A demonstrative pronoun is a word that replaces a noun previously

mentioned, the antecedent, as if pointing to it. Demonstrative comes

from demonstrate, to show.

IN ENGLISH

English demonstrative pronouns change form according to the number

of the noun they replace and according to the relationship of that noun

with the speaker.

As with the demonstrative adjectives, this (one), these refer to a

person or an object near the speaker; that (one), those to a person or

an object away from the speaker.

Here are two suitcases. This one is big and that one is small.

The books are on the shelves. These are in Spanish, those in English.

IN SPANISH

Demonstrative pronouns are the same words as the demonstrative

adjectives, except that all pronoun forms carry a written accent mark

in order to distinguish the pronouns from the adjectives (see What is a

Demonstrative Adjective?, p. 116).

To POINT OUT SINGULAR PLURAL

9’ masculine feminine masculine feminine

items near

the speaker éste ésta éstos éstas

items near the

the person ése ésa ésos ésas

spoken to

Items away trom

the speaker and

person spoken to aquél aquélla aquéllos aquéllas

As pronouns, these words replace the demonstrative adjective + noun;

they will agree in number and gender with the noun replaced.

To choose the correct form, follow these steps.

I. Determine the antecedent.

2. Determine the gender and number of the antecedent.

3. Determine the relationship of the antecedent to the speaker or

person spoken to.

4. Based on Steps 1 and 2 choose the correct form from the chart.

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Let us apply these steps to some examples.

Give me the magazine; this one.

1. ANTECEDENT: la revista (magazine)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER: feminine singular

3. RELATIONSHIP: near the speaker

4. SELECTION: ésta

Déme la revista; ésta.

Give me the books; these (ones).

1. ANTECEDENT: los libros (books)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER: masculine plural

3. RELATIONSHIP: near the speaker

4. SELECTION: éstos

Déme los libros; éstos.

Give me the pencil near you; that one.

1. ANTECEDENT: el lipiz (pencil)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER: masculine singular

3. RELATIONSHW: near the person spoken to

4. SELECTION: ~5C

Déme el lápiz; ése.

Give me the notebooks over there; those (ones).

1. ANTECEDENT: los cuadernos (notebooks)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER: masculine plural

3. RELATioNsHIP: away from the speaker and person spoken to

4. SELECTION: aquéllos

Ddme los cuadernos; aquéllos.

Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns

Spanish also has three demonstrative pronouns that are used to refer to

an idea, item, or previous statement which has no gender or whose

gender is not known. These pronouns are therefore said to be neuter in

gender and are invariable, that is, they do not change form.

esto this (one)

eso that (one)

aquello that (one)

What is this?

Since it isn’t known what “this” is, its gender is also unknown.

tQué es esto?

That’s not true.

That refers to a previous statement which has no gender.

Eso no es verdad.

What is that over there?

Since it isn’t known what “that” is, its gender is also unknown.

~Qué es aquello?

There is another demonstrative pronoun which we will now examine

separately because it does not follow the same pattern as above.

“The one, The ones”

IN ENGLISH

The demonstrative pronouns the one and the ones, unlike this one and

that one, do not point out a specific object, but instead introduce a

clause that gives us additional information about the object and helps

us identify it. There is a singular form the one and a plural form the

ones. They are often followed by the relative pronoun that or which

(see What is a Relative Pronoun?, p. 169).

What book are you reading?

I am reading the one (that) I bought yesterday.

CLAUSE: “the one that I bought yesterday “gives us additional

information about the book. Notice that the relative pronoun

“that” can be omitted in English.

NUMBER: The one is singular.

Which houses do you prefer?

I prefer the ones that are on Columbus Street.

CLAUSE: “the ones that are on Columbus Street” gives us additional

information about the houses.

NUMBER: The ones is plural.

IN SPANISH

Forms of the definite article el, la, los, las are used as the equivalent of

the English demonstrative the one(s). The definite article agrees in

number and gender with the noun replaced. The one or the ones can be

used 1. to introduce a clause and 2. to show possession.

1. to introduce a clause —> the definite article + que

The relative pronoun that or que in Spanish (see What is a Rela-

tive Pronoun?, p. 169) is often omitted in English. However, the

relative pronoun that must be expressed in Spanish.

To choose the correct form of the one(s) follow these steps.

1. Find the antecedent.

2. Determine the gender and number of the antecedent.

3. Select the proper form of the definite article + que.

Let us apply these steps to some examples.

What book are you reading? The one (that) I bought yesterday.

1. ANTECEDENT: el libro (book)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER OF ANTECEDENT: masculine singular

3. SELECTION: el que

~Qud libro lees? El que compré ayer.

Which houses do you prefer? The ones (that) are on Columbus St.

1. ANTECEDENT: las casas (houses)

2. GENDER AND NUMBER OF ANTECEDENT: feminine plural

3. SELECrION: las que

tQué casas prefieres? Las que están en la calle Colon.

2. to show possession — the definite article + de

Whose house are you living in? My father’s.

Just as “my father’s house” can only be expressed in Spanish by the

structure “the house of my father,” a similar Spanish structure must

be used to say “my father’s.” In this case the word-for-word English

translation of the Spanish structure is “the one of my father.” In

Spanish “the one” agrees in gender and number with its antecedent,

here ‘‘the house.

To choose the correct form, follow these steps.

1. Restructure the possessive phrase.

2. Find the antecedent of the one or the ones.

3. Determine the gender and number of the antecedent.

4. Select the proper form of the definite article + de.

Let us apply the rules to the following examples.

Which house are you selling? My father’s.

1. RESTRUCTURE: My father’s —* the one of my father

2. ANTECEDENT: house (la casa)

3. GENDER AND NUMBER OF ANTECEDENT: Ia casa is feminine singular.

4. SELECTION: Ia de

tQuO casa vendes? La de mi padre.

Which books are you reading? The teacher’s.

1. RESTRUCTURE: The teacher’s —> the ones of the teacher

2. ANTECEDENT: books (los libros)

3. GENDER AND NUMBER OF ANTECEDENT: los libros is masculine plural.

4. SELECTION: los de

tQué libros lees? Los del profesor.