B2 Pronouns 7 min read 简单

“其他所有事物”代词：这个、那个、和那个远处的 (esto, eso, aquello)

想聊聊“这事儿”或“那玩意儿”却不知道名字？用 esto、eso 和 aquello 就对了，它们专门处理抽象想法或无名之物。
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'esto', 'eso', and 'aquello' when you don't know the gender of an object or are referring to an entire situation.

  • Use 'esto' for things close to you: '¿Qué es esto?' (What is this?)
  • Use 'eso' for things near the listener: 'No me gusta eso.' (I don't like that.)
  • Use 'aquello' for things far from both: '¿Qué fue aquello que vimos?' (What was that thing we saw?)
Esto (Near) / Eso (Mid) / Aquello (Far) + Verb

Overview

Have you ever been scrolling through a TikTok feed and seen something so bizarre you couldn't even put a name to it? You turn to your friend and ask, What is *this*? In Spanish, when you don't know the name of the thing you're pointing at—or if you're talking about a whole situation, an abstract idea, or a vague concept—you reach for the neuter demonstrative pronouns. These are the unsung heroes of Spanish conversation: esto, eso, and aquello.
They are your everything else buttons. Unlike most things in Spanish, they don't care if a noun is masculine or feminine because, well, there isn't a specific noun involved yet. They are the ultimate tools for the curious, the confused, and the gossipy.
If you've ever felt trapped by gender agreement while trying to describe a complex feeling or a blurry object in the distance, these three words are about to become your best friends. They let you speak before you even know the vocabulary for what's happening.
Neuter demonstrative pronouns are used to refer to things that are not yet identified by name, abstract ideas, or entire sentences or situations. In Spanish, everything usually has a gender, but these three specific words—esto (this), eso (that), and aquello (that far away thing)—occupy a special neuter space. You use them when you're pointing at an object and asking
¿Qué es esto?
(What is this?) because you don't know if the object is el(m) or la(f).
You also use them for concepts like "I don't like eso
when eso refers to the way your roommate leaves dishes in the sink—not a single object, but the whole vibe. Think of them as the
placeholder
pronouns. They are incredibly common in texting, social media comments, and daily life because we often talk about
this thing or that situation" without needing to name every single noun involved.
Just remember: these little guys are loners. They never, ever hang out with a noun. If you see a noun nearby, you've probably used the wrong word!

How This Grammar Works

The magic of esto, eso, and aquello lies in their endings. Even though they end in -o, which usually signals masculine in Spanish, in the world of demonstratives, the -o ending is actually the mark of the neuter. This is a common point of confusion for people who think esto is the masculine version of this. It’s not!
The masculine version is este. Use esto only when the gender is unknown or irrelevant. This grammar works by replacing a whole concept or an unidentified object.
When you say,
Eso es verdad
(That is true), the word eso represents the entire statement someone just made. It’s like a digital folder that holds a bunch of information inside one small word. Because they are pronouns, they stand alone.
They take the place of the noun rather than describing it. If you're talking about el(m) teléfono (the phone), you'd say este. But if you're talking about the fact that your phone just exploded, you'd say esto.
It’s the difference between a thing and a thing-that-happened.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating and using these forms is actually easier than standard demonstratives because there is no plural and no feminine version. You only have three words to learn, and they never change! Here is how you pick the right one based on the spatial or mental distance from the speaker:
2
Identify the distance:
3
esto: Use this for things literally in your hand, right next to you, or the topic you just mentioned. (Distance: Right here).
4
eso: Use this for things near the person you're talking to, or something just a little bit away. It's the most common form in conversation. (Distance: Over there).
5
aquello: Use this for things far away from both of you, or for memories and events deep in the past. (Distance: Way over there).
6
Verify it's a pronoun: Make sure you aren't putting a noun immediately after it.
7
Correct:
No quiero esto.
(I don't want this.)
8
Incorrect:
No quiero esto libro.
(Use este instead!)
9
Match the Verb: Since these represent a single concept or stuff, they almost always take the third-person singular verb form (like es, fue, parece).

When To Use It

You’ll find yourself using these in almost every modern scenario imaginable.
  • Identifying Unknown Objects: You're at a flea market in Mexico City and see a weird gadget.
    ¿Qué es esto?
    is your go-to phrase.
  • Abstract Ideas: You’re watching a Netflix documentary about space. You turn to your partner and say,
    Aquello es fascinante
    (That [concept/discovery] is fascinating).
  • Reacting to Situations: Someone cuts you off in traffic. You mutter,
    No puedo creer eso
    (I can't believe that [action]).
  • Summarizing Conversations: After a long Zoom meeting, you might say,
    Esto es lo que vamos a hacer
    (This is what we are going to do).
  • Digital Interactions: On Instagram, if someone posts a weird meme, you might comment,
    ¿Qué es esto? 😂
    .
  • Past Events: When talking about your childhood, you might say,
    Aquello fue una época difícil
    (That was a difficult time). Aquello gives it that sense of
    long ago and far away,
    like a vintage filter on a photo.

Common Mistakes

The most frequent trap is the -o suffix confusion. Many learners assume esto means this (masculine) because most masculine words end in -o. Nope!
  • Mistake: Saying
    esto carro
    or
    eso hombre.
  • Fix: Use este carro and ese hombre. The neuter forms esto, eso, and aquello are like introverts—they hate being seen with nouns.
  • Mistake: Using lo instead of esto. While lo is also neuter, it’s an object pronoun. You can't start a sentence with lo to mean this.
  • Fix: Use esto as the subject.
    Esto es bueno,
    not
    Lo es bueno.
  • Mistake: Forgetting distance. If you use esto for something far away, people might think you're holding something they can't see. It's like accidentally hitting the wrong emoji in a group chat; people get the vibe, but it's slightly awkward.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

It’s helpful to see how these stack up against their gendered cousins.
  • Neuter (esto) vs. Masculine (este): esto is for
    this situation/unknown thing.
    este is for
    this el(m) specifically named thing.
    If you're pointing at a mysterious liquid, use esto. If you know it's el(m) café, use este.
  • Neuter (eso) vs. lo que: eso means that. lo que means that which or what (the thing that). Example:
    Eso es lo que quiero
    (That is what I want).
  • eso vs. aquello: In Latin America, eso is used much more frequently than in Spain. In Spain, aquello is common for things physically far away. In Latin American Spanish, eso often covers both medium and far distances, while aquello is reserved for poetic or very distant past contexts. Using aquello to describe something you saw yesterday might make you sound like a 19th-century novelist—which is a vibe, but maybe not the one you want at a reggaeton concert.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can esto ever be plural?

No. If you have multiple unknown things, you usually just use the masculine plural estos. The neuter is strictly for the singular concept of the stuff you're looking at.

Q

Is there a neuter word for she or he?

Not really. Spanish is very binary with people. Neuter is for things, ideas, and the void.

Q

Why does eso sound so aggressive sometimes?

In some contexts, like

¡Eso!
, it's like saying Exactly! or Get it!. It's a common shout of encouragement during a dance or a good point in an argument.

Q

Can I use aquello for my ex?

Only if you want to imply they are a distant, vague memory from a different lifetime. It’s actually quite effective for being dramatic!

Q

Does esto need an accent mark?

Nope! Since there are no other words that look exactly like esto, eso, or aquello, they never need written accents to distinguish them from other parts of speech. Your keyboard and your thumbs will thank you.

Neutral Demonstrative Pronouns

Pronoun Proximity Usage
Esto
Close
Unidentified object/concept near speaker
Eso
Mid
Unidentified object/concept near listener
Aquello
Far
Unidentified object/concept far from both

Meanings

These pronouns refer to objects without specifying gender or number, or to abstract concepts/situations.

1

Unknown Object

Referring to an object whose gender is unknown.

“¿Qué es esto?”

“No sé qué es eso.”

2

Abstract Situation

Referring to a whole idea or situation.

“Eso es verdad.”

“Esto me preocupa.”

