this/these

este estos
esta estas

that/those(nearby)

ese esos
esa esas

that/those(over there)

aquel aquellos
aquella aquellas

When used as adjectives, the demonstratives precede the noun, and must agree in number and gender with the noun they describe: este hotel, esa comida, aquellos hombres, etc.

When used as a pronoun (‘this one,’ ‘that one,’ ‘these,’ ‘those,’ etc.), the demonstratives have accent marks: este libro y ése (‘this book and that one’); esta puerta y ésa (‘this door and that one’), etc.

The difference between ese and aquel is one of relative distance. The thing farthest away from the speaker is aquel, whereas ese implies that it is a bit closer.

Examples of Demonstratives

• ¿Qué te parece este pañuelo para Silvia?
• Tienes razón. Creo que aquel azul es más elegante.