Learn about Spanish demonstrative adjectives 'este', 'ese', and 'aquel' to describe objects by distance and gender. Understand their agreement in gender and number with nouns, and how they help express spatial relationships through practical examples like 'este día' (this day) and 'aquella receta' (that recipe over there). This lesson is designed for A1 Spanish learners to build a strong foundation in using these essential adjectives accurately.
- Demonstrative adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun.
- We use them to recognise the spatial or temporal distance of something.
| Distancia (Distance) | Masculino (Masculine) | Femenino (Feminine) |
| Cerca (Near) | Singular: Este → Este día es duro. (This day is hard.) | Singular: Esta → Esta camisa es nueva. (This shirt is new.) |
| Plural: Estos → Estos pantalones son anchos. (These trousers are wide.) | Plural: Estas → Estas manzanas son grandes. (These apples are large.) | |
| Media distancia (Mid-range) | Singular: Ese → Ese pan es suave. (That bread is soft.) | Singular: Esa → Esa falda es estrecha. (That skirt is tight.) |
| Plural: Esos → Esos países son grandes. (Those countries are big.) | Plural: Esas → Esas profesiones son duras. (Those professions are tough.) | |
| Lejos (Far) | Singular: Aquel → Aquel médico es nuevo. (That doctor is new.) | Singular: Aquella → Aquella receta es vieja. (That recipe is old.) |
| Plural: Aquellos → Aquellos sombreros son gruesos. (Those hats are thick.) | Plural: Aquellas → Aquellas gafas son finas. (Those glasses are fine.) |
Exercise 1: Los adjetivos demostrativos: "Este, ese, aquel"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
estas, Aquellos, Esos, Estos, Esas, Aquellas, aquella, Esa
1.
Cerca:
... zapatos son gruesos.
(These shoes are thick.)
2.
Media distancia:
... casas son estrechas.
(Those houses are narrow.)
3.
Cerca:
¡Mira ... botas!
(Look at these boots!)
4.
Media distancia:
... ojos son claros.
(Those eyes are clear.)
5.
Lejos:
... camisetas son suaves.
(Those T-shirts are soft.)
6.
Media distancia:
... falda me gusta mucho.
(I like that skirt a lot.)
7.
Lejos:
Quiero mirar ... camiseta.
(I want to look at that T-shirt.)
8.
Lejos:
... camareros son nuevos.
(Those waiters are new.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. ___ cuadrado es grande y tiene líneas gruesas.
(___ square is big and has thick lines.)2. ___ línea es larga pero fina.
(___ line is long but thin.)3. ___ triángulos son nuevos y anchos.
(___ triangles are new and wide.)4. ___ forma es pequeña y de color claro.
(___ shape is small and light-colored.)5. Miramos ___ rectángulo porque es duro y alto.
(We look at ___ rectangle because it is hard and tall.)6. ___ línea es suave y vieja.
(___ line is smooth and old.)