French demonstrative adjectives: ce, cette, ces

French demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific people or things. They correspond to "this," "that," "these," and "those" in English. Let's explore how to use them correctly.

Forms of French Demonstrative Adjectives

French has three main demonstrative adjectives:

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

Usage Rules

Masculine Singular: Ce

Use "ce" before masculine singular nouns:

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

Feminine Singular: Cette

Use "cette" before feminine singular nouns:

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

Plural: Ces

Use "ces" for plural nouns of both genders:

• Ces livres (these/those books)
• Ces filles (these/those girls)

Adding Emphasis

To specify "this one here" or "that one there," add "-ci" or "-là" after the noun:

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

Examples in Context

1. J'aime beaucoup ce restaurant. (I really like this restaurant.)
2. Cette idée est excellente ! (This idea is excellent!)
3. Ces chaussures sont trop petites. (These shoes are too small.)

Remember, French demonstrative adjectives always agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Practice using them in various contexts to become more comfortable with their usage.