Ese/Eso/Esto/Aquel
What is the difference when you use ese, eso, esto, and aquel in Spanish? Please give examples!
5 Answers
I'll split this into 3 separate topics that tend to confuse people when they learn these words: [This explanation gets grammar-y]
They can all be used as adjectives. Unlike English, Spanish has a three-tiered system for distinguishing how close something is to the speaker.
Este and Esta mean "This" and are used pretty much the same as their English counterparts. Note that "Este" is used for masculine nouns and "Esta" for feminine ones. The plural of "Este" is "Estos" not "Estes" and the plural of "Esta" is "Estas".
Ese and Esa means "That". They are used to mean something that is sort-of far away from the speaker. "Ese" is for masculine nouns and "Esa" for feminine. Plurals are "Esos" and "Esas" respectively.
"Aquel" and "Aquella" means "That" and are used for far away stuff. "Aquel" is masculine and "Aquella" is feminine with the plurals being "Aquellos" and "Aquellas".
Like in English, all 12 can be used as nouns as well. In this case all the forms take accents (the accents are placed where the stress naturally falls since the word is pronounced exactly the same.
For example:
Aquel (stress on last syllable) -> Aquél
Este (Stress on first syllable) -> éste
Additionally, Spanish has three more: "Esto", "eso" and "Aquello" which are only pronouns and never adjectives. They are used when the speaker isn't refering to anything in particular and rather to an abstract concept or idea.
Este (masculine) = this close to the speaker Este libro es verde > Este es verde
Ese (masculine) = that close to the listener Ese libro de historia > Ese de historia
Estos (masculine plural) = these close to the speaker Estos hombres estadounidense > Estos estadounidense
Esos (masculine plural) = those close to the listener Esos lapícez son negros > Esos son negros
Aquel (masculine) = that over there far from the speaker and listener Aquel silla es roja > Aquel es roja
Esto (nueter) = this Esto está mal. - This is wrong
Eso (nueter) = that No comprendo eso. - I don't understand that
Nueter Demonstrative Pronouns - Esto, eso, and aquello, can be used to refer to an abstract idea. No comprendo eso I don't understand that
I hope that helps some!
Those are demonstrative adjectives (you can search for them in Grammar section). As much as I know:
Este, esta is used when you are describing a noun that is close to you.
Ese, esa is used when you're describing a noun that is not close to you, but it's not too far from you neither.
Aquel, aquella when you are describing a noun that is far from you.
Se usa de una misma mantra.it is ugly.
