Demonstrative Pronouns — Idiomatic Uses

Demonstrative Pronouns — Idiomatic Uses

a) In contrasted expressions, éste means the latter and aquél the former.

Pedro y Ana han partido, ésta con tres maletas y aquél con un baúl.
Peter and Anna have left, the former with a trunk and the latter with three suitcases.

Conozco a Elena y a Felipe; éste es diligente, aquélla es perezosa.
I know Helen and Philip; the former is lazy, the latter is industrious.

Note: In Spanish, contrary to English usage, the latter (éste) comes before the former (aquél).

b) When ésta refers to ciudad, it means this city (the one in which the speaker is); when ésa refers to ciudad, it means that city (the one in which the person addressed is).

Hay más fábricas en ésta que en ésa.
There are more factories in this city than in that one (in which you live).