aquele/aquela/aqueles/aquelas
Demonstrative Adjectives (Far)
Portuguese uses a three-way system for distance. While 'este' is near the speaker and 'esse' is near the listener, 'aquele' is for things far from both.
How It Works
In Portuguese, demonstratives are more precise than in English. Aquele (and its variations) is used to refer to things far from both the speaker and the listener (the 'third person' space).
- Physical Distance: For objects far away (e.g., 'that star').
- Remote Time: For a distant past, like naquela época (in those days).
- Mandatory Contractions: These words must merge with prepositions. You must use daquele (de + aquele), naquele (em + aquele), and the accented àquele (a + aquele).
To become proficient in using these, remember they must always follow adjective agreement rules for gender and number.
Examples (5)
- Aquele carro ali é meu.
That car over there is mine.
Word by Word: That car there is mine.
Uses 'aquele' because the car is at a distance from both the speaker and the listener.
- Aquelas montanhas são lindas.
Those mountains are beautiful.
Word by Word: Those mountains are beautiful.
The feminine plural form 'aquelas' matches the noun 'montanhas'.
- Eu vou àquele restaurante amanhã.
I am going to that restaurant tomorrow.
Word by Word: I go to-that restaurant tomorrow.
Demonstrates the contraction àquele (a + aquele), which uses the grave accent (crase).
- Eu gosto daquele livro.
I like that book.
Word by Word: I like of-that book.
Shows the contraction daquele (de + aquele).
- Naquele tempo, a vida era simples.
In those times, life was simple.
Word by Word: In-that time, the life was simple.
Shows 'aquele' used for remote time, contracted with the preposition 'em' to become naquele.
Common Mistakes
Using 'esse' for things that are very far away.
Vês esse barco no horizonte?Vês aquele barco no horizonte?'Esse' is for things near the listener. For something far away on the horizon, 'aquele' is required.
Forgetting to contract the preposition with the demonstrative.
Eu moro em aquela casa.Eu moro naquela casa.In Portuguese, it is mandatory to combine 'em' + 'aquela' into 'naquela'.
Confusing 'aquele' (adjective) with 'aquilo' (neuter pronoun).
O que é aquele?O que é aquilo?Use 'aquilo' for unidentified objects ('What is that?'). Use 'aquele' only when referring to a specific noun.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- este/esta/estes/estasDemonstrative Adjectives (Near)
The 'near me' counterpart to 'aquele'.
Foundations - esse/essa/esses/essasDemonstrative Adjectives (Mid)
The 'near you' counterpart to 'aquele'.
Foundations - isto/isso/aquiloNeuter Demonstrative Pronouns
The neuter pronoun versions used for unidentified things or abstract ideas.
Level 1 - naquele/naquela/naqueles/naquelasContraction Naquele
The mandatory contraction of the preposition 'em' with these demonstratives.
Level 2 - daquele/daquela/daqueles/daquelasContraction Daquele
The mandatory contraction of the preposition 'de' with these demonstratives.
Level 2 - àquele/àquela/àqueles/àquelasCrase with Demonstratives
The mandatory contraction of the preposition 'a' with these demonstratives, using the grave accent (crase).
Level 4
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Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice aquele/aquela/aqueles/aquelas in Bubblegum
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