Demonstrative Pronouns
CONTENT
Demonstrative determiners can also take the form of pronouns when they replace a noun (instead of modifying it).
Native
Translation
- ¿Me puede enseñar esa falda?
- ¿Esta?
- No, aquella.
- Can you show me that skirt?
- This one?
- No, that one.
Reviewing Demonstrative Determiners
Rule 1. Determinative demonstratives accompany a noun and indicate which entities are being referred to. They must agree in number and gender with the noun they accompany.
Native
Translation
- ¿Me puede enseñar esa falda?
- Can you show me that skirt?
How to Use Demonstrative Pronouns?
Rule 2. Demonstrative pronouns are used to replace something that is being talked about, and often show the proximity between two entities.
Native
Translation
- ¿Cuál juguete quieres?
- Ese de ahí.
- Which toy do you want?
- That one over there.
Demonstrative Pronouns Form
Rule 3. The demonstrative pronouns are the same as the demonstrative determiners, only with a neutral variation discussed further below. Remember that they have to agree in number and gender with the noun they are replacing.
| Masculine Singular | este\t | ese | aquel |
| Masculine Plural | estos | esos\t | aquellos |
| Feminine Singular | esta\t | esa | aquella |
| Feminine Plural | estas | esas | aquellas |
Native
Translation
- ¿Te gustan estos tennis?
- No, aquellos son mejores.
- Do you like these tennis shoes?
- No, those are better.
Neutral demonstratives
Rule 4. Unlike determiners, demonstrative pronouns have a neutral form. This is always singular and refers to abstract ideas, the unknown, or something that has already been mentioned.
The demonstrative pronouns in the neutral form are the following:
- esto
- eso
- aquello
Native
Translation
¿Qué quiere decir esto?
What does this mean?
Quiz
1/3
¿Te gustan estos zapatos?
0
correct answers.