demonstratives (dets)

Demonstratives in Brazilian Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese, demonstrative forms are used as determiners accompanying a noun, and they must agree with it in gender and number. The main forms are:

• Este, esta, estes, estas: This / These
• Esse, essa, esses, essas: That / Those (near the listener)
• Aquele, aquela, aqueles, aquelas: That / Those over there (far from both speaker and listener)

Spoken vs. Written Language

While formal grammar makes a strict distinction between este (this) and esse (that near you), the spoken language primarily uses esse(s) and essa(s) for both "this" and "that near you." The forms este(s) and esta(s) are largely reserved for formal or written contexts.

• Comprei essa camiseta semana passada. (I bought this t-shirt last week.) — Everyday spoken
• Desconsidere este aviso. (Disregard this notice.) — Formal written

Spatial and Temporal Usage

Spatially and temporally, esse refers to something close to the listener or something that was recently mentioned in conversation:

• Onde você comprou esse relógio? (Where did you buy that watch?)
• Foi nesse momento que percebi. (It was at that moment that I realized.)

Conversely, aquele pinpoints something remote in time or space, or something shared in familiarity between the speakers:

• Aquela casa verde. (That green house over there.)
• Naquele shopping novo. (In that new mall.)

Colloquial Usage and Combinations

In colloquial Portuguese, aquele can add strong emphasis to a noun. Demonstratives can also combine with possessives or indefinite pronouns to add nuance.

• Aquela ressaca! (What a hangover!)
• Aquele sufoco! (Such a tough situation!)
• Todos esses problemas. (All these problems.)
• Aquele seu namorado. (That boyfriend of yours.)

Additionally, you will often hear idiomatic expressions using these forms to mean "one of these" or to greatly intensify a noun:

• Um dia desses. (One of these days.)
• Uma correria daquelas. (One heck of a rush.)

Contractions with Prepositions

Demonstratives frequently merge with the prepositions de (of/from), em (in/on), and a (to), yielding single-word contractions:

• em + este = neste (in this)
• de + esse = desse (of/from that)
• a + aquela = àquela (to that over there)