How to use French demonstrative adjectives

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 explore how to use them correctly in French.

The four French demonstrative adjectives

• Ce: Used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant
• Cette: Used before feminine singular nouns
• Ces: Used before plural nouns (both masculine and feminine)
• Cet: Used before masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or silent h

Usage and examples

Ce (masculine singular)

Use "ce" before masculine nouns that start with a consonant sound:

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

Cette (feminine singular)

Use "cette" before all feminine nouns:

• Cette fille (this/that girl)
• Cette histoire (this/that story)

Ces (plural)

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

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

Cet (masculine singular before vowel/silent h)

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

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

Adding emphasis

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

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

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