French Demonstrative Adjectives: A Simple Guide

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

Basic Forms

French has four main demonstrative adjectives:

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

Usage Rules

Before Masculine Nouns

Use "ce" before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant:

• Ce livre (this/that book)

Use "cet" before masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or silent h:

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

Before Feminine Nouns

Always use "cette" for feminine singular nouns:

• Cette table (this/that table)
• Cette histoire (this/that story)

Before Plural Nouns

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

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

Adding Precision

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

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

Examples in Context

• J'aime beaucoup ce restaurant. (I really like this restaurant.)
• Cette idée est excellente ! (This idea is excellent!)
• Ces chaussures sont trop petites. (These shoes are too small.)
• Regarde cet oiseau-là dans l'arbre. (Look at that bird over there in the tree.)

Remember, French demonstrative adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. With practice, using them will become second nature in your French conversations.