I need help with this, that, these, and those en español.

Question

I just don't get them at all.

Answer 1

Hi Joel. Yes, demonstrative pronouns are tough.

Here's a reference article that explains it all very well.

Basically, it goes like this:

éste and ese are used with masculine nouns.

ésta and esa are used with feminine nouns.

esto is used when it's a concept, idea, etc. that is neither masculine nor feminine. For example, ¿Qué es esto? (What is that?)

Answer 2

Hi Joel

You are right they are a "pain in the neck".

I think there are about 32 words in Spanish.

Don't try learning Romanian - it has 64 words for these 4 English words.

I may get into trouble saying this but it illustrates what I don't like about Latin based languages.