Ch 30 · Lesson 8Spanish · Chapter 30 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
Demonstrative pronouns
, , standing in for the noun - this one, that one, that one over there - plus the neuter / / for unnamed things.
The short version
Use the neuter when there is no noun to agree with
.
Why?Hide
, and point at an idea, a whole situation or a thing you cannot yet name, and they never change for gender or number. Asking about an unidentified object is ¿ ?, never ¿ ? They never take a written accent either, because there is no adjective form to tell them apart from.
This one is just
¿ ? .
Why?Hide
Drop the noun and the demonstrative stands alone, agreeing with the noun you mean: ¿ ? . There is . That one is by the listener and over there; the one that is , not a demonstrative.
The pronouns at a glance
The pronouns are the same words that go before a noun. Pick the row by distance, then the column by the gender and number of the noun you mean:
| Distance | Masc. | Fem. | Neuter |
|---|---|---|---|
| near me, one | | | |
| near me, more | | | none |
| near you, one | | | |
| near you, more | | | none |
| far, one | | | |
| far, more | | | none |
Blue is masculine, rose feminine, green the neuter. The pronoun copies the noun it stands for:
Which cup? Esta (this one) is by me, esa (that one) by you, aquella (that one over there) on the hill. Yo is me, the speaker; tú is you, the listener. Taza is feminine, so all three are feminine.
, .- I don't like that shirt, I prefer that one over there.
This one, that one: no word for one
English adds "one"; Spanish drops it with the noun:
| Means | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| this one | . | I want this one. |
| that one, by you | . | I prefer that one. |
| that one over there | . | I like that one over there. |
| these ones | . | I'll take these. |
The distances work for time too: is far back. . - Those days were happy.
The one that is not a demonstrative at all. It is or : . (the one on the corner is my house). More on the advanced relative pronouns page.
Esto, eso, aquello: the neuter
, and stand for no noun at all: an object you cannot name, something just said, a whole situation. They never change for gender or number:
| Points at | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| an unknown thing | ¿ ? | What is this? |
| what was said | . | That isn't true. |
| a situation | . | This is a disaster. |
| the far past | . | That was a mistake. |
| a topic | . | I don't want to talk about that. |
| a reason | . | That's why I didn't go. |
The neuter never goes before a noun. Before a noun it is always , or : , never " ".
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ¿ ? | ¿ ? | an unnamed thing: neuter |
| no word for one | |
| never goes before a noun | |
| is masculine | |
| () | | is feminine |
Going further: What to do next and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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