9.14 "dieser" and "jener"

The demonstrative "dieser" refers to something near at hand. It corresponds to English "this", but as it is used in contexts wher the difference between near and distant is not crucial, it often equates to English "that". When placed in front of a noun, it declines as follows:
 

"Dieser" can also be used as a pronoun meaning "this one". It then of course takes the same endings as in the table above:

 

Welches Kind arbeitet gut? - Dieses.

(Which child works well? - This one.)

Welchen Mann siehst du? - Diesen.

(Which man do you see? - That one.)

You will have noticed that "dieser" takes the same endings as the definite article. It also takes the same adjective endings - the weak declension which we met in Chapter 5:

The demonstrative "jener"

Although the pronoun "jener" means "that", it is really only used in certain formal registers or to contrast with "dieser", which should otherwise be used to translate "that":

 

Ich will nicht dieses Armband kaufen, sondern jenes.

(I don't want to buy this bracelet, but that one.)

Willst du diese Brosche oder jene?

(Do you want this brooch or that one?)

"Jener" adds the same endings as "dieser" and the definite article and adjectives following "jener" will be in the weak declension: