difference between este ese aquel in Spanish grammar Archives

Mastering Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives: A Complete Guide with Examples & Exercises

If you’re learning Spanish, you’ve likely come across words like “este,” “ese,” and “aquel.” These small but powerful words, known as demonstrative adjectives, help indicate specific objects based on their distance from the speaker. Mastering them will make your Spanish sound more natural and precise.

What You’ll Learn in This Guide

🔹 What demonstrative adjectives are
🔹 How to use them correctly
🔹 Common mistakes to avoid
🔹 Example sentences with translations
🔹 Practical real-life scenarios
🔹 Cultural insights on their usage
🔹 A fun dialogue to see them in action
🔹 Interactive exercises to test your understanding

Let’s get started! 🎉

What Are Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish?

Demonstrative adjectives in Spanish help identify which object you’re referring to based on its distance relative to the speaker and listener. Unlike in English, these adjectives must agree in:

✅ Gender (masculine/feminine)
✅ Number (singular/plural)

Here’s a quick reference table:

Distance	Masculine Singular	Feminine Singular	Masculine Plural	Feminine Plural
Close to speaker	este	esta	estos	estas
Close to listener	ese	esa	esos	esas
Far from both	aquel	aquella	aquellos	aquellas

Key Rule:

Demonstrative adjectives always come before the noun they describe.

📝 Example Sentences:

Este libro es interesante. (This book is interesting.)
Esa camisa me gusta. (That shirt pleases me.)
Aquellos árboles son altos. (Those trees over there are tall.)

How to Use Demonstrative Adjectives in Real Life

Now that we know the basics, let’s see how and when to use each set.

1️⃣ “Este/Esta/Estos/Estas” – Close to the Speaker

Use these words when referring to something physically or emotionally close to you.

📌 Examples:

Este coche es mío. (This car is mine.)
¿Quieres esta manzana? (Do you want this apple?)
Estos libros son nuevos. (These books are new.)
Estas flores huelen bien. (These flowers smell good.)

🏪 Real-Life Example (Shopping)
Imagine you’re in a store pointing to a product in your hand:

Me gusta esta camisa. (I like this shirt.)

💡 Cultural Insight:
Spanish speakers also use “este” to refer to the present moment:

Este momento es especial. (This moment is special.)

2️⃣ “Ese/Esa/Esos/Esas” – Close to the Listener

Use these words when the object is closer to the listener than to you.

📌 Examples:

Ese perro es tuyo, ¿verdad? (That dog is yours, right?)
Prefiero esa chaqueta. (I prefer that jacket.)
Esos zapatos son caros. (Those shoes are expensive.)
Esas casas son bonitas. (Those houses are beautiful.)

🚖 Real-Life Example (Asking for Directions)
You’re lost and asking someone:

¿Es esa la estación de tren? (Is that the train station?)

📝 Common Expression:
In Spanish, “ese” is often used to talk about something slightly distant but still within reach:

Esa idea no me convence. (That idea doesn’t convince me.)

3️⃣ “Aquel/Aquella/Aquellos/Aquellas” – Far from Both

Use these for things far from both the speaker and listener. It often implies physical or emotional distance.

📌 Examples:

¿Ves aquel edificio alto? (Do you see that tall building over there?)
Aquella época fue inolvidable. (That time was unforgettable.)
Aquellos niños jugaban en el parque. (Those kids over there were playing in the park.)
Aquellas montañas son impresionantes. (Those mountains over there are stunning.)

💭 Cultural Insight:
Spanish speakers use “aquel” when talking about memories or past events:

Aquel verano fue increíble. (That summer was incredible.)

📝 Things to Keep in Mind

✔ Demonstrative adjectives always come before the noun they describe.

✅ Este coche es rápido. (This car is fast.)
❌ Coche este es rápido. (Incorrect!)

✔ They must match the gender and number of the noun.

✅ Esa mesa es grande. (That table is big.)
❌ Esa mesas es grande. (Incorrect!)

✔ Aquel/aquella is often used for past events or nostalgic memories.

✅ Aquel verano fue el mejor de mi vida. (That summer was the best of my life.)

🗣️ Demonstrative Adjectives in Action

Carlos: ¡Mira este reloj! ¿No es bonito? (Look at this watch! Isn’t it pretty?)

María: Sí, pero me gusta más ese reloj que tiene Pedro. (Yes, but I like that watch that Pedro has more.)

