6.5. Les adjectifs démonstratifs

The Demonstrative Articles Ce, Cet, Cette, Ces

6.5.1. The Main Idea

Demonstrative articles point to a specific person, place, or thing. In English, they usually mean this, that, these, or those.

French does not use separate basic words for this and that here. Context usually tells you whether it means this or that.

6.5.2. The Four Forms

6.5.3. Ce

Use ce before a masculine singular noun that begins with a consonant sound.

6.5.4. Cet

Use cet before a masculine singular noun that begins with a vowel sound.

Use cet because it is smoother to pronounce than ce before a vowel sound.

6.5.5. Cette

Use cette before a feminine singular noun.

6.5.6. Ces

Use ces before any plural noun, masculine or feminine.

6.5.7. Demonstratives with Clothing

6.5.8. This One / That One

To emphasize this one or that one, French can add -ci or -là after the noun.

For beginner French, you can first learn ce, cet, cette, and ces. Add -ci and -là later when you need more precision.

6.5.9. Core Patterns

6.5.10. Practice

this book |

this student, masculine |

this lesson |

this shirt |

these shoes |

this hat |

these friends |

that dress |

those books |

6.5.11. Answers

6.5.12. Short Dialogue

6.5.13. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use ce, cet, cette, and ces to point out specific people, places, and things, and recognize how -ci and -là can clarify this versus that.