What is the difference between este and esto?

Question

Este and esto both mean this. when do you use esto? and when do you use este? which one has an accent? and when do they use an accent?

Answer 1

Este/estos and esta/estas are demonstrative adjectives. Also included are ese/esa and aquel/aquella.

Examples of usage include:

Este hombre, esta mesa, ese coche, aquellas ventanas, etc.

Esto is a demonstrative pronoun. These are like the demonstrative adjectives but they function as nouns. They are:

éste/ése/aquél (this/that/that over there (sing masc))

éstos/ésos/aquéllos (these/those/those over there (plural masc))

ésta/ésa/aquélla (singular feminine)

éstas/ésas/aquéllas (plural feminine)

Then there are the singular neuter demonstrative pronouns: esto, eso, and aquello (this, that and that over there. (And you thought I'd never get to esto!)

Esto es bueno. Por eso, está feliz Juan. No olvides eso.

(That is good. For that (therefor), Juan is happy. Don't forget that.

This might be a useful link:

Demonstrative pronouns

Answer 2

esta (f) and este (m) are demonstrative adjectives and mean 'this'

este carro, this car

esta cerveza, this beer

este chico this boy

esta gente these people

and the plural forms mean 'these' (estas, estos)

estos carros, these cars

estas cervezas, these beers, etc

then you have:

éste (m) and ésta (f) which are demonstrative pronouns meaning 'this one'

plus

in the plural 'these ones' (éstos, éstas)

NB: the written accent can be omitted when there is no risk of confusion with the adjectives

Este es el mío: This (one) is mine,

Un día de éstos: One of these days.

Este es el que yo quería. (talking abut a book, sing masc noun - 'el libro')

or Esta es la que yo quería. (talking about a shirt, sing fem noun - 'la camisa')

both meaning : This is the one I wanted;

esto: is a demonstrative pronoun but is the neuter form and is used to refer to some idea or concept that has been given, "this"

Esto es lo más fácil. This is the easiest part;

Grammar tip: adjectives describe a noun, pronouns replace a noun; so with 'esto' being a pronoun you will never find it with a noun - it must always replace the noun.

Answer 3

Welcome to the forum - often questions like these have already been asked before so you can always have a quick search first.

For exampel have a look here on a previous thread este vs esto