French Demonstrative Adjectives Explained

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

Masculine Singular

Use "ce" before masculine singular nouns:

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

Before a vowel or silent h, "ce" becomes "cet":

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

Feminine Singular

Use "cette" before feminine singular nouns:

• Cette fille (this/that girl)
• Cette maison (this/that house)

Plural

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

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

Adding Emphasis

To specify "this" vs. "that" or "these" vs. "those," add "-ci" (for near) or "-là" (for far) after the noun:

• Ce livre-ci (this book here)
• Cette maison-là (that house there)
• Ces enfants-ci (these children here)

Examples in Context

• J'aime beaucoup ce restaurant. (I really like this restaurant.)
• Cette voiture est plus rapide que la mienne. (This car is faster than mine.)
• Ces fleurs sont magnifiques ! (These flowers are magnificent!)
• Regardez cet oiseau-là dans l'arbre. (Look at that bird there in the tree.)

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