Este, ese, aquel before nouns

Explicación

Demonstrative adjectives go before the noun and mark three distances, agreeing in gender and number: este/esta/estos/estas (near the speaker — este libro), ese/esa/esos/esas (near the listener or just mentioned — esa mesa), aquel/aquella/aquellos/aquellas (far from both, in space or time — aquellos años).

Ese covers a lot of ground: things near the person you're talking to, and things recently brought up in the conversation. Aquel adds distance, often nostalgic or remote: aquella época, aquel verano.

Position affects tone. Before the noun they're neutral (ese modelo); placed after the noun (which then needs the article too) they often sound dismissive: el tipo ese ('that guy'), la idea esa. In time expressions: esta semana, ese día ('the day in question'), aquella vez.

Ejemplos

Reglas relacionadas

• Demonstrative pronouns: este, ese, aquel
• Adjective agreement: gender and number