Pronouns: This & That

01

Three Levels of Distance

In formal grammar, there are three levels of proximity.

1. Near the speaker: este, esta, isto

These correspond to this and these in English and are used for things that are physically close to the person speaking.

• Este copo na minha mão está sujo.

  This glass in my hand is dirty.

• Esta é a minha casa.

  This is my house.

• O que é isto?

  What is this?

2. Near the listener: esse, essa, isso

These correspond to that and those in English and are used for things close to the person being spoken to.

• Esse livro que você está lendo parece interessante.

  That book you are reading seems interesting.

• Essa sua ideia é ótima!

  That idea of yours is great!

• Isso que você disse não faz sentido.

  That which you said doesn't make sense.

3. Far from both speaker and listener: aquele, aquela, aquilo

These correspond to that over there or those over there and are used for things distant from both people in the conversation.

• Aquele carro do outro lado da rua é do meu pai.

  That car on the other side of the street is my father's.

• Você se lembra daquela viagem que fizemos?

  Do you remember that trip we took?

• Olha aquilo no céu! É um avião?

  Look at that in the sky! Is it a plane?

02

Spoken Brazilian Portuguese vs. Formal Usage

In everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese, the distinction between the first two levels is often simplified. The forms esse, essa, and isso are commonly used to refer to things near both the speaker and the listener. The forms este, esta, and isto are reserved for more formal writing and speech.

Formal/Written

• Eu vou usar este computador aqui.

  I am going to use this computer here.

Common Spoken Usage

• Eu vou usar esse computador aqui.

  I am going to use this computer here.

For learners, it is natural and common to use the esse/essa/isso set for anything corresponding to "this" or "that" in a close context. The aquele set remains distinct for things that are far away.

03

Variable vs. Invariable Pronouns

Demonstratives are divided into two groups: variable (which change for gender and number) and invariable (which do not).

Variable Pronouns

These are used when the noun they refer to is specified or understood. They change to match the noun's gender and number.

• Masculine: este / estes, esse / esses, aquele / aqueles
• Feminine: esta / estas, essa / essas, aquela / aquelas

• Estes documentos são importantes.

  These documents are important.

• Você pode me passar essas chaves?

  Can you pass me those keys?

• Aqueles dias foram inesquecíveis.

  Those days were unforgettable.

Invariable (Neutral) Pronouns

The forms isto, isso, and aquilo are neutral. They do not change for gender or number. They are used to refer to:

• An object that has not yet been identified.
• An abstract idea, statement, or situation.

• Isto é verdade.

  This is true.

• Eu não acredito nisso.

  I don't believe in that.

• Aquilo foi muito estranho.

  That was very strange.

04

Contractions with Prepositions

Demonstrative pronouns frequently combine with the prepositions de (of/from) and em (in/on/at) to form contractions.

Contractions with de

• de + este → deste (and its variations: desta, destes, destas, disto)
• de + esse → desse (and its variations: dessa, desses, dessas, disso)
• de + aquele → daquele (and its variations: daquela, daqueles, daquelas, daquilo)

• Eu preciso de um pedaço deste bolo.

  I need a piece of this cake.

• Não gostei daquela blusa.

  I didn't like that blouse.

• Depois disso, fomos para casa.

  After that, we went home.

Contractions with em

• em + este → neste (and its variations: nesta, nestes, nestas, nisto)
• em + esse → nesse (and its variations: nessa, nesses, nessas, nisso)
• em + aquele → naquele (and its variations: naquela, naqueles, naquelas, naquilo)

• Neste exato momento, não posso falar.

  At this exact moment, I can't talk.

• O que tem nessa caixa?

  What is in that box?

• Eu não confio naqueles políticos.

  I don't trust those politicians.