Demonstrative adjective

Definition: Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words which indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify:

SINGULAR PLURAL
MASCULINE ce / cet ces
FEMININE cette Ces

  • Ce becomes cet in front of a masculine noun that begins with a vowel or mute h
  • Ces is the only plural demonstrative adjective: "cettes" does not exist.
Ce prof parle trop. This (That) teacher talks too much.
Cet homme est sympa. This (That) man is nice.
Cet étudiant comprend. This (That) student understands.
Cette fille est perdue. This (That) girl is lost.
Ces livres sont stupides. These (Those) books are stupid.

The singular demonstrative adjectives ce, cet, and cette can all mean this or that, depending on the context; the plural ces can mean these or those. In order to distinguish between this and that, these and those, you can use the suffixes -ci (here) and -là (there).
Ce prof-ci parle trop.
This teacher talks too much.

Ce prof-là est sympa.
That teacher is nice.

Cet étudiant-ci comprend.
This student understands.

Cette fille-là est perdue.
That girl is lost.

Ces fleurs-ci sont plus jolies que ces fleurs-là. These flowers are prettier than those flowers.


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French Grammar