French Demonstrative Adjectives

French demonstrative adjectives are essential for pointing out specific people, objects, or ideas. They are equivalent to "this," "that," "these," and "those" in English. Let's explore how to use them correctly in French.

Basic Forms

The French demonstrative adjectives are:

• Ce (masculine singular)
• Cette (feminine singular)
• Ces (plural for both genders)

Usage and Examples

Masculine Singular

Use "ce" before masculine singular nouns:

• Ce livre (this/that book)
• Ce garçon (this/that boy)

Feminine Singular

Use "cette" before feminine singular nouns:

• Cette table (this/that table)
• Cette fille (this/that girl)

Plural

Use "ces" for plural nouns, regardless of gender:

• Ces livres (these/those books)
• Ces tables (these/those tables)

Special Case: Vowel Sounds

When a masculine singular noun begins with a vowel or silent 'h', use "cet" instead of "ce":

• Cet arbre (this/that tree)
• Cet homme (this/that man)

Adding Precision

To specify "this" or "that" more clearly, add "-ci" (for proximity) or "-là" (for distance) after the noun:

• Ce livre-ci (this book here)
• Cette voiture-là (that car over there)

Remember, demonstrative adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Practice using them in various contexts to improve your French language skills.