Reference Table

Reference table for “其他所有事物”代词：这个、那个、和那个远处的 (esto, eso, aquello)
中性代词 空间/时间距离 使用场景 中文对应
`esto`
非常近
你正拿着的东西，或刚刚提到的想法。
这（事/物）
`eso`
中等距离 / 靠近对方
靠近听者的东西，或最近谈论的话题。
那（事/物）
`aquello`
远方 / 过去
远处的物体，或很久以前的回忆。
那（远处的/以前的）
¡`Eso`!
不适用
表示强烈赞同或鼓励的感叹句。
没错！/ 正是！
`Todo esto`
近距离
指代眼前这一整件复杂的情况。
这一切
`Por eso`
不适用
表达因果关系，引出结果。
因此 / 所以

正式程度

正式
Eso no es aceptable.

Eso no es aceptable. (Disagreement)

中性
Eso no está bien.

Eso no está bien. (Disagreement)

非正式
Eso no mola.

Eso no mola. (Disagreement)

俚语
Eso no va.

Eso no va. (Disagreement)

何时使用中性代词

中性代词

辨认物体

  • 未知的物品 ¿Qué es esto?

抽象想法

  • 观点/句子 Eso es verdad

整体局势

  • 整个场景 Esto no está bien

中性代词 vs 性别代词

中性 (独立使用)
esto 这（指代想法）
eso 那（指代概念）
有性别 (接名词/指特定物)
este/esta 这（具体某个东西）
ese/esa 那（具体某个东西）

如何选择正确的“这”或“那”

1

你是指代一个有明确性别的名词吗？

YES
使用 este/esta, ese/esa, aquel/aquella。
NO
进入中性词逻辑。
2

它离你很近，或者是指你刚说的想法吗？

YES
使用 'esto'。
NO ↓

中性代词常见使用语境

💬

日常对话

  • • Eso es
  • • Por eso
  • • ¿Qué es esto?
⏳

记忆与时间

  • • Aquello fue...
  • • En aquellos tiempos
❓

模糊或未知

  • • ¿Qué es aquello?
  • • Pásame eso
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按水平分级的例句

1

¿Qué es esto?

What is this?

2

Eso es bueno.

That is good.

3

No me gusta eso.

I don't like that.

4

Esto es para ti.

This is for you.

1

¿Qué es aquello?

What is that over there?

2

Eso no es verdad.

That is not true.

3

Esto es muy difícil.

This is very difficult.

4

Aquello fue un error.

That was a mistake.

1

No entiendo por qué dijiste eso.

I don't understand why you said that.

2

Esto es lo que necesitamos.

This is what we need.

3

Aquello que vimos ayer fue extraño.

That thing we saw yesterday was strange.

4

Eso depende de la situación.

That depends on the situation.

1

Aquello a lo que te refieres es complejo.

That which you are referring to is complex.

2

Esto es precisamente lo que buscábamos.

This is precisely what we were looking for.

3

Eso suena como una excusa.

That sounds like an excuse.

4

Aquello ocurrió hace mucho tiempo.

That happened a long time ago.

1

Eso es, en esencia, lo que propongo.

That is, in essence, what I propose.

2

Esto no hace más que complicar las cosas.

This does nothing but complicate things.

3

Aquello que parecía imposible, ahora es real.

That which seemed impossible is now real.

4

Eso es harina de otro costal.

That is a different kettle of fish.

1

Aquello de lo que hablábamos ayer ha cobrado relevancia.

That which we were talking about yesterday has become relevant.

2

Esto es, sin duda, un punto de inflexión.

This is, without a doubt, a turning point.

3

Eso es lo que se conoce como falacia lógica.

That is what is known as a logical fallacy.

4

Aquello que ignoramos suele ser lo más importante.

That which we ignore is usually the most important.

容易混淆

The 'Everything Else' Pronouns: This, That, and That Way Over There (esto, eso, aquello) 对比 Este vs Esto

Learners mix up the adjective 'este' with the pronoun 'esto'.

The 'Everything Else' Pronouns: This, That, and That Way Over There (esto, eso, aquello) 对比 Eso vs Aquello

Learners use 'eso' for everything distant.

The 'Everything Else' Pronouns: This, That, and That Way Over There (esto, eso, aquello) 对比 Neutral vs Masculine

Learners think 'eso' is masculine.

