acesta / aceasta / acela / aceea

This and That

Level 2

Acesta/Aceasta = This (near)
Acela/Aceea = That (far)
These words change depending on whether they come before or after a noun.

How It Works

Demonstratives in Romanian agree in gender, number, and case with the noun they modify. They distinguish between proximal (near the speaker) and distal (away from the speaker) positions.

1. Position and Form:

  • Pre-posed (Short Form): Used before the noun. The noun remains unarticulated, while the demonstrative makes the phrase definite.
    Example: acest băiat (this boy).
  • Post-posed (Long Form): Used after the noun. The noun must take a definite article.
    Example: băiatul acesta (this boy).
  • Pronoun: When standing alone, only the long form is used.
    Example: Îl vreau pe acesta. (I want this one.)

2. Case Forms (Genitive and Dative):
When expressing possession or indirect objects, demonstratives change their endings. These forms are used both as adjectives and pronouns:

  • Masculine/Neuter Singular: acestui / acestuia (this); acelui / aceluia (that)
  • Feminine Singular: acestei / acesteia (this); acelei / aceleia (that)
  • Plural (All Genders): acestor / acestora (this); acelor / acelora (that)

3. Gender and Number (Nominative/Accusative):

  • Masculine/Neuter Singular: acest / acesta; acel / acela
  • Feminine Singular: această / aceasta; acea / aceea
  • Masculine Plural: acești / aceștia; acei / aceia
  • Feminine/Neuter Plural: aceste / acestea; acele / acelea

4. Register:
In formal writing and professional settings, the full forms (acesta, aceasta) are standard. In daily informal speech, colloquial shortened versions like ăsta/asta (this) and ăla/aia (that) are predominant, though formal forms are still common in semi-formal interactions.

5. Neuter Function:
The feminine singular forms (aceasta/asta) are used to refer to abstract ideas or situations (e.g., 'This is good').

Examples (6)

  1. Acest film este interesant.

    This movie is interesting.

    Word by Word: This movie is interesting.

    Here, the short form 'acest' is used before the noun 'film'. The noun does not have a definite article.

  2. Filmul acesta este interesant.

    This movie is interesting.

    Word by Word: Movie-the this is interesting.

    Here, the long form 'acesta' is used after the noun. Note that 'film' now has the definite article '-ul'.

  3. Culoarea acestei mașini este roșie.

    The color of this car is red.

    Word by Word: Color-the of-this car is red.

    This uses the Genitive form 'acestei' (feminine singular) to show possession.

  4. I-am dat cartea acestui băiat.

    I gave the book to this boy.

    Word by Word: To-him I-have given book-the to-this boy.

    This uses the Dative form 'acestui' (masculine singular) for the indirect object.

  5. Fata aceea este sora mea.

    That girl is my sister.

    Word by Word: Girl-the that is sister-the my.

    A distal demonstrative (that) used after a feminine noun with a definite article.

  6. Ce este asta?

    What is this?

    Word by Word: What is this?

    Uses the colloquial feminine singular 'asta' as a neuter pronoun to refer to an unknown object.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the long form before a noun.

    Acesta băiat este înalt.
    Acest băiat este înalt.

    When the demonstrative comes before the noun, you must use the short form (acest), not the long form (acesta).

  • Forgetting the definite article with post-posed demonstratives.

    Fată aceasta este aici.
    Fata aceasta este aici.

    If the demonstrative follows the noun, the noun must have a definite article (fata, not fată).

  • Using Nominative forms instead of Genitive/Dative.

    Numele acest băiat este Ion.
    Numele acestui băiat este Ion.

    When expressing possession ('the name of this boy'), you must use the Genitive form 'acestui' rather than the Nominative 'acest'.

How It Connects

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acesta / aceasta / acela / aceeaLevel 2This and That

Learn This First

To use demonstratives like 'acesta' and 'aceasta' correctly, you need to understand how Romanian nouns are categorized into three genders (masculine, feminine, and neuter) and how to form their plurals. Since demonstratives must agree with the noun they refer to, a solid grasp of gender and number agreement is necessary.

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acestaacesta