Ch 2 · Lesson 39Spanish · Chapter 2 · Lesson 39 · Grammar primer
Este, ese, aquel: near me, near you, far away
Spanish splits distance three ways where English splits it two, and each word has its place word: , , .
The short version
The demonstrative English speakers never reach for
.
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Spanish splits distance three ways where English splits it two. is near me, is near you, is far from both of us in space or in time. Because English has no third word, learners squash everything into . If the thing is across the room or years back, it is .
The three-way distance split
Three cups, three words: esta by me, esa by you, aquella far off on the hill. Taza is feminine, so all three end in -a.
| Word | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| | this book (in my hand) |
| | that book (by you) |
| | that book (over there) |
The same split works for time. is a time just mentioned; is a time long ago, often with some nostalgia:
Madrid.- This year I'm going to Madrid..- I didn't go that day..- That summer (long ago) was the best.
In quick everyday speech many people use for anything not right here. is still standard in Spain and Latin America for the genuinely far and the distant past.
Here, there, over there: aquí, ahí, allí
Each demonstrative has a matching place word, and they often go together:
Aquí is the cafe right beside me, ahí the shop across the road, allí the church far away on the hill.
| Demonstrative | Place word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| | this house here |
| | that book there |
| | that man over there |
and are looser variants, very common in Latin America: . - Come here.
Going further: The chart: all twelve forms and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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Lesson 39 of 50 in this chapter