Demonstrative Adjectives in Portuguese

Overview

Demonstrative Adjectives (Adjetivos Demonstrativos) is a beginner (CEFR A1) topic in Portuguese grammar. Three-level system: este/esta (near speaker), esse/essa (near listener), aquele/aquela (far from both). Contractions with prepositions: deste, neste, naquele.

Understanding demonstrative adjectives is essential for building correct Portuguese sentences and communicating effectively. This concept is introduced at the A1 level and forms part of the foundation for more advanced grammar structures.

Whether you are learning Brazilian or European Portuguese, mastering demonstrative adjectives will significantly improve your ability to express yourself naturally and accurately in a variety of contexts.

How It Works

Three-level demonstrative system:

	Near speaker	Near listener	Far from both
M. sg.	este	esse	aquele
F. sg.	esta	essa	aquela
M. pl.	estes	esses	aqueles
F. pl.	estas	essas	aquelas
Neuter	isto	isso	aquilo

Contractions with prepositions: de + este = deste, em + esse = nesse, de + aquele = daquele, em + aquele = naquele.

The neuter forms (isto, isso, aquilo) refer to abstract ideas, not specific gendered nouns.

Examples in Context

Portuguese	English	Note
Este livro é interessante.	This book is interesting.
Essa caneta é tua?	Is that pen yours?
Aquele edifício é velho.	That building (over there) is old.
Prefiro este.	I prefer this one.
Neste momento.	At this moment.	contraction
Isso e verdade.	That is true.	neuter
Isto e meu.	This is mine.	neuter
Aquilo e estranho.	That is strange.	far neuter
Nessa altura.	At that time.	contraction

Common Mistakes

Incorrect form usage

• Wrong: Applying rules from English or other languages directly
• Right: Follow Portuguese-specific patterns for demonstrative adjectives
• Why: Portuguese has its own rules that do not always align with English or other Romance languages.

Forgetting agreement rules

• Wrong: Not matching gender, number, or person correctly
• Right: Ensure all elements in the sentence agree with each other
• Why: Portuguese requires strict agreement between subjects, verbs, articles, adjectives, and pronouns.

Mixing formal and informal registers

• Wrong: Using tu forms with voce verb conjugations, or vice versa
• Right: Be consistent with your chosen register throughout a conversation
• Why: Register consistency is important for natural-sounding Portuguese.

Usage Notes

This concept appears across both Brazilian and European Portuguese, though specific usage patterns may differ between the two variants. At the A1 level, focus on understanding the core patterns before worrying about regional differences.

In everyday conversation, demonstrative adjectives is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts. Pay attention to how native speakers use it in the media you consume, and note any differences between Brazilian and Portuguese sources.

Practice Tips

1. Practice demonstrative adjectives with authentic Portuguese texts, listening for how native speakers use these forms in context.
2. Create flashcards with complete example sentences rather than isolated words to reinforce natural patterns.
3. Write short paragraphs using demonstrative adjectives and compare them with native-written texts to identify areas for improvement.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular Adjectives -- provides the foundational knowledge needed for demonstrative adjectives