常见错误

✗

Esta es verdad

✓

Eso es verdad

Using a gendered pronoun for an abstract concept.
✗

Esto mesa

✓

Esta mesa

Using a neutral pronoun with a noun.
✗

Eso es la cosa

✓

Eso es

Redundancy.
✗

Aquella es

✓

Aquello es

Using feminine for neutral.
✗

Esto es el libro

✓

Este es el libro

Using neutral when the noun is known.
✗

Eso es muy lejos

✓

Aquello es muy lejos

Using 'eso' for distant objects.
✗

Aquello es mi amigo

✓

Aquel es mi amigo

Using neutral for a person.
✗

Eso que dijiste

✓

Aquello que dijiste

Mixing up distance in abstract reference.
✗

Esto es lo que yo quiero

✓

Eso es lo que yo quiero

Using 'esto' for something already mentioned.
✗

Aquello es verdad

✓

Eso es verdad

Using 'aquello' for a current topic.
✗

Esto de lo que hablas

✓

Aquello de lo que hablas

Using 'esto' for distant abstract concepts.
✗

Eso es lo que me gusta

✓

Eso es lo que me gusta

Correct, but stylistic choice.
✗

Aquello es el problema

✓

Ese es el problema

Using 'aquello' for a near topic.
✗

Esto es lo que pasó

✓

Eso es lo que pasó

Using 'esto' for past events.

句型

¿Qué es ___?

___ es lo que quiero.

No entiendo ___ que dijiste.

___ fue un momento inolvidable.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Eso es genial.

Shopping very common

¿Cuánto cuesta esto?

Job Interview common

Eso es un punto importante.

Travel common

¿Qué es aquello?

Food Delivery occasional

No pedí eso.

Social Media constant

¡Esto es increíble!

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⚠️

绝对不要接名词！

这是大忌！永远不要说 esto libro 或 eso casa。如果是修饰名词，请改用 este libro 或 esa casa。
🎯

地道口语小绝招

在聊天时，直接说一句 ¡Eso! 是非常地道的反应，意思就是“没错！”或者“就是这样！”。
💬

拉美的距离感

在拉丁美洲的很多地方，aquello 听起来有点文绉绉。大家通常习惯用 eso 来指代伸手够不到的所有东西。

Smart Tips

Use 'esto' and point. It's a natural way to learn new vocabulary.

No sé cómo se llama esto. → ¿Cómo se llama esto?

Use 'eso' to recap what someone just said.

La idea que dijiste es buena. → Eso es una buena idea.

Use 'aquello' to add a sense of nostalgia.

El viaje fue divertido. → Aquello fue un viaje increíble.

Use 'esto' for immediate focus.

El problema es grande. → Esto es un gran problema.

发音

ES-to, E-so, a-QUE-llo

Stress

The stress is always on the first syllable.

Question

¿Qué es ES-to? ↑

Rising intonation for questions.

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of the 'O' ending as the 'Object' marker. Esto, Eso, Aquello all end in 'O' because they are for objects/ideas, not people.

视觉联想

Imagine a person holding a box (Esto), pointing to a box near a friend (Eso), and looking at a box on a distant mountain (Aquello).

Rhyme

Esto, Eso, Aquello, neutral and bright, use them for objects when the name isn't right.

Story

I found a box. '¿Qué es esto?' I asked. My friend pointed to a box near me. 'Eso es un regalo.' Then we looked at a distant house. 'Aquello es mi casa,' he said.

Word Web

EstoEsoAquelloCosaIdeaSituaciónObjeto

挑战

Point to three things in your room and say '¿Qué es esto?' for each one.

文化笔记

Spaniards use 'aquello' more frequently to refer to distant memories.

Mexicans often use 'eso' as a filler word in conversation.

Argentines might use 'eso' to dismiss a topic quickly.

These derive from Latin 'istud' (esto), 'ipsum' (eso), and 'illud' (aquello).

对话开场白

“

¿Qué es esto que tienes en la mano?

“

¿Qué opinas de eso que dijo el profesor?

