6.3: Demonstratives
- Page ID
- 415651
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns
Demonstrative adjectives demonstrate the place of a noun. In English, we use the words this, these, that, and those. In Spanish, we use the same words, but there are two ways to say that and those because we decide if the noun is close or far. In Spanish, demonstrative adjectives must also match the gender and number of the noun they describe.
Demonstrative adjectives
English Spanish
this este, esta these estos, estas
that for nouns that are close: ese, esa those for nouns that are close: esos, esas
that for nouns that are far: aquel, aquella those for nouns that are far: aquellos, aquellas
Sometimes the saying, “This and these have Ts, that and those don’t.” helps learners to remember the difference between the first two groups of words. Reread the rhyme, then reread the demonstrative pronouns. Does the rhyme help you?
Below are some examples with demonstrative adjectives. I like this book. Me gusta este libro. I like this shirt. Me gusta esta camisa. I like these tacos. Me gustan estos tacos. I like these movies. Me gustan estas películas.
I like that book. Me gusta ese libro. (Ese means that is it close.) I like that shirt. Me gusta esa camisa. I like those tacos. Me gustan esos tacos. I like those movies. Me gustan esas películas.
I like that book. Me gusta aquel libro. (Aquel means that is it far.) I like that shirt. Me gusta aquella camisa. I like those tacos. Me gustan aquellos tacos. I like those movies. Me gustan esas películas.
We use the same words for demonstrative pronouns, but they have written accent marks. Demonstrative words cannot have both a noun and an accent. It might help to remember that demonstrative adjectives have nouns and demonstrative pronouns have accent marks.
Demonstrative pronouns
English Spanish
this éste, ésta these éstos, éstas
that for nouns that are close: ése, ésa those for nouns that are close: ésos, ésas
that for nouns that are far: aquél, aquélla those for nouns that are far: aquéllos, aquéllas
Below are some examples with demonstrative adjectives.
I like this. Me gusta éste. I like this . Me gusta ésta. I like these. Me gustan éstos. I like these. Me gustan éstas.
I like that. Me gusta ése. (Ése means that is it close.) I like that. Me gusta ésa. I like those. Me gustan ésos. I like those . Me gustan ésas.
I like that. Me gusta aquél libro. (Aquél means that is it far.) I like that shirt. Me gusta aquélla. I like those tacos. Me gustan aquéllos. I like those movies. Me gustan aquéllas.
The neuter forms esto, eso, and aquello are demonstrative pronouns used to refer to nonspecific ideas, situations, or things. These words do not change gender or number and do not require a written accent mark.
For example
I like this. Me gusta esto.
That is important. Eso es importante.
That is interesting. Aquello es interesante.
Remember that the written accents marks on the demonstrative pronuns are very important. Without a written accent they are demonstrative adjectives. With written accent marks demonstrative adjectives become demonstrative pronouns.
Prácticas.
A. Translate each phrase with the appropriate demonstrative adjective.
1. this professor
2. that (far) map
3. these students
4. those (far) students
5. those (close) students
6. that (far) bicycle
7. this computer
8. those (close) cars
9. these books
10. that (shoe)
11. this pen
12. those (far) dogs
13. this cat
14. that (far) cat
15. these nachos
16. those (close) photos
17. this jacket
18. that (close) jacket
19. that (far) jacket
20. these plates
21. those (close) chairs
22. this desk
23. that (far) shirt
24. that (close) door
25. these days
B. Identify the demonstrative adjective or demonstrative pronoun in each sentence. Explain why it is an adjective or pronoun. Then, translate each sentence.
1. Esa madre es muy dedicada.
2. Aquellos abuelos son activos.
3. Ése es importante.
4. Éstos son buenos.
5. Esta canción es pegajosa (catchy).
6. Aquélla es importante.
7. Este padre es trabajador.
8. Ésos son nuevos.
9. Aquellos zapatos son viejos.
10. Éstas chicas son altas.
C. Rewrite each sentence by replacing the demonstrative adjective with a demonstrative pronoun.
Ejemplo: Ese perro es fantástico. Ése es fantástico.
1. Este libro es interesante.
2. Aquellos chicos son inteligentes.
3. Esa profesora es buena.
4. Esos tacos son deliciosos.
5. Aquel poema es corto.
6. Estos carros son rápidos.
7. Esta televisión es grande.
8. Aquellos países son importantes.
9. Ese programa es largo.
10. Esta universidad es buena.
D. La música. In the song El Perdón by Nicky Jam and Enrique Iglesias uses demonstrative adjectives. Listen to the song. Then, write the demonstrative adjectives that you hear.
E. What is a demonstrative adjective? How is a demonstrative adjective different from a demonstrative pronoun? Write out three sentences with a demonstrative adjective. Then, reewrite each sentence with a demonstrative pronoun.