Esto, eso, y aquello:

Question

Hola! Since demonstrative pronouns are neuter in general, do they agree in number? If so, how would one distinguish between unidentified “those” and identified “those” since both, in plural form, would be “aquellos”? I suppose the same question would be applicable for circumstances involving “these” in the case of estos? Also, what if an item were unidentified, but had a definite gender? Would “esto”,”eso”, and “quello” still apply?

Answer 1

If the object has a definite gender or number, then it is by definition identified. The point of the neuter pronouns is to speak about a general concept, where you don't know the gender or number. That is why there are no indefinite plural demonstratives.

If my answer is not clear, please give some examples.

Answer 2

Actually mattvd gave a good answer. Only unidentified objects take the nueter pronouns. My question is why are the masculine pronouns este and estos? While the nueter is esto? It would make more sense if the masculine pronouns were esto and estos, thus conforming to the masculine "o" ending. And the nueter pronoun, singular only would be este.

Answer 3

What's your native language, it would help to know.

Where did you get the idea that demonstrative pronouns are neuter?

Thank you for the response. I am not saying that all demonstratives are neuter, but these three specifically refer to unidentified objects, or whole concepts and ideas. There are certainly masculine and feminine, such as este, esta, estos, esta, ese, esa, - RW1982, Apr 4, 2014