de + este/esse/aquele = deste/desse/daquele

Contraction with Demonstratives (De)

Level 2

In Portuguese, when the preposition de (of/from/about) meets a demonstrative like este (this) or aquele (that), they must fuse into a single word: deste, desse, or daquele.

How It Works

The preposition de drops its final vowel and attaches directly to the demonstrative. This is a fundamental part of Portuguese syntax.

1. The Three-Way System:

  • Deste/Desta: Of/from this (near the speaker).
  • Desse/Dessa: Of/from that (near the listener).
  • Daquele/Daquela: Of/from that (far from both).

2. Neuter Forms:
When referring to abstract ideas or unnamed objects, use the neuter contractions: disto, disso, and daquilo.

3. Usage with Verbs:
Many common Portuguese verbs require the preposition de. When these verbs are followed by a demonstrative, the contraction is required:

  • Gostar de (To like): Gosto disto. (I like this.)
  • Precisar de (To need): Preciso daquele livro. (I need that book.)
  • Falar de (To talk about): Falamos desse assunto. (We talked about that subject.)

4. Regional Nuance:
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, the distinction between deste and desse is often blurred, with desse being the most common choice for 'this' or 'that.' However, formal writing and European Portuguese maintain the strict spatial distinctions.

Examples (5)

  1. Eu gosto muito deste café.

    I like this coffee very much.

    Word by Word: I like much of-this coffee.

    The verb 'gostar' requires 'de', which contracts with 'este' because the coffee is near the speaker.

  2. O que você acha dessa ideia?

    What do you think of that idea?

    Word by Word: The what you think of-that idea?

    Uses 'dessa' (de + essa) to refer to an idea the listener just mentioned.

  3. Ele é o dono daquele carro azul.

    He is the owner of that blue car.

    Word by Word: He is the owner of-that car blue.

    Uses 'daquele' (de + aquele) because the car is far away from both people.

  4. Eu não preciso disso agora.

    I don't need that right now.

    Word by Word: I not need of-that-thing now.

    Uses the neuter contraction 'disso' (de + isso) to refer to an abstract 'that' or a general thing.

  5. Nós estamos falando destas flores.

    We are talking about these flowers.

    Word by Word: We are talking of-these flowers.

    Demonstrates the plural feminine contraction 'destas' (de + estas).

Common Mistakes

  • Failing to contract the preposition with the demonstrative.

    Eu gosto de este livro.
    Eu gosto deste livro.

    In Portuguese, 'de' + 'este' must always become 'deste'. Leaving them separate is considered a grammatical error.

  • Confusing 'deste' (near speaker) with 'desse' (near listener).

    Gosto desse livro que estou segurando.
    Gosto deste livro que estou segurando.

    Use 'deste' for things you are holding or are very close to you. Use 'desse' for things the other person is holding.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

de + este/esse/aquele = deste/desse/daqueleLevel 2Contraction with Demonstratives (De)

Learn This First

To understand these contractions, you first need to be familiar with the preposition 'de' and the various demonstrative adjectives (este, esse, aquele) that it combines with.

Words in This Pattern

destedessedaqueleaqueleaquele