Carlos: ¿Y aquel reloj en la vitrina? Es muy elegante. (And that watch over there in the showcase? It’s very elegant.)

María: Sí, pero es demasiado caro. (Yes, but it’s too expensive.)

⚠️ Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

🚫 Mistake 1: Using the wrong gender agreement.
✅ Correct: Este coche es rojo. (This car is red.)
❌ Incorrect: Esta coche es rojo.

🚫 Mistake 2: Confusing demonstrative adjectives with demonstrative pronouns.
✅ Correct: Quiero esa chaqueta. (I want that jacket.)
❌ Incorrect: Quiero ésa chaqueta. (In this case, ésta should be used alone, without the noun.)

Example Sentences

Este café está muy caliente. (This coffee is very hot.)
Esa lámpara es muy bonita. (That lamp is very pretty.)
Aquellos pájaros cantan hermosamente. (Those birds over there sing beautifully.)
Esta computadora es muy rápida. (This computer is very fast.)
Ese reloj es caro. (That watch is expensive.)
Aquel castillo es impresionante. (That castle over there is impressive.)
Estos niños son muy inteligentes. (These kids are very smart.)
Esas mochilas son pesadas. (Those backpacks are heavy.)
Aquellas ciudades tienen una historia interesante. (Those cities over there have an interesting history.)
Este celular tiene una buena cámara. (This phone has a good camera.)
Esa película fue muy emocionante. (That movie was very exciting.)
Aquellos recuerdos me hacen feliz. (Those memories over there make me happy.)
Esta camisa es nueva. (This shirt is new.)
Ese bolígrafo no escribe bien. (That pen doesn’t write well.)
Aquel cuadro es una obra maestra. (That painting over there is a masterpiece.)
Estos asientos son muy cómodos. (These seats are very comfortable.)
Esas puertas están cerradas. (Those doors are closed.)
Aquellas estrellas brillan mucho. (Those stars over there shine a lot.)
Este parque es muy grande. (This park is very big.)
Esa tienda vende ropa barata. (That store sells cheap clothes.)

📝 Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjective:

_________ libro que tengo aquí es muy interesante. (Este)
Me encanta _________ vestido que llevas. (Ese)
Mira _________ estrellas en el cielo. (Aquellas)
_________ zapatos son muy cómodos. (Estos)
¿Recuerdas _________ días de nuestra infancia? (Aquellos)
_________ casa en la esquina es la mía. (Esa)
_________ estudiantes son muy dedicados. (Estos)
No me gusta _________ coche, prefiero este. (Ese)
_________ sillas están ocupadas. (Esas)
¿Puedes ver _________ montaña en la distancia? (Aquella)
_________ teléfono que tienes es viejo. (Ese)
Necesito _________ cuaderno para mi clase. (Este)
_________ perros pertenecen a mi vecino. (Esos)
_________ chica de allí es mi hermana. (Aquella)
Me gustan más _________ flores que las otras. (Estas)
¿Sabes quién vive en _________ edificio al final de la calle? (Aquel)
_________ gafas que llevas son muy elegantes. (Esas)
_________ niño que juega allá es mi primo. (Aquel)
No toques _________ plato, está caliente. (Este)
_________ mochilas son demasiado pesadas. (Aquellas)
¿Por qué compraste _________ camisa y no esta? (Esa)
_________ árboles en el parque son hermosos. (Esos)
Prefiero _________ reloj, el tuyo está roto. (Este)
No puedo leer _________ letra, es muy pequeña. (Esa)
_________ ordenador en la oficina funciona mejor. (Aquel)

📌 Summary of Key Points

✔ “Este/Esta/Estos/Estas” – Close to the speaker.
✔ “Ese/Esa/Esos/Esas” – Close to the listener.
✔ “Aquel/Aquella/Aquellos/Aquellas” – Far from both.
✔ Always match gender and number with the noun.
✔ “Aquel” often implies nostalgia or emotional distance.
✔ Practice by pointing at things and saying the correct demonstrative adjective!

Start Practicing Today!

Now that you’ve mastered Spanish demonstrative adjectives, try using them in daily conversations! The more you practice, the more naturally they will come to you.

If you found this guide helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below or connect with me on social media. For more tips, resources, and inspiration, visit my blog at mylanguageclasses.in. Follow on Instagram and subscribe on YouTube

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