Demonstratives — Practice

Grammar Reference

Demonstratives — Practice — Exercises

Practice

1. "_______ libro" (this book, near me):
   (Este / Esto / Esta) 
2. Complete: "_______ casa es bonita." (this house)
   
3. "¿Me pasas _______ tijeras?" (those scissors, near you)
   (esas / esos / aquellas) 
4. Complete: "¿Ves _______ montañas a lo lejos?" (those mountains far away)
   
5. You pick up a strange object: "¿Qué es _______?"
   (esto / este / esta) 
6. "_______ zapatos son caros." (these shoes)
   (Estos / Estas / Este) 
7. Complete: "_______ no es verdad." (that = that idea)
   
8. "_______ edificio de allí" (that building over there):
   (Aquel / Aquella / Ese) 

Demonstratives — Practice — Answer Key

Practice

1. Este Explanation: "Libro" is masculine singular and the thing is near the speaker: ESTE libro. "Esto" is the neuter form and never goes before a noun.
2. esta Explanation: "Casa" is feminine singular and near the speaker: ESTA casa.
3. esas Explanation: "Tijeras" is feminine plural and near the listener: ESAS tijeras. "Aquellas" would mean far from both people.
4. aquellas Explanation: Far from both speakers + feminine plural noun = AQUELLAS montañas.
5. esto Explanation: Unknown object, no noun mentioned: use the neuter ESTO. ¿Qué es esto?
6. Estos Explanation: "Zapatos" is masculine plural: ESTOS zapatos.
7. eso Explanation: Referring to a statement or idea, not a specific noun: the neuter ESO. Eso no es verdad.
8. Aquel Explanation: "De allí" signals distance from both speakers, and "edificio" is masculine singular: AQUEL edificio.