demonstratives
In English we use this (these) and that (those) to specify persons or things we are referring to. In Spanish there are three words: este, ese, and aquel.
| masc | fem | neut | meaning | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sing | este | esta | esto | this |
| ese | esa | eso | that (near) | |
| aquel | aquella | aquello | that (yonder) | |
| plural | estos | estas | -- | these |
| esos | esas | -- | those (near) | |
| aquellos | aquellas | -- | those (yonder) |
The neuter forms refer to ideas, whole phrases, or statements, never definite nouns.
In English we say, e.g., "this hat and that (one)" rather "than this hat and that hat." Spanish avoids the repitition by using a written accent. E.g., este libro y aquél.
In English we talk about the former and the latter. In Spanish the former = aquél and the latter = éste.
In English we often use "the one" or "the ones" in lieu of "that" or "those." We are not contrasting the items but merely drawing attention. In Spanish use the pronoun el or the various forms of the definite article (instead of the demonstratives) to avoid repitition of the noun already referred to or understood by implication.
Mi casa y la que Vd. compra. - My house and the one you are buying.
La tinta negro y la azul. - The black ink and the blue (one).
El tejado de mi casa y el de la que Vd. compra. - The roof of my house and that of the one you are buying.
In contrasting, the ordinary demonstrative is used:
Mi casa y aquélla. - My house and that (yonder).
"He who" and "the ones who" are translated by el que and los que. "To what" when i means "that which" is rendered by lo que.
No eschucho lo que dice. - I do not listen to what he says.
