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BeginnerDemonstratives
How demonstrative pronouns and adjectives work in Spanish, English and Chinese.
Compare languages
English has two-way distinction (this/that). Spanish has three-way (este/ese/aquel) based on proximity to speaker and listener. Chinese has two-way (这/那) with optional measure words.
Overview
Demonstratives point to things in space or discourse: this book, that house.
- Spanish: Three-way distinction — near speaker (este), near listener (ese), far from both (aquel). Full agreement in gender and number.
- English: Two-way distinction — near (this/these), far (that/those). No agreement.
- Chinese: Two-way distinction — near (这), far (那). Usually requires a classifier or measure word. Uses 些 for plural.
Spanish
Three-way spatial distinction
| Near speaker | Near listener | Far from both | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masc singular | este libro | ese libro | aquel libro |
| Fem singular | esta mesa | esa mesa | aquella mesa |
| Masc plural | estos libros | esos libros | aquellos libros |
| Fem plural | estas mesas | esas mesas | aquellas mesas |
Memory aid: Este = estoy aquí (I’m here). Ese = estás ahí (you are there). Aquel = allí (over there).
Agreement
Demonstratives agree in gender and number with the noun:
- me gusta este coche (I like this car — masc sing)
- prefiero esta casa (I prefer this house — fem sing)
- quiero estos zapatos (I want these shoes — masc pl)
- compro estas flores (I buy these flowers — fem pl)
Neuter forms (standalone)
When referring to abstract concepts or unnamed things, use neuter forms:
- Esto es importante. (This is important.)
- Eso no me gusta. (I don’t like that.)
- Aquello fue increíble. (That [over there/thing in the past] was incredible.)
Note: Neuter forms never modify a noun. They stand alone.
Demonstrative pronouns
Spanish distinguishes adjective vs pronoun forms:
- Adjective: Este libro es mío. (This book is mine.)
- Pronoun: Este es mío. (This one is mine.)
Historically, pronouns took an accent (éste, ése, aquél), but the Real Academia Española no longer requires it.
English
Two-way distinction
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near speaker | this | these |
| Far from speaker | that | those |
No agreement
English demonstratives are invariable:
- this book / these books
- that car / those cars
As adjectives and pronouns
English uses the same forms as both adjective and pronoun:
- Adjective: This car is fast.
- Pronoun: This is fast.
That as relative
English uses that as a relative pronoun, which Spanish and Chinese do not:
- The book that I read. (Spanish: El libro que leí.)
This/that in discourse
Demonstratives can refer back or forward in discourse:
- I didn’t understand that. (referring to previous statement)
- This is what I mean… (introducing upcoming explanation)
Chinese
Two-way distinction with classifiers
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near | 这 + classifier | 这些 |
| Far | 那 + classifier | 那些 |
Examples:
- 这本书 (this [CL] book)
- 那辆车 (that [CL] car)
- 这些人 (these people)
- 那些猫 (those cats)
Without classifiers
For general or abstract reference, 这/那 can stand alone:
- 这很好。(This is good.)
- 那怎么办？(What about that? / What to do then?)
这儿 / 那里 for location
Chinese uses 这儿/这里 (here) and 那儿/那里 (there):
-
这儿 / 这里 (here)
-
那儿 / 那里 (there)
-
我在这儿。(I’m here.)
-
他在那里。(He’s there.)
这/那 as discourse markers
Like English, 这/那 refer to discourse:
- 这就是我想说的。(This is what I wanted to say.)
- 那怎么办？(Then what? / What about that?)
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 3-way (speaker/listener/far) | 2-way (near/far) | 2-way (near/far) |
| Agreement | Gender + number | None | None |
| Plural marker | -os / -as | these / those | 些 |
| Standalone neuter | esto / eso / aquello | this / that | 这 / 那 |
| Requires classifier | No | No | Yes (with nouns) |
| Location forms | aquí / ahí / allí | here / there | 这儿 / 那儿 |
Examples in context
This book is interesting
- ES: Este libro es interesante.
- EN: This book is interesting.
- ZH: 这本书很有意思。
I don’t like that
- ES: No me gusta eso.
- EN: I don’t like that.
