nesse/nessa/nesses/nessas
Contraction Nesse
Nesse (and its variations nessa, nesses, nessas) means 'in that' or 'on that'. It is used for things near the person you are talking to or for things just mentioned in conversation.
How It Works
The contraction nesse is a core part of Portuguese used to indicate location or time relative to the listener.
1. Spatial Use: Use it for objects near the listener. If you are asking about a book your friend is holding, you say 'nesse livro'.
2. Temporal Use: It refers to a time period close to the present or one that was just mentioned (e.g., 'nesse dia' - on that day).
3. Discourse Use: It is very common for referring back to a topic the other person just brought up (e.g., 'Nesse caso...' - In that case...).
4. Regional Difference: In Brazil, nesse is often used even for things near the speaker, frequently replacing neste in casual speech. In Portugal, the distinction is more strictly maintained.
Examples (4)
- O que você tem nesse prato aí?
What do you have on that plate [near you]?
Word by Word: The what you have in-that plate there?
Uses 'nesse' because the plate is near the listener (indicated by 'aí').
- Nesse caso, eu prefiro esperar.
In that case, I prefer to wait.
Word by Word: In-that case, I prefer to-wait.
Anaphoric use: 'nesse' refers back to a situation or 'case' previously mentioned.
- Eu não confio nessas pessoas.
I don't trust those people.
Word by Word: I not trust in-those people.
The feminine plural form 'nessas' agrees with the feminine plural noun 'pessoas'.
- Nessa gaveta aí tem uma caneta.
In that drawer [near you] there is a pen.
Word by Word: In-that drawer there has a pen.
Uses 'nessa' for a feminine singular noun (gaveta) near the listener.
Common Mistakes
Using the uncontracted form 'em esse'.
Eu moro em esse apartamento.Eu moro nesse apartamento.Contractions with 'em' and demonstratives are mandatory in Portuguese, regardless of how formal the situation is.
Gender disagreement.
Eu vi o livro nesse mesa.Eu vi o livro nessa mesa.The contraction must match the gender of the noun. 'Mesa' is feminine, so you must use 'nessa'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'nesse' and its variations, you need to know how the preposition 'em' (in/on/at) combines with the mid-distance demonstrative 'esse' (that). You should already be familiar with the base demonstrative 'esse' and how it changes for gender and number, as well as the general concept of prepositional contractions in Portuguese.
- esse/essa/esses/essasDemonstrative Adjectives (Mid)
The contraction 'nesse' is a combination of 'em' and the demonstrative 'esse'. Learners must first understand the meaning and gender/number agreement of 'esse'.
Foundations - em + este/esse/aquele = neste/nesse/naqueleContraction with Demonstratives (Em)
This pattern introduces the general rule for contracting the preposition 'em' with demonstratives, providing the structural logic for 'nesse'.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- neste/nesta/nestes/nestasContraction Neste
The 'near me' version (in this), often confused with 'nesse' (in that).
Level 2 - naquele/naquela/naqueles/naquelasContraction Naquele
The 'far from both' version (in that over there).
Level 2 - nisto/nisso/naquiloContraction with Neuter Demonstratives (Em)
The neuter versions used for abstract ideas rather than specific nouns.
Level 2 - desse/dessa/desses/dessasContraction Desse
The equivalent contraction using the preposition 'de' (of/from) instead of 'em'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nesse/nessa/nesses/nessas in Bubblegum
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