DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

 DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES

In the English language, the demonstrative adjectives, are used to indicate a relationship of proximity or position; also to show the distance between a person and an object.or objects. Sometimes the demonstrative adjectives are followed by a noun.

When using a demonstrative adjective, it is important to know if the objects are near or far and if they are singular or plural. When the objects are near, you need to use the following demonstrative adective (it doesn´t matter if the objects are singular or plural):

Singular	Plural
This: Este, esta.	These: Estos, estas.

If the objects are far, please use the following demonstrative adjectives:

Singular	Plural
That: Ese, esa, eso, aquel, aquella	Those: Esos, esas, aquellos, aquellas

To have a better understanding of this topic, please check the following pictures:

Examples:

• Here you are. This new English textbook is for you. (Aquí tienes. Este nuevo libro de texto de inglés es para ti). 
• Look over there. Can you see that bird? (Mira por allí. ¿Ves ese/aquel pájaro
• These exercises in this book are difficult. (Estos ejercicios en este libro son difíciles.)
•  Who are those strange people? I can't see. (¿Quiénes son esas/aquellas personas extrañas? No las veo.)

Another function of the demonstrative adjectives is to show when the events happen; when they are really close to the present, you need to use  "This" and "these"; when the events happen in the future, use "that" and "those". Please remember that the events can happen in the present or in the past or even in the future.

·         That terrible Monday was the worst day in my life. (Ese/aquel lunes terrible era el peor día de mi vida.)

·         This time I'll do it properly. (Esta vez voy a hacerlo bien.) 

·         In those days I had long hair. That was twenty years ago.  (En aquellos tiempos tenía el pelo largo. Eso era hace veinte años.)

·         These days my eyes aren't very good. I have to wear glasses now. (Últimamente no tengo buena vista. Ahora tengo que llevar gafas.) 

·         When I win the lottery that will be a wonderful day! (¡Cuando gane la lotería, aquel día será un día maravilloso!)