- ZH: 我不喜欢那个。
Those cars are fast
- ES: Aquellos coches son rápidos. (far away)
- EN: Those cars are fast.
- ZH: 那些车很快。
Common mistakes
-
English speakers learning Spanish: Using only este/ese: ese for “that” regardless of distance → aquel for far away
-
English speakers learning Spanish: Forgetting agreement: este mesa → esta mesa
-
English speakers learning Chinese: Omitting classifier: 这书 → 这本书
-
Spanish speakers learning English: Using “this” for both este and ese when pointing at something near the listener → use that
Related topics
- Articles: How definiteness interacts with demonstrative reference
- Classifiers: How Chinese demonstratives require measure words
- Pronouns: How demonstrative pronouns replace noun phrases
- Adjectives: How demonstratives function as determiners
Examples
This (near speaker)
este (masc) / esta (fem)
That (near listener)
ese (masc) / esa (fem)
That over there (far from both)
aquel (masc) / aquella (fem)
Agreement
Yes (gender + number)
These (plural near)
estos / estas
Those (plural far)
esos / esas / aquellos / aquellas
Standalone pronoun
esto / eso / aquello (neuter)
Examples
This (near speaker)
this
That (near listener)
that
That over there (far from both)
that (over there)
Agreement
No
These (plural near)
these
Those (plural far)
those
Standalone pronoun
this / that
Examples
This (near speaker)
这 (+ classifier)
That (near listener)
那 (+ classifier)
That over there (far from both)
那 (+ distal adverb)
Agreement
No
These (plural near)
这些
Those (plural far)
那些
Standalone pronoun
这 / 那 (+ classifier + 的)
Comparison at a glance
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| This (near speaker) | este (masc) / esta (fem) | this | 这 (+ classifier) |
| That (near listener) | ese (masc) / esa (fem) | that | 那 (+ classifier) |
| That over there (far from both) | aquel (masc) / aquella (fem) | that (over there) | 那 (+ distal adverb) |
| Agreement | Yes (gender + number) | No | No |
| These (plural near) | estos / estas | these | 这些 |
| Those (plural far) | esos / esas / aquellos / aquellas | those | 那些 |
| Standalone pronoun | esto / eso / aquello (neuter) | this / that | 这 / 那 (+ classifier + 的) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Side-by-side comparison
| Grammar concepts | Spanish | English | Chinese |
|---|---|---|---|
| This (near speaker) | este (masc) / esta (fem) | this | 这 (+ classifier) |
| That (near listener) | ese (masc) / esa (fem) | that | 那 (+ classifier) |
| That over there (far from both) | aquel (masc) / aquella (fem) | that (over there) | 那 (+ distal adverb) |
| Agreement | Yes (gender + number) | No | No |
| These (plural near) | estos / estas | these | 这些 |
| Those (plural far) | esos / esas / aquellos / aquellas | those | 那些 |
| Standalone pronoun | esto / eso / aquello (neuter) | this / that | 这 / 那 (+ classifier + 的) |
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Examples in context
This (near speaker)
Spanish
este (masc) / esta (fem)
English
this
Chinese
这 (+ classifier)
That (near listener)
Spanish
ese (masc) / esa (fem)
English
that
Chinese
那 (+ classifier)
That over there (far from both)
Spanish
aquel (masc) / aquella (fem)
English
that (over there)
Chinese
那 (+ distal adverb)
Agreement
Spanish
Yes (gender + number)
English
No
Chinese
No
These (plural near)
Spanish
estos / estas
English
these
Chinese
这些
Those (plural far)
Spanish
esos / esas / aquellos / aquellas
English
those
Chinese
那些
Standalone pronoun
Spanish
esto / eso / aquello (neuter)
English
this / that
Chinese
这 / 那 (+ classifier + 的)
Select at least one language to view comparisons
Key Takeaways
Spanish: Three-way distinction — near speaker (este), near listener (ese), far from both (aquel). Full agreement in gender and number.
English: Two-way distinction — near (this/these), far (that/those). No agreement.
Chinese: Two-way distinction — near (这zhè), far (那nà). Usually requires a classifier or measure word. Uses 些xiē for plural.
Key concepts compared: This (near speaker), That (near listener), That over there (far from both).
Last updated: June 4, 2026