About This Lesson
Use Pointing and Belonging to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Qué es esto?
keh ehs EHS-toh What is this?
B
¿Qué es eso?
keh ehs EH-soh What is that?
A
¿Quién es esa persona?
kyen ehs EH-sah pehr-SOH-nah Who is that?
B
¿Cuál es el tuyo?
kwahl ehs ehl TOO-yoh Which one is yours?
A
Este es mío.
EHS-teh ehs MEE-oh This one is mine.
B
Ese es tuyo.
EH-seh ehs TOO-yoh That one is yours.Word by Word
Qué
“Qué” means “what” in the question “¿Qué es esto?”. Its accent marks it as an interrogative word. Reuse it in “¿Qué es ...?” when asking what something is. Use it when identifying an unfamiliar object or thing.
es
“es” means “is” here and identifies or describes something; it is a form of ser. In “¿Qué es esto?” it links the question word with the thing being identified, and in “Este es mío.” it links the selected item with its owner. A common reuse pattern is “X es Y”. Use it when identifying something or stating what it is.
esto
“esto” means “this” and points to something near the speaker or currently indicated. In “¿Qué es esto?” it is the thing whose identity is being asked about. Reuse the pattern “¿Qué es esto?” when asking about a nearby object. Use it while pointing to something close by.
eso
“eso” means “that” and points to something away from the speaker or already indicated at a distance. In “¿Qué es eso?” it names the thing being identified. Reuse the pattern “¿Qué es eso?” when asking about something farther away. Use it when pointing to a distant or separately indicated object.
Quién
“Quién” means “who” and asks about a person’s identity in “¿Quién es esa persona?”. The accent marks it as an interrogative word. Reuse it in “¿Quién es ...?” when asking who someone is. Use it when identifying a person.
esa
“esa” means “that” when referring to a feminine singular person or thing; here it modifies “persona” in “esa persona”. Together, “esa persona” means “that person”. Reuse the word order “esa persona” when pointing out a particular person. Use it to refer to someone at some distance or already indicated.
persona
“persona” means “person” in “esa persona”. It is used after the demonstrative “esa” to identify the person being discussed. Reuse the phrase “esa persona” when referring to a particular individual. Use it when asking about or identifying someone.
Cuál
“Cuál” means “which” and asks the listener to select one option in “¿Cuál es el tuyo?”. The accent marks it as an interrogative word. Reuse it in “¿Cuál es ...?” when choosing among identified possibilities. Use it when asking which item belongs to someone.
el
“el” is the masculine singular definite article in “el tuyo”. Together, “el tuyo” refers to the masculine singular item that belongs to the person addressed. Reuse the pattern “el + tuyo” when selecting that person’s item. Use it when asking or answering which owned item is meant.
tuyo
“tuyo” means “yours” for the masculine singular item referred to in “el tuyo”. With “el”, the expression “el tuyo” means “the one that is yours”. Reuse “el tuyo” when identifying the other person’s item among several options. Use it when asking which selected item belongs to the person addressed.
Este
“Este” means “this one” and points to a selected nearby masculine singular item in “Este es mío.” It identifies the item that the speaker is claiming. Reuse the pattern “Este es ...” when indicating one particular item. Use it while pointing to a nearby item.
mío
“mío” means “mine” and states that the selected item belongs to the speaker in “Este es mío.” Its form refers here to the masculine singular item indicated by “Este”. Reuse the pattern “es mío” to state ownership of an item. Use it when confirming that something belongs to you.
Ese
“Ese” means “that one” and points to a selected masculine singular item in “Ese es tuyo.” It identifies the item that belongs to the person addressed. Reuse the pattern “Ese es ...” when indicating one particular item at some distance. Use it when pointing out which item is being discussed.
Grammar Points
¿Qué es esto?
¿Qué es esto?
keh ehs EHS-tohWhat is this?
Use qué es to ask what something is. The question word qué comes before the verb es.
esa persona
¿Quién es esa persona?
kyen ehs EH-sah pehr-SOH-nahWho is that person?
Demonstratives change form: esa agrees with the feminine noun persona.
Spanish Vocabulary
cuál
pron
kwahl
which one
¿Cuál es el tuyo?
el
det
ehl
the
¿Cuál es el tuyo?
es
verb
ehs
is
¿Qué es esto?
esa
det
EH-sah
that
¿Quién es esa persona?
eso
pron
EH-soh
that
¿Qué es eso?
este
pron
EHS-teh
this one
Este es mío.
esto
pron
EHS-toh
this
¿Qué es esto?
mío
pron
MEE-oh
mine
Este es mío.
persona
noun
pehr-SOH-nah
person
¿Quién es esa persona?
qué
pron
keh
what
¿Qué es esto?
quién
pron
kyen
who
¿Quién es esa persona?
tuyo
pron
TOO-yoh
yours
¿Cuál es el tuyo?
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
What is this?
Show Answer
¿Qué es esto?What is that?
Show Answer
¿Qué es eso?Who is that?
Show Answer
¿Quién es esa persona?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
this
Show Answer
estoperson
Show Answer
personawho
Show Answer
quiénwhich one