I need help with demonstrative adjectives ese, esos

Question

I am having a problem with demonstrative adjectives, so I went looking for some exercises on line. I found this test and I am wondering about 3 of the answers. Are the highlighted ones correct? Shouldn't they be ese? What about esta agua? What's with that. Are these exercises right or wrong? Can someone please help me with ese, esos, eso? Thanks

1. This book = este libro

   1. That man = eso hombre edit ese hombre

   2. That house over there = aquella casa

   3. These sheets = estas sábanas

   4. Those cats = esos gatos

   5. This window = esta ventana

   6. That program = esta programa edit ese programa

   7. These answers = estas respuestas

   8. Those boys over there = aquellos muchachos

   9. This toy = este juguete

11 Those birds (over there) = aquellos pájaros

1. This time = esta vez

2. These hands = estas manos

3. Those curtains (over there) = aquellas cortinas

4. This street = esta calle

5. Those trees = esos árboles

6. That pen (over there) = esta pluma edit aquella pluma

7. This water = esta agua

8. That ticket = eso boleto edit ese boleto

9. Those trains = esos trenes

10. Those women = esas mujeres

11. That waiter = eso mesero edit ese mesero

12. List item

Thank you very much! You have all been a big help! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 1

You're right, the eso's should have been ese's.

I also found two more wrong ones:

That program = este programa (Should be ese programa)

That pen (over there) = esta pluma (Should be aquella pluma)

Hope this helps, sanlee.

P.S. Esta agua is correct; agua is feminine, but uses el when singular.

Thank you Deanski! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 2

Ese hombre. Esta agua. (está bien.) Ese boleto.

Hablo español

¡Hola, Ale_rd! ¡Bienvenido al foro! Hi, Ale_rd! Welcome to the forum! Thank you very much! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Thanks, I feel comfortable here :) - ale_rd, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 3

Eso means something undeterminate

Qué es eso?

Agua is feminine, but because it starts with a tonic "A", we don´t say "la agua", because it would sound funny. Therefore, we say "el agua", instead of "la agua".

But, then we think that "esta agua" doesn´t sound funny. So, we say "esta agua". If you need further explanation, I´ll be glad to explain it to you.

Thank you Luis! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 4

"eso" is a demonstrative pronoun, but not a demonstrative adjective--it wouldn't make sense since it is always applied to a noun of known gender. Therefore "ese" is correct.

"esta agua" is correct. The masculine forms are used for un, el, algún, and ningún, but the other determiners and adjectives stay in the feminine. link link2

Thanks so much, Lorenzo! - sanlee, Mar 11, 2011

Answer 5

I think that •That man should be ese hombre

I struggle with demonstrative adjectives too. Where did you find the online test?

Answer 6

I am not sure that it is a good site. I agree with you. I think the eso's should be ese's.