from the speaker. (True)

3. Aquella can be used for plural nouns. (True, as "aquellos" or "aquellas")

4. Esto is a demonstrative pronoun, not an adjective. (True)

5. Estas is the plural feminine form of este. (True)

Solutions and Explanations:

1. False - Este refers to things close to the speaker.

2. True - Esa is used for things that are a bit further away.

3. True - Aquella can be used in plural as "aquellos" or "aquellas."

4. True - Esto is indeed a demonstrative pronoun.

5. True - Estas is the plural feminine form of este.

Exercise 10: Group Discussion

In small groups, describe your surroundings using the demonstrative adjectives. Use at least five different nouns, incorporating este, ese, and aquel. Share your sentences with the class.

Solutions and Explanations:

Encourage students to use their creativity and describe items around them. They can use sentences like:

1. Este libro es interesante.

2. Ese cuadro es antiguo.

3. Aquel árbol es altísimo.

4. Estas sillas son cómodas.

5. Esos zapatos están sucios.

This exercise promotes speaking skills and reinforces the lesson's content.

Conclusion

In this lesson, you have learned about demonstrative adjectives in Spanish, specifically este, ese, and aquel. You’ve practiced filling in gaps, translating sentences, and even creating your own. Remember that these adjectives are essential for clear communication, allowing you to specify which items you’re referring to in conversation. Keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to use these adjectives in everyday situations!

¡Buena suerte con tus estudios de español! (Good luck with your Spanish studies!)

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Spanish

• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Nouns and Gender
• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Subject Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense Verbs
• Ser and Estar
• Reflexive Verbs

  ---

Adjectives

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Demonstrative Adjectives

  ---

Pronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns
• Indirect Object Pronouns

  ---

Common Words and Phrases

• Greetings and Salutations
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months of the Year

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Restaurant Phrases

  ---

Travel and Directions

• Asking for Directions
• Hotel Vocabulary

  ---

Spanish-Speaking Countries

• Spain: History and Culture
• Latin America: History and Culture

  ---

Celebrations and Festivals

• Día de los Muertos
• Cinco de Mayo

  ---

Hispanic Heritage Month

• Notable Hispanic Figures
• Hispanic Influence on Music and Dance

Sources

• Demonstratives - StudySpanish.com
• Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish
• Demonstrative adjectives - Revising Spanish grammar - adjectives ...

Other Lessons

• Simple Present Tense
• Past Perfect Tense
• ¿Pluscuamperfecto?
• Indirect Object Pronouns
• The Articles
• El Verboide
• The Spanish Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Por vs Para
• Plural

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