Lesson 17: Demonstratives and Colours
Today’s Goals
- ✓Use este, ese, aquel correctly (with gender & number)
- ✓Describe objects using basic colour words
- ✓Avoid common English-speaker mistakes
Three Distances in Spanish
| Distance | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| Near me | este / esta | this |
| Near you | ese / esa | that |
| Far from both | aquel / aquella | that (over there) |
Demonstrative Forms – Masculine
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near me | este coche | estos coches |
| Near you | ese bolígrafo | esos bolígrafos |
| Far away | aquel edificio | aquellos edificios |
Demonstrative Forms – Feminine
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Near me | esta casa | estas casas |
| Near you | esa silla | esas sillas |
| Far away | aquella montaña | aquellas montañas |
Neuter Forms: No Noun Attached
¿Qué es esto? → What is this? (unknown object)
Eso no es verdad. → That is not true. (an idea)
Aquello fue increíble. → That (whole thing) was incredible.
Never use neuter forms before a noun!
Time Distance with Aquel
Recuerdo aquellos días en la playa.
I remember those days at the beach.
En aquel año, viajamos a México.
In that year, we traveled to Mexico.
Aquel/aquella can refer to distant past time.
Demonstratives Standing Alone
Once the noun is known, drop it!
Common Mistakes – Watch Out!
Agree in gender AND number!
Let’s Practise: Choose the Right Word
- —¿Ves ___ coche allí? (far away) → ¿aquel?
- —¿Me pasas ___ pluma? (near you) → ¿esa?
- —___ mochila es mía. (near me) → Esta.
Introducing Colours
Colours are adjectives—they usually come AFTER the noun.
More Colours
Colour + Noun Examples
Combining Demonstratives + Colours
Mini Dialogue Practice
—¿Cuánto cuesta esta falda roja?
—Esa cuesta 20 €, pero aquellas blusas azules están en oferta.
—¡Genial! Voy a probar estas.
Quick Quiz: Fix the Error
- Ese camisa azul → Esa camisa azul
- Aquel coches negros → Aquellos coches negros
- Esto libro rojo → Este libro rojo
Speaking Practice
Look around the classroom. Describe 3 things using:
- a demonstrative (este/esa/aquellos, etc.)
- a colour
Example: “Esa mochila negra es de Ana.”
Work in pairs – 2 minutes!
Review: Key Rules
Homework & Preview
Great Work Today!
You can now:
- Point accurately with este, ese, aquel
- Describe things using colours
- Avoid classic English-speaker traps
¡Hasta la próxima clase!