How to use este, esto … in Spanish
I record a quick video too, you can find it at the end of the page.
While the lesson on the blog is in English, the video is in Spanish
When things are close to the speaker, things are aquí (here) we will use
Este if the noun is masculine/singular
Este libro
esta if the noun is feminine/singular
esta casa
estos if the noun is masculine/plural
estos libros
estas if the noun is feminine/plural
estas casas
So este/esta mean that, depending on the gender of the word that comes after them and estos/estas is theses.
#attention! The masculine singular is este, no esto, as many people think. We do have and use “esto”, but we use “esto” as a neutral, for things abstract or not as concrete, and it is never followed by a noun, example
El cartero ha dejado esto para tí –> The postman has left this for you
For things that are far, or at a medium distance from the speaker but close to the listener, things ahí (there) we use
Ese if the noun is masculine/singular
Ese libro
esa if the noun is feminine/singular
esa casa
esos if the noun is masculine/plural
esos libros
ests if the noun is feminine/plural
esas casas
So ese/esa mean that, depending on the gender of the word that comes after them and esos/esas is thoses.
#note-same like esto, eso is not the masculine singular of esos, but the neutral form that we use by itself, example
¿qué es eso? –> What is that?
For things far for both, the speaker and the listener, things that are allí (over there) we use
Aquel if the noun is masculine/singular
Aquel libro
aquella if the noun is feminine/singular
aquella casa
aquellos if the noun is masculine/plural
aquellos libros
aquellas if the noun is feminine/plural
aquellas casas
Aquel/aquella mean that over there, depending on the gender of the word that comes after them and aquellos/aquellas is thoses over there.
#note– and same than the previous ones, aquello is not the masculine, singular form but the neutral one, and not followed by a noun, example
¿te acuerdas de aquello que me dijiste sobre Julia? –> Do you remember that you told me about Julia?
#SomethingToKeepInMind– Distance can be not only regarding location but time, for example if
I talk about the winter this year I will say –> Este invierno
I talk about the winter a while ago I will use –> Ese invierno
I talk about a winter when I was a child I will use –> Aquel invierno.
And that is all my friend! I hope you enjoy this lesson and you have learnt something new.
Now it is your turn, leave a comment in the comment below with a sentences using one of these demonstratives we have seen.
Have a good one and I will write you soon!
2 Responses to “How to use este, esto … in Spanish”
Wendy Smith
Thank you Blanca for explaining the differences in the uses of este, esa etc. I wish somebody had made it clearer that esto/eso was not the masculine form a long time ago!! Gracias
blancadt
Thanks for your comment Wendy 🙂 I am glad it helped 🙂