“

¿Recuerdas aquello que pasó en el viaje?

“

¿Es esto lo que buscabas?

日记主题

Describe an object you found today using 'esto'.
Write about a disagreement you had using 'eso'.
Reflect on a childhood memory using 'aquello'.
Analyze a complex situation using all three pronouns.

常见错误

Incorrect

正确

Incorrect

正确

Incorrect

正确

Incorrect

正确

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Test Yourself

根据语境选择正确的中性代词（物体就在说话人手中）。

¿Qué es ___ que tienes en la mano?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: esto
由于物体未知且在说话人手中，我们使用中性词 'esto'。
哪句话正确使用了中性代词来指代一种情况？ 多项选择

请选择语法正确的句子：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esto es muy interesante.
'Esto' 独立存在指代某种情况，后面不能直接跟名词 'libro'。
找出一句描述遥远回忆时最精准的表达方式。 Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eso fue hace muchos años, en el siglo pasado.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aquello fue hace muchos años, en el siglo pasado.
虽然日常口语常用 'eso'，但在指代很久以前的往事时，'aquello' 是最精准的中性代词。

Score: /3

练习题

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

¿Qué es ___? (pointing to something near me)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: esto
Near speaker = esto.
Choose the correct pronoun. 多项选择

___ es lo que dijiste ayer.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eso
Referring to a past statement.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Esto mesa es bonita.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esta mesa es bonita
Neutral pronouns cannot be adjectives.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

es / eso / verdad / no

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eso no es verdad
Standard word order.
Translate to Spanish. 翻译

What is that over there?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ¿Qué es aquello?
Distant = aquello.
Match the pronoun to the context. Match Pairs

Match: 1. Esto, 2. Eso, 3. Aquello

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 1-Near, 2-Mid, 3-Far
Spatial proximity rules.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

Use 'aquello' to describe a distant memory.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aquello fue un gran viaje
Aquello for distant events.
Select the best fit. 多项选择

___ es lo que yo quería decir.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eso
Referring to a previous point.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
填入代表听者附近某物的词。 填空

¿Me pasas ___?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: eso
纠正名词与代词的搭配错误。 Error Correction

No quiero esto ensalada.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No quiero esta ensalada.
连词成句，表达对某种情况的不满。 Sentence Reorder

gusta / no / me / esto

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No me gusta esto.
使用中性代词翻译“这就是我在这里的原因”。 翻译

That is why I am here.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Por eso estoy aquí.
哪个词指代一段遥远的回忆？ 多项选择

Aquel / Aquello fue un gran verano.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aquello
将代词与其代表的距离匹配。 Match Pairs

请连线匹配：

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: esto | 离我近, eso | 离你近, aquello | 离咱俩都远
补全这句表示赞同的感叹句。 填空

¡___! Exactamente lo que pensaba.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eso
纠正句首的代词错误。 Error Correction

Lo es lo más importante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Esto es lo más importante.
哪句话是指代对方刚刚说的内容？ 多项选择

哪句话是对笑话的正确反馈？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eso es muy gracioso.
翻译“我不想谈论那件事”（指代久远或痛苦的回忆）。 翻译

I don't want to talk about that.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: No quiero hablar de aquello.

Score: /10

常见问题 (8)

No, 'esto' is for objects or ideas. Use 'este' for a person.

It's not rare, but it's specific to distant things or abstract past events.

No, it is neutral. It has no gender.

No, that is incorrect. Say 'este libro'.

Use 'eso' as the default for unknown or general things.

Yes, they are very common in academic and formal essays.

You don't! They are invariant.

The rules are the same, though usage frequency of 'aquello' may vary.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

French high

ceci/cela

Spanish has a three-way distinction (esto/eso/aquello).

German moderate

dies/das

German lacks the three-way spatial distinction.

Japanese high

kore/sore/are

Japanese pronouns are strictly spatial, not abstract.

Arabic partial

hatha/thalika

Arabic is gendered even in demonstratives.

Chinese low

zhe/na

Chinese does not have a three-way system.

English moderate

this/that

English lacks the three-way distinction.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
西班牙语强调代词 (a mí, para ti)

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