French Demonstrative Adjectives Explained

French demonstrative adjectives are essential for pointing out specific people, objects, or ideas. They're similar to "this," "that," "these," and "those" in English. Let's break down 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 nouns starting with a consonant:

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

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

• Cet ami (this/that friend)
• Cet hôtel (this/that hotel)

Feminine Singular

"Cette" is used for all feminine nouns:

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

Plural

"Ces" is used for all plural nouns, regardless of gender:

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

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 brillante ! (This idea is brilliant!)
• Ces chaussures sont trop petites. (These shoes are too small.)
• Prenez ce train-ci, pas celui-là. (Take this train here, not that one there.)

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.