French Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives: "Ce," "Cette," "Ces," and "Celui"

Introduction

Have you ever struggled to point out objects or people in French with precision? If so, mastering demonstrative pronouns and adjectives will transform the way you communicate. These small yet powerful words allow you to specify exactly what you’re referring to in a conversation, whether it’s a person, an object, or an idea.

In English, we use words like "this," "that," "these," and "those" to indicate specific nouns. French operates similarly but has distinct forms that change based on gender and number. The four key words you need to know are ce, cette, ces, and celui. Understanding their usage will not only help you build clearer sentences but also make your French sound more natural and fluent.

In this in-depth guide, we’ll explore:

• The difference between demonstrative adjectives and pronouns

• How to use "ce," "cette," and "ces" correctly

• The role of "celui" and its variations

• Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Practical examples to reinforce learning

By the end of this article, you’ll have a solid grasp of demonstrative pronouns and adjectives in French, making your speech and writing more fluid and precise.

1. What Are Demonstrative Adjectives?

Demonstrative adjectives (les adjectifs démonstratifs) are words that accompany a noun to indicate which person or thing you’re referring to. They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

Here are the French demonstrative adjectives:

FrenchEnglish EquivalentUsageCeThis/That (masculine singular)Used before masculine singular nounsCetThis/That (masculine singular before vowels)Used before a masculine singular noun beginning with a vowel or silent 'h'CetteThis/That (feminine singular)Used before feminine singular nounsCesThese/Those (plural for both genders)Used before plural nouns

Examples:

• Ce livre est intéressant. (This/That book is interesting.)

• Cet hôtel est magnifique. (This/That hotel is magnificent.)

• Cette robe est élégante. (This/That dress is elegant.)

• Ces chaussures sont confortables. (These/Those shoes are comfortable.)

Distinguishing Between "This" and "That"

To clarify whether you mean "this" or "that," you can add -ci (here) or -là (there) to the noun:

• Ce manteau-ci est chaud. (This coat is warm.)

• Ce manteau-là est trop grand. (That coat is too big.)

2. What Are Demonstrative Pronouns?

Demonstrative pronouns (les pronoms démonstratifs) replace a noun rather than accompany it. This means you can use them to avoid repetition in a sentence while still referring to something specific.

The four main demonstrative pronouns are:

FrenchEnglish EquivalentUsageCeluiThis one/That one (masculine singular)Refers to a specific masculine nounCelleThis one/That one (feminine singular)Refers to a specific feminine nounCeuxThese ones/Those ones (masculine plural)Refers to specific masculine plural nounsCellesThese ones/Those ones (feminine plural)Refers to specific feminine plural nouns

Examples:

• Lequel veux-tu ? Celui-ci ou celui-là ? (Which one do you want? This one or that one?)

• Mes chaussures sont vieilles, mais celles de Marie sont neuves. (My shoes are old, but Marie’s are new.)

• Ceux qui étudient réussiront. (Those who study will succeed.)

Using "Celui" with Relative Clauses

Demonstrative pronouns often appear in combination with relative clauses ("qui," "que," "dont") to provide further detail.

• Celui qui parle est mon professeur. (The one who is speaking is my teacher.)

• Celle que j’aime habite à Paris. (The one that I love lives in Paris.)

• Ceux dont je parle sont mes amis. (The ones I’m talking about are my friends.)

3. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Confusing "Ce" and "Cet"

Many learners forget to use "cet" before masculine singular words that begin with a vowel or silent 'h'.

• ❌ Ce hôtel est beau. (Incorrect)

• ✅ Cet hôtel est beau. (Correct)

2. Using "Celui" Instead of "Ce"

"Celui" is a pronoun, not an adjective, so it cannot be used before a noun.

• ❌ Celui livre est bon. (Incorrect)

• ✅ Ce livre est bon. (Correct)

3. Forgetting to Match Gender and Number

Since demonstrative pronouns and adjectives agree with the noun they refer to, failing to match them correctly leads to errors.

• ❌ Celle voitures sont rapides. (Incorrect)

• ✅ Ces voitures sont rapides. (Correct)

4. Practical Exercises

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjective:

   • ______ arbre est très grand. (This tree is very tall.)

   • ______ fille est intelligente. (That girl is intelligent.)

   • ______ livres sont intéressants. (These books are interesting.)

2. Choose the correct demonstrative pronoun:

   • ______ que tu veux est trop cher. (The one that you want is too expensive.)

   • ______ qui travaillent dur réussissent. (The ones who work hard succeed.)

Conclusion

Mastering French demonstrative pronouns and adjectives is essential for clear and fluent communication. By learning to use "ce," "cette," "ces," and "celui" correctly, you can add precision and sophistication to your speech and writing.

Remember:

• Demonstrative adjectives modify a noun and agree in gender/number.

• Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun and can stand alone.

• Pay attention to gender agreements and special cases like "cet."

With regular practice, these small but powerful words will become second nature. Ready to try using them in conversation? Leave a comment with a sentence using one of these words!