French demonstrative adjectives' usage

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

The three forms

French has three main demonstrative adjectives:

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

Usage rules

Ce

Use "ce" before masculine singular nouns:

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

Cette

Use "cette" before feminine singular nouns:

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

Ces

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

• Ces livres (these/those books)
• Ces maisons (these/those houses)

Adding emphasis

To emphasize or distinguish between objects, add "-ci" (here) or "-là" (there) after the noun:

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

Common mistakes

1. Don't forget to match the adjective with the noun's gender and number.
2. Avoid using "cet" before vowel sounds in masculine nouns:
   • Cet arbre (this/that tree)
   • Cet homme (this/that man)

Remember, practice makes perfect! Try incorporating these demonstrative adjectives into your daily French conversations to become more comfortable with their usage.