Demonstrative adjectives indicate proximity.
Adjective is a word that, when analyzing its etymological origin, we discover that it comes from the Latin term “adiectivus”. We can also determine that it is made up of three components: the prefix “ad-”, which indicates approximation; the verb “iacere”, which can be translated as “throw”, and finally the suffix “-tivo”, which is synonymous with “relationship”.
Adjectives are words that determine or qualify a noun . It is a type of word that expresses the properties attributed to the noun, highlighting or specifying them.
Characteristics of a demonstrative adjective
A demonstrative adjective is one that indicates a relationship of place , expressing the proximity of the person with whom or about whom one speaks. These adjectives always precede a noun; Otherwise, we are looking at another type of word ( pronouns ).
Likewise, we cannot ignore the knowledge that demonstrative adjectives always have the same gender and number as those of the nouns they accompany.
Demonstrative adjectives have the same number and gender as the nouns to which they refer.
Some examples
"That", "this", "that", "that" y "those" son ejemplos de adjetivos demostrativos. Existen ciertos adjetivos que son apropiados desde el punto de vista gramatical pero que resultan muy arcaicos en el habla cotidiana, como “that”, “this one” o “aquesa”.
Specifically, we would have to establish that this is the complete list of demonstrative adjectives:
• Regarding the category of adverb, there are the following: “here”, “here”, “there”, “there” and “there”.
• Those framed within the “masculine singular” section are these: “this”, “that” and “that”.
• On the other hand, typified as “feminine singular” we find “this”, “that” and “that”.
• “These”, “those” and “those” are the plural masculine demonstrative adjectives.
• “These”, “those” and “those” are, for their part, feminine and plural.
Expressions with demonstrative adjectives
“That dog is a Doberman” is an expression that includes the demonstrative adjective “that” . This adjective is determining the noun “dog” and assumes that the speaker is observing the “dog” in question so that the adjective “that” acquires meaning.
“Those girls are making a lot of noise and they don't let me rest” is another phrase where a demonstrative adjective ( “those” ) is used. The expression refers to a group of noisy girls according to the speaker's perspective.
Allusion to proximity
Sometimes, the demonstrative adjective can indicate both spatial and temporal proximity: “Yesterday I bought this record” uses the adjective “this” to mention spatial proximity (it is easy to imagine the speaker pointing to the record in question or taking it in his hand), while “This winter we will go skiing” includes the same adjective in a temporal reference (the winter that is being experienced at the moment or that is about to arrive).
That is, we could use the demonstrative adjectives already exposed to establish the type of proximity and closeness that they establish with respect to a subject or a specific object. In this sense, the following characteristics have been specified in this regard:
• Those that indicate greater proximity are “this”, “this”, “these” and “these”.
• On the other hand, those that show a medium distance are “ese”, “esa”, “esos” and “esas”.
• Finally, those used to indicate greater distance are “aquel”, “aquella”, “those” and “those”.