esse/essa/esses/essas

Demonstrative Adjectives (Mid)

Foundations

The esse series (esse, essa, esses, essas) is the 'middle' demonstrative in Portuguese. It primarily points to things near the person you are talking to, or refers back to something already discussed.

How It Works

The demonstratives esse, essa, esses, and essas function as adjectives that must match the noun they describe in gender and number.

1. Spatial Use: Use these when the object is physically close to the listener. If you are asking your friend for the pen in their hand, you say essa caneta.

2. Temporal Use: Formally, esse refers to a past or future time period relative to the speaker, or a period already mentioned. For the current time period (e.g., the current week), formal grammar requires esta semana. However, in informal Brazilian Portuguese, essa semana is frequently used to mean the current week.

3. Discourse Use (Anaphoric): In writing or speaking, esse is used to refer back to an idea or object that was just mentioned. For example: 'He lost his keys; that (essa) situation is bad.'

4. Neuter Form: While esse/essa describe specific nouns, the word isso is the fixed neuter version. Use isso for abstract ideas, actions, or objects you haven't named yet (e.g., O que é isso?).

5. Contractions: These words usually fuse with the prepositions de and em:

Note: The preposition a (to) does not contract with these words (e.g., Assisti a esse filme).

6. Formal Exception: While contractions are standard, they are avoided in formal writing when the demonstrative is the subject of an infinitive verb (e.g., Apesar de esse livro ser caro...).

7. Regional Differences: In Brazil, esse is often used informally to mean both 'this' and 'that.' However, in Portugal and in formal writing, the distinction between este (near speaker) and esse (near listener) is strictly maintained.

Examples (4)

  1. Pode me dar esse livro que está aí com você?

    Can you give me that book that is there with you?

    Word by Word: Can [you] me give that book that is there with you?

    Uses 'esse' because the book is near the listener ('aí com você').

  2. Essa sua ideia é muito boa.

    That idea of yours is very good.

    Word by Word: That your idea is very good.

    Uses 'essa' to agree with the feminine noun 'ideia' and refers to something belonging to the listener.

  3. Eu não gosto desses sapatos.

    I don't like those shoes.

    Word by Word: I not like of-those shoes.

    Shows the mandatory contraction 'de + esses = desses'.

  4. Nesse dia, nós fomos ao cinema.

    On that day, we went to the cinema.

    Word by Word: In-that day, we went to-the cinema.

    Shows the contraction 'em + esse = nesse' used for a specific time mentioned.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'esse' for feminine nouns.

    Eu quero esse maçã.
    Eu quero essa maçã.

    Demonstratives must agree with the gender of the noun. Since 'maçã' is feminine, you must use 'essa'.

  • Forgetting mandatory contractions with prepositions.

    Eu moro em essa casa.
    Eu moro nessa casa.

    In Portuguese, 'em' and 'de' must contract with demonstratives. 'Em essa' is considered grammatically incorrect in natural speech and writing.

  • Using 'aquele' for things near the listener.

    Pode me passar aquele sal?
    Pode me passar esse sal?

    If the salt is right next to the person you are talking to, 'esse' is the correct choice. 'Aquele' implies it is far from both of you.

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esse/essa/esses/essasFoundationsDemonstrative Adjectives (Mid)

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