When a noun ends in "O" its worth making assuptions that it is "masculine, therefore we can use este. Again, in the early stages of learning, if a noun ends in "A" assume it is feminine, and precede to use esta. As always, there are certainly exceptions, eg problema (problem), ends in an "A", but is masculine, so would therefore be este problema (this problem), ese problema (that problem). Any errors you make in the early stages of learning can be rectified with experience and practice.
If you come across words that end in "cion" eg, cancion (song), these are always feminine.
Este (m) (ehs-teh)
Este (this) is used when we are refering to a noun that is masculine, eg, coche (car), chico (boy), pasaporte (passport), etc
Me gusta este coche. - I like this car.
Quiero este perro y quiero este gato. - I want this dog and I want this cat.
Necesito este pasaporte para viajar. - I need this passport for travel.
Me gustaria este dinero. - I would like this money.
Esta (f) (ehs-tah)
Me gusta esta casa. - I like this house.
Quiero comer esta comida. - I want to eat this food.
Necesito pagar esta camisa. - I need to pay for this shirt.
Tengo que ver esta mesa. - I have to see this table.
Esto (ehs-toh)
Esto es importante. - This is important.
¿Esto es fácil? - Is this easy? Translates as "This is easy", but because we are expressing it as a question, it becomes "Is this easy?"
¿Que es esto? - What is this?
Esto es genial. - This is great.
No me gusta esto. - I dont like this.
No quiero esto. - I dont want this.
Esto is used when addressing enviroments with multiple components (the big picture rather than specific objects)
Examples:
Este perro es negro, pero esta camisa es blanca.
This dog is black, but this shirt is white.
Esta comida es buena, pero este restaurante está vacío.
This food is good, but this restaurant is empty.
Este es mi hermano y esta es mi hermana.
This is my brother and this is my sister.
This and That (Este, Esta, Esto, Ese, Esa y Eso)
Ese (m) (eh-seh)
Me gusta ese coche - I like that car
Quiero ese perro y quiero ese gato - I want that dog and I want that cat.
Necesito ese pasaporte para viajar - I need that passport for travel.
Me gustaria ese dinero. - I would like that money
Esa (f) (eh-sah)
Me gusta esa casa. - I like that house.
Quiero comer esa comida. - I want to eat that food.
Necesito pagar por esa camisa. - I need to pay for that shirt.
Tengo que ver esa mesa. - I have to see that table.
Eso (eh-soh)
Eso es importante. - That is important.
¿Eso es fácil? - Is that easy? Translates as "That is easy", but because we are expressing it as a question, it becomes "Is that easy?"
¿Que es eso? - What is that?
Eso es genial - That is great.
No me gusta eso. - I dont like that.
No quiero eso. - I dont want that.
Examples:
Ese perro es negro, pero esa camisa es blanca.
That dog is black, but that shirt is white.
Esa comida es buena, pero ese restaurante está vacío.
That food is good, but that restaurant is empty.
Ese es mi hermano y esa es mi hermana.
That is my brother and that is my sister.
