Demonstratives: este, ese, aquel
A1Grammar path · Lesson 20 of 86 · Stage A1 · Questions, negatives and plans
You use demonstratives whenever you point to a specific person or thing: 'this one', 'that one', 'that one over there'. Spanish has three distances: este (near the speaker), ese (near the listener or a bit away) and aquel (far from both). They agree in gender and number with the noun: esta casa, estos libros, aquellas mesas. For something unnamed or an idea, use the neuter esto, eso, aquello, which never go before a noun. Learners often mix up ese and aquel: ese is 'that' near the person you are talking to, while aquel is 'that over there', clearly far away.
Practise this lesson · 10 sentences
Form
este / ese / aquel + sustantivoverbo + este / ese / aquelesto / eso / aquello + verbo¿Qué es + esto / eso / aquello?When to use it
Pointing at things by distance
Choose este for things near you, ese for things near the listener, and aquel for things far from both. Remember to match gender and number.
Talking about time
Este refers to the present or upcoming period, while aquel usually points to the distant past. Ese refers to a time just mentioned.
Referring to unknown things or ideas
Use esto, eso, aquello when you do not know what something is or when referring to an idea or situation. These forms never go before a noun.
Demonstratives by distance
Signal words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ese and aquel?
ese points to something near the listener or a little away, like 'that'. aquel points to something far from both people, like 'that over there', and is also used for the distant past.
When do I use esto, eso, aquello?
Use them when you do not know what something is or when you refer to an idea or situation. They never go before a noun: say este libro, not esto libro.
Do demonstratives agree in gender and number?
Yes. For example este chico, esta chica, estos chicos, estas chicas; the same goes for ese and aquel.
What is the masculine plural of este and aquel?
The masculine plural forms are estos, esos and aquellos. Never write estes or aquels.
Do I need an accent when este stands alone?
It is no longer required, so just write este without an accent. Only keep it apart from the verb esté from estar.