How does one properly use este, esto, esta, ese, and aquel?

Question

For example, what clarifications are made in describing la casa in the following sentences?: Ese is mi casa. Esta is mi casa. Aquel is mi casa.

Would "esto is mi casa" ever be proper? Obviously I am confused regarding how and in what male/female context to use them.

Muchas gracias.

es* not is - someone09, Apr 29, 2011

Answer 1

Generally:

• esto = this
• eso = that
• aquel = that (but more "over there" than eso)

When you use them to precede specific nouns, they change based on gender and number. Here are examples that should show you what I mean.

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• Me gusta este libro = I like this book (Note it's este, not esto when masculine singular. This same kind of concept applies to eso as well)
• Quiero comprar estos gatos = I want to buy these cats
• ¿Te gustan esas camisas? = Do you like those shirts?
• Él no te compró ese carro = He didn't buy you that car
• Esos hombres son misteriosos = Those guys are mysterious
• Vamos a aquella tienda = Let's go to that store (over there)
• Vamos a aquello lugar = Let's go to that place (over there)
• Viajemos a aquellos países = Let's travel to those countries (over there)

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When you use them as pronouns rather than adjectives, they gain an accent (to distinguish them from the adjective forms). However, they should still agree with the noun they refer to.

Ésta es mi casa.

aquello is the neuter pronoun that goes with esto and eso - 0074b507, Apr 30, 2011

You are using demonstrative adjectives. He is using demonstrative pronouns. - 0074b507, Apr 30, 2011

Sorry. He didn't have accents in his question so I didn't realize he was referring to the pronouns... I edited my post to clarify at the end. - someone09, Apr 30, 2011

Answer 2

Would "esto is mi casa" ever be proper?

It sounds very strange. It is almost like "This thing is my house". The demonstrative "esto" is used to point at things whose names are not specific, we don't know or are not important at all. In this case, we are saying exactly what it is, so it is very specific and important. The natural thing to do is to say "Esta es mi casa".

Yes, sometimes points at things which names are not specific but other times "eso' i utilized as a sort of metaphore or other figure of speech. Que es esto? - profeazul, May 24, 2012

Esto es mi casa. Where :"esto" function as an abstract noun. Que es eso? eso es la guerra. It is at the same time a pronoun. pronoun. Subtleties of the language.. - profeazul, May 24, 2012

Answer 3

ese is the male form. ex: that man= ese hombre esa is the feminine form. ex: that woman= esa mujer eso is for when you don't know wether the object is feminine or masculine. ex: that's it= eso es esto is mi casa would not be correct because "casa" is feminine.

este is masculine ex: this man= este hombre esta is feminine ex: this woman= esta mujer

aquella is feminine and means that(over ther)

aquello= that (refering to an idea)

Hope I helped

same thing. He is discussing pronouns, you are discussing adjectives. - 0074b507, Apr 30, 2011

Oops... sorry someone09 clarified it already. how did u know what he was talking about??? - SpanishDictora, May 7, 2011