Is this a noun? - "este" from "este coche es el más grande"

Question

Hey folks,

I've just typed "este" into the translator and it came up with "este coche es el más grande" and says este is a noun in this case, but I think it is a demonstrative adjective, am I wrong?

Thanks, Mark.

Answer 1

In that case, yes, it is a demonstrative adjective.

este coche, estos coches, etc.

esta mesa, estas mesas, etc.

In the following example, you have a demonstrative adjective and a demonstrative pronoun (in bold):

Este coche es más grande que ese. This car is bigger than that one.

The rule used to be that the demonstrative pronouns always carried a written accent (ése), while the demonstrative adjectives did not. This changed in 1959, but you'll still see the demonstrative pronouns written with accents.

Thanks Tosh, and thanks for the examples too. :-) - mark1118, Mar 28, 2014