Demonstrative Pronouns: Este vs Ese vs Aquel in Real Contexts

📍 The Three-Way Distance System

• Este/esta/estos/estas = This/these (close to the speaker)
• Ese/esa/esos/esas = That/those (close to the listener, or somewhat removed)
• Aquel/aquella/aquellos/aquellas = That/those over there (far from both speaker and listener)

When to Use Este

Rule: Use este for things that are close to YOU (the speaker), whether in space or time.

Physical Distance Examples

• Este teléfono que tengo en la mano es nuevo
• This phone that I have in my hand is new
• Esta camisa me queda bien
• This shirt fits me well (I'm wearing it)

Temporal Distance Examples

• Esta semana tengo mucho trabajo
• This week I have a lot of work (current week)
• Este año he aprendido mucho
• This year I've learned a lot (current year)
• En este momento estoy ocupado
• At this moment I'm busy (right now)

When to Use Ese

Rule: Use ese for things that are close to the LISTENER (the person you're talking to), or at a moderate distance from you.

Physical Distance Examples

• Ese bolígrafo que tienes, ¿funciona?
• That pen you have, does it work? (near listener)
• ¿Me pasas esa sal?
• Can you pass me that salt? (near listener, at the table)
• Esa tienda tiene buenos precios
• That store has good prices (moderate distance, can see it)

Temporal Distance Examples

• Esa semana fue horrible
• That week was horrible (recent past, not too long ago)
• En ese momento no sabía qué hacer
• At that moment I didn't know what to do (recent past)
• Ese verano aprendí a nadar
• That summer I learned to swim (relatively recent)

When to Use Aquel

Rule: Use aquel for things that are FAR from both you and the listener, either in physical space or in time (distant past).

Physical Distance Examples

• Aquel coche al final de la calle es de mi padre
• That car at the end of the street (far away) is my father's
• ¿Ves aquella iglesia? Ahí nos casamos
• Do you see that church over there? That's where we got married
• Aquellas montañas están cubiertas de nieve
• Those mountains over there are covered with snow

Temporal Distance Examples (Distant Past)

• Aquel verano de 1985 fue inolvidable
• That summer of 1985 was unforgettable (long ago)
• En aquellos tiempos no había internet
• In those times there was no internet (distant past)
• Aquella época fue muy difícil para nosotros
• That era was very difficult for us (long ago)

With ESTE

• En este momento = At this moment, right now
• Esta noche = Tonight
• Este fin de semana = This weekend
• Por esta razón = For this reason
• De esta manera = In this way, like this
• A estas alturas = At this point, by now

With ESE

• Por eso = That's why, for that reason
• Eso es = That's it, exactly
• A pesar de eso = Despite that, in spite of that
• ¿Y eso? = And why is that? How come?
• Ni por esas = Not even then, no way
• En esos días = In those days (recent)

With AQUEL

• En aquellos tiempos = In those times (long ago)
• Aquellos días = Those days (nostalgic, distant past)
• Desde aquel momento = From that moment on (turning point in the past)
• En aquella época = In that era, back then

Scenario 1: Shopping

• —Me gusta esta camisa que tengo puesta
• —I like this shirt I'm wearing
• —Sí, pero esa que está en el probador te queda mejor
• —Yes, but that one in the fitting room fits you better
• —¿Y aquella del escaparate?
• —And what about that one in the window display?

Scenario 2: Reminiscing

• —¿Recuerdas aquel verano del 2010?
• —Do you remember that summer of 2010?
• —Sí, esa fue la época más feliz de mi vida
• —Yes, that was the happiest time of my life
• —Este año deberíamos repetirlo
• —This year we should do it again

Scenario 3: Pointing Things Out

• —¿Ves ese restaurante?
• —Do you see that restaurant? (moderate distance)
• —¿Cuál? ¿Este de aquí al lado?
• —Which one? This one right next to us?
• —No, aquel del otro lado de la plaza
• —No, that one on the other side of the square (far away)

Scenario 4: Time References

• —Esta tarde voy al cine
• —This afternoon I'm going to the movies (today)
• —Yo fui esa tarde que llovió
• —I went that afternoon when it rained (recently)
• —Aquella tarde de invierno fue mágica
• —That winter afternoon was magical (long ago)

❌ Using ese when aquel is needed (distance)

Wrong: Ese edificio allá lejos es mi oficina

Correct: Aquel edificio allá lejos es mi oficina

Use aquel for things that are clearly far away from both people

❌ Forgetting gender/number agreement

Wrong: Este mesa (feminine noun with masculine demonstrative)

Correct: Esta mesa

Demonstratives must agree in gender and number with the noun

❌ Using aquel for recent past

Wrong: Aquella semana pasada fue horrible

Correct: Esa semana pasada fue horrible OR La semana pasada fue horrible

Aquel is for distant past. Use ese for recent past, or just use the article

❌ Mixing up este and ese with location

Wrong: Este libro que tú tienes (pointing to listener's book)

Correct: Ese libro que tú tienes

Use ese for things near the listener, even if they're holding it

❌ Overusing aquel in everyday speech

Awkward: Aquel coche en la calle (if it's not that far)

Better: Ese coche en la calle

Aquel is less common in everyday speech. Ese is the default "that" for most situations