Demonstrative or adjectives pronouns are used to refer a thing or person particularly. The demonstrative pronouns can be masculine, feminine or neither masculine or feminine. The demonstrative pronouns correspond to this, that, these and those.
Masculine
Feminine
English
Singular
Plural
Singular
Plural
este
estes
esta
estas
this/these
esse
esses
essa
essas
that/those
aquele
aqueles
aquela
aquellas
that/those(over there)
Neither masc./fem.
These words are never followed by nouns:
English
isto
this
isso
that
aquilo
that
Remark:
The pronouns este(s)/esta(s)/isto (this) usually followed by aqui (here) are used to refer things or people close to the speaker.
The pronouns esse(s)/essa(s)/isso (this) usually followed by aí (there with you) are used to refer things or people close to the person the speaker is talking to.
The pronouns aquele(s)/aquela(s)/aquilo (that) generally followed by ali/lá (there/over there) are used to refer things or people far from the speaker and the person the speaker is talking to.
Example:
Essa é minha irmã. (That (there, near you) is my sister.)
Aquela é minha avó. (That (over there, far from us) is my grandmother.)
Este livro é seu? (Is this book yours?)
que é isto? (What is this?)
Demonstrative pronouns can be contracted with the preposition em and de:
Demonstrative Pronouns and Preposition “em”
Masculine
Feminine
Neither masc./fem.
English
+
em
+
em
+
em
este(s)
neste(s)
esta(s)
nesta(s)
isto
nisto
in/on/at this
esse(s)
nesse(s)
essa(s)
nessa(s)
isso
nisso
in/on/at this
aquele(s)
naquele(s)
aquela(s)
naquela(s)
aquilo
naquilo
in/on/at that
Example:
Você também estudo neste escola? (Do you also study in this school?)
Ela não trabalha mais naquela empresa. (She no longer works in that company.)
Demonstrative Pronouns and Preposition “de”
Masculine
Feminine
Neither masc./fem.
English
+
de
+
de
+
de
este(s)
deste(s)
esta(s)
desta(s)
isto
disto
this
esse(s)/
desse(s)
essa(s)
dessa(s)
isso
disso
this
aquele(s)
daquele(s)
aquela(s)
daquela(s)
aquilo
daquilo
that
Example:
Não gosto desta escola. (I don't like this school.)
que você acha deste carro? (What do you think of this car?)