You demonstrative pronouns (demonstrative pronouns) are used to indicate the location of something or someone in relation to the sender and/or receiver of a message.
The main demonstrative pronouns in Spanish are: This one, these, it is, these, are, what if, these, this, these, I'm, that, those, that one, those and that.
How to use demonstrative pronouns in Spanish?
Check out the explanations below and learn how to use each pronoun.
Near the sender of the message
To refer to something or someone who is close to the sender of the message, we use the pronouns This one (This one), these (these), it is (it is), these (these) and are (this).
| close to the issuer | Male | Feminine | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | This one | it is | are |
| Plural form | these | these | - |
Examples:
- This is my friend Juan. (This is my friend Juan.)
- These are my colleagues. (These are my colleagues.)
- Not with this girl. (I don't know this girl.)
- He bought these fakes. (I bought these skirts.)
- all this es mio. (This is all mine.)
Near the recipient of the message
To refer to something or someone who is, in a way, far from the sender of the message and close to the receiver, we use the pronouns what if (that), esos (Those), this (That), these (these) and I'm (that).
| close to the receiver | Male | Feminine | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | what if | this | I'm |
| Plural form | esos | these | - |
Examples:
- Dame this boligrapher please. (Give me that pen, please.)
- These dresses are muy guapos. (These dresses are very cute.)
- this girl are you sister? (Is this girl your sister?)
- These tags are not good for anything. (These tags are useless.)
- This is very succio. (This is very dirty.)
Away from the sender and receiver of the message
To refer to something or someone that is far from both the sender and the receiver of the message, we use the pronouns that (that one), those (those ones), that one (that one), those (those), that (that one).
| Away from sender and receiver | Male | Feminine | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | that | that one | that |
| Plural form | those | those | - |
Examples:
- that red coach. (That red car is mine.)
- Those are my Portuguese students. (Those are my Portuguese students.)
- El viento close to that puerta. (The wind closed that door.)
- Those invoices on the table are overdue. (Those invoices on the table are overdue.)
- What is that under the silla? (What's that under the chair?)
Accentuation of demonstrative pronouns in Spanish
In the Spanish language, demonstrative pronouns can have the function of an adjective or pronoun in a sentence.
When exercising the function of pronouns, they are usually accented as a way to differentiate them from adjectives.
Examples:
- Éeste es el libro I bought for you. (This is the book I bought for you.)
- This book is muy good. (This book is very good.)
However, the recommendation of RAE (Royal Spanish Academy) is that the accent is only applied in cases where there is ambiguity.
Important: in Spanish, there are no contracted forms of pronouns as in Portuguese, that is, there is no word in Spanish equivalent to esse, in this, in this, in this, in that, in that and derivatives.
In the Spanish language the preposition + pronoun is used separately.
Examples:
- I live on this street.
- yo alive now calle.
Video about demonstrative pronouns in Spanish
Watch the video below with tips that will help you use the demonstrative pronouns correctly.
Exercises on demonstrative pronouns in Spanish
Choose the correct option to complete the exercises.
I. _______________ was my mother's secret.
a) that
b) that
c) this
Correct alternative: b) That.
That was my mother's secret. (That was my mother's secret.)
It would only be possible to choose alternatives a) or c) if there was a noun immediately after the gap.
Alternative b) is a neutral demonstrative pronoun and, therefore, may be followed by an element other than a noun. In the exercise, the gap is followed by a verb (was).
II. I love _______________ type of food.
a) Ese
b) I am
c) that
Correct alternative: a) Ese.
I love this kind of food. (I love this kind of food.)
The word type, which comes right after the gap to be filled, is a noun. Before nouns, we cannot use neutral demonstrative pronouns (eso; they are; that).
Thus, alternatives b) and c) cannot be applied.
III. _______________ niño was late to see the film.
a) Eso
b) I am
c) that
Correct alternative: c) That.
That niño llegó late to see the film. (That boy came late to see the movie.)
The word that means "that one".
Alternatives a) and b) are neutral pronouns. eso means "it" and are means "this".
Neutral pronouns cannot be used immediately before nouns. The word child (boy) is a noun, and this invalidates alternatives a) and b).
Want to learn more about the Spanish language? See the contents below:
- Personal Pronouns in Spanish
- adjectives in spanish
- Spanish prepositions
- Spanish verbs
- Possessive Pronouns in Spanish
