Demonstrative pronouns show which one(s) you mean without repeating the noun.
Vocabulary
They come in three sets, matching the three distances shown by demonstrative adjectives:
Spanish Pronoun |
---|
este, esta, estos, estas |
English Translation |
Usage Notes |
Near the speaker |
Usage
- They replace a noun, so you donโt say the noun again.
- They agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they replace.
- Example: ยฟQuieres este libro? (Do you want this book?) โ ยฟQuieres รฉste? (Do you want this one?)
Accent Marks
- Traditionally, demonstrative pronouns carry a written accent to distinguish them from demonstrative adjectives (e.g., รฉste vs. este).
- Recent guidelines say the accent is only necessary when needed to avoid confusion.
- You will still see the accent commonly used in many texts.
Examples
Spanish Sentence |
---|
Prefiero esta. |
English Translation |
Demonstrated Pronoun |
replaces la casa (feminine singular) |
Summary
- Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and show which one(s) you mean.
- They agree in gender and number.
- They follow the same near to far pattern as demonstrative adjectives.
- Accent marks are used to distinguish them from adjectives, mainly to avoid confusion.
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025