Demonstratives

Os demonstrativos

Introduction

Introdução

Demonstratives are words that indicate a subject already understood by the speaker and listened. In English, these are words like “this” and “that”.

Portuguese demonstratives must agree with the gender and plurality of the subject:

   aquele tempo
   that time

   aquellas horas
   those hours

To simplify things somewhat though, they take the same form whether being used as a pronoun or adjective:

   Pronoun
   Esta é minha amiga.
   This is my friend.

   Adjective
   Essa amiga sua é linda.
   That friend of yours is pretty.

One aspect of Portuguese demonstratives that is difficult to learn is that esse (and the other ess~ words) can translate as both “this” and “that”. Portuguese speakers often don’t make the same distinction we would based on the physical location of the subject. As you listen to more Portuguese speakers in conversation you’ll learn the natural cases for each word’s use.
MasculineNeuterFeminine
Near speaker Singular
Play este
this
Play isto
this
Play esta
this
Plural
Play estes
these
Play estas
these
Near listener,
far from speaker
Singular
Play esse
that
Play isso
that
Play essa
that
Plural
Play esses
those
Play essas
those
Far Singular
Play aquele
that
Play aquilo
that
Play aquela
that
Plural
Play aqueles
those
Play aquelas
those

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