TOPIC: Spanish GCSE, Reading and Grammar, Constance e Imran, Episode 9 – Demonstratives Explained (este, ese, aquel)
Welcome to episode 9 of our story “Constance e Imran”. In every blog you will always find the same format:
- The story episode in Spanish.
- The translation into English.
- A grammar explanation with examples from the story.
This way you can practise reading, understanding and grammar, all at the same time.
EPISODIO 9 – Sábado en el parque (Saturday in the Park)
Es sábado por la tarde. Constance e Imran llegan al parque con dos amigos nuevos: Maya y Daniel.
-Yo traigo esta raqueta -dice Maya-. Es ligera.
-¿Me pasas ese bote de pelotas? -pregunta Daniel.
-Claro -responde Imran-. Y aquella pista del fondo está libre.
It’s Saturday afternoon. Constance and Imran arrive at the park with two new friends: Maya and Daniel.
“I brought this racket,” says Maya. “It’s light.”
“Can you pass me that can of balls?” asks Daniel.
“Of course,” answers Imran. “And that court over there is free.”
Juegan dobles un rato. Risas, saques, pelotas que van y vienen.
-Las mates me cuestan, pero el profe explica claro -comenta Maya.
-En literatura vamos bien -dice Imran- porque los textos me abren la cabeza.
Constance sonríe, acaricia el libro que trae en su bolso y dice:
-Sí… Emily Dickinson lo explica perfecto: “No hay barco como un libro para llevarnos lejos”.
They play doubles for a while. Laughter, serves, balls going back and forth.
“Maths is hard for me, but the teacher explains clearly,” says Maya.
“In literature we’re doing well,” says Imran, “because the texts open my mind.”
Constance smiles, touches the book in her bag and says:
“Yes… Emily Dickinson puts it perfectly: ‘There is no Frigate like a Book to take us Lands away’.”
Se sientan a descansar al borde de la pista. Daniel y Maya charlan sobre el horario de la semana. Constance e Imran quedan cerca, muy cerca.
-Agua -dice Imran, y le tiende la botella. Los dedos se rozan. Constance lo mira a los ojos; Imran baja la mirada a su boca. Ella no aparta la suya.
They sit down to rest at the edge of the court. Daniel and Maya chat about the timetable for next week. Constance and Imran are close, very close.
“Water,” says Imran, handing her the bottle. Their fingers brush.
Constance looks into his eyes; Imran lowers his gaze to her mouth. She doesn’t look away.
-¿Listos para otro set? -grita Maya desde la línea.
Constance no contesta. Imran tampoco. Sus manos siguen unidas un segundo más.
“Ready for another set?” shouts Maya from the line.
Constance doesn’t answer. Neither does Imran. Their hands remain together one second longer.
GRAMMAR:
Demonstratives are words to show something indicating distance (this, that, that over there). In Spanish, demonstratives change depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine.
FEMININE FORMS
esta raqueta: this racket – estas raquetas: these rackets
esa botella: that bottle – esas botellas: those bottles
aquella pista: that court over there – aquellas pistas: those courts over there
(aquella pista: only two words to say “that court over there”. Do not add anything else!)
MASCULINE FORMS
este bolso: this bag – estos bolsos: these bags
ese bote: that can – esos botes: those cans
aquel barco: that ship over there – aquellos barcos: those ships over there
TIP:
When writing or talking, connect your ideas using linking words. In this simple way, you can enhance your sentences and impress your teachers (something very easy to do when you know what they expect).
Las mates me cuestan, pero el profe explica claro.
En literatura vamos bien -dice Imran- porque los textos me abren la cabeza.
Instead of “la historia me cuesta”, say “la historia me cuesta pero es muy interesante”.
History is hard for me but it is very interesting.
Instead of “la biología es aburrida”, say “la biología es aburrida pero es muy útil”.
Biology is boring but very useful.
Instead of “me gusta el español”, say “me gusta el español porque aprendo sobre una cultura diferente”.
I like Spanish because I learn about a different culture.
Instead of “juego al tenis”, say “juego al tenis porque es mi deporte favorito”.
I play tennis because it is my favourite sport.
Find all the episodes here: https://spanishforlondon.com/2025/08/29/contents-gcse-spanish/
Highly qualified native teacher with 30 years of experience. One-to-one lessons via Zoom. Contact me at laura@spanishforlondon.com
We post two new episodes every week — keep up with Constance and Imran’s story!
