Learn the grammar of the Spanish language.

This and That: Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Este/estos -- this/these, ese/esos -- that, those and aquél/aquellos -- that over there/those over there are demonstrative adjectives whose forms depend on the gender and number of the noun being described.

The masculine singular forms are este, ese and aquel. Masculine plural forms are estos, esos and aquellos. The feminine forms follow the usual adjective endings: esta/estas, esa/esas and aquella/aquellas.

este perro	this dog
estos perros	these dogs
esa casa	that house
esas casas	those houses
aquel libro	that book over there
aquellas montañas	those mountains over there

When these same words are used to replace a noun, they are called demonstrative pronouns:

este	this one (masculine singular item)
estos	these (masculine or masculine/feminine plural items)
esa	that one (feminine singular item)
esas	those (feminine plural items)
aquel	that one over there (masculine singular item)
aquellas	those over there (masculine plural items)

There are three forms which apply to unspecified, unidentified items: esto, eso and aquello.

Esto es díficil.	This is hard.
Eso es grande.	That is big.
Aquello es pesado.	That one over there is heavy.

In the past, demonstrative pronouns were accented to distinguish them from demonstrative adjectives:

Esta casa.	This house.
Ésta.	This (one).

This is no longer considered necessary except where the meaning may be ambiguous.

This and That: Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns