Spanish Demonstratives

Este, ese, aquel — three levels of distance. Plus neuter esto, eso, aquello.

Three levels of distance

Near me (this)Near you (that)Far from both (that over there)
Masc. sing.esteeseaquel
Fem. sing.estaesaaquella
Masc. pl.estosesosaquellos
Fem. pl.estasesasaquellas
Neuterestoesoaquello
Examples

Este libro es mío. (This book is mine. — near me)
Esa casa es bonita. (That house is pretty. — near you)
Aquella montaña es alta. (That mountain over there is tall. — far away)

Neuter forms: esto, eso, aquello

Used for abstract ideas, unknown things, or general situations — never with a noun

¿Qué es esto? (What is this?)
Eso no es verdad. (That's not true.)
Aquello fue increíble. (That was incredible.)
NEVER: esto libroeste libro

As pronouns (without noun)

Same forms, no accent needed (since 2010 RAE reform)

Quiero este, no ese. (I want this one, not that one.)
Estos son mejores que aquellos. (These are better than those.)

Common expressions

En ese momento = at that moment
En aquella época = in that era
Por eso = that's why, for that reason
¡Eso es! = That's it! Exactly!

Quick quiz

1. _____ libro es mío. (this — near me, masc.)

2. _____ casa es bonita. (that — near you, fem.)

3. ¿Qué es _____? (this — unknown thing)

4. _____ montañas son altas. (those over there, fem.)

5. _____ no es verdad. (that — abstract)

6. Quiero _____ zapatos, no _____. (these, those)

7. En _____ momento, todo cambió. (that)

8. _____ fue increíble. (that — far/past)

9. ¡_____ es! (That's it! Exactly!)

10. _____ chicas son mis amigas. (these, fem.)

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