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A demonstrative determiner is a word that accompanies a noun and is used to point out or specify exactly what we're talking about. These include ce, cet, cette and ces.
| Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ce | masc. sing. (before consonant) | ce livre |
| cet | masc. sing. (before vowel/mute h) | cet homme |
| cette | fem. sing. | cette chanson |
| ces | plural (all genders) | ces étoiles |
J'aime cette chanson. (I like this song.)
Il lit ce livre. (He reads this book.)
Regarde ces étoiles ! (Look at those stars!)
A demonstrative pronoun replaces a noun to avoid repeating it – just like how in English we say "I like this one" instead of naming the noun again.
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular (-ci) | celui-ci | celle-ci |
| Singular (-là) | celui-là | celle-là |
| Plural (-ci) | ceux-ci | celles-ci |
| Plural (-là) | ceux-là | celles-là |
ça – that/it (informal): Ça va ?
ceci – this (formal): Ceci est important.
cela – that (formal): Cela me plaît.
ce / c' – it/this (with être): C'est beau.
J'aime cette chanson. → J'aime celle-ci.
Il lit ce livre. → Il lit celui-ci.
Regarde ces étoiles ! → Regarde celles-là.
-ci indicates something close (this one), while -là indicates something further away (that one). In everyday speech, -là is often used for both.
Celui-ci est plus beau que celui-là.
This one is more beautiful than that one.
Celle qui parle est ma sœur.
The one who is speaking is my sister.
J'aime ces livres, surtout ceux de Victor Hugo.
I like these books, especially those by Victor Hugo.
De toutes les robes, celle-ci est la plus jolie.
Of all the dresses, this one is the prettiest.
Ce qui m'énerve, c'est le bruit.
What annoys me is the noise.
Je ne comprends pas ce que tu dis.
I don't understand what you're saying.
Celui est beau. (used alone)
Celui-ci est beau. / Celui qui est là est beau.
Celui/celle/ceux/celles are NEVER used alone. They must be followed by -ci/-là, a relative clause (qui/que), or de + noun. 'Celui est beau' is ungrammatical — add -ci, -là, or a qualifier.
C'est celle que j'aime le plus.
C'est celle que j'aime le plus. (correct)
Celle que = the one that/whom. Make sure the relative pronoun matches the function: celle QUI (subject), celle QUE (object), celle DONT (de + noun). Check whether a subject follows (→ que) or a verb directly follows (→ qui).
Ce qui est important, c'est l'effort. / Ce que je veux, c'est la paix.
Both correct with different meanings.
Ce qui = what (subject of the clause). Ce que = what (object). Ce qui se passe (what happens — subject). Ce que je vois (what I see — object). The qui/que distinction applies to ce too.
👆 The Pointing Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns are like pointing fingers. CELUI-CI points to something NEAR (this one). CELUI-LÀ points to something FAR (that one). CELUI QUI points with a RELATIVE CLAUSE (the one who/that). CE QUI/CE QUE points to an ABSTRACT IDEA (what). They're the French version of saying 'this one, that one, the one that...' — always pointing, never standing alone!
Demonstrative pronouns are tested at A2/B1 in TEF/TCF. At A2, basic celui-ci/celui-là distinction. At B1, celui/celle followed by relative clauses: celui qui, celle que, ceux dont. At B2, ce qui/ce que/ce dont in complex sentences. Using 'ce qui est important, c'est que...' in Expression Écrite demonstrates B2-level syntactic variety.
Choosing between two items at a market:
J'hésite entre ces deux sacs. Celui-ci est joli, mais celui-là est plus grand.
Celui qui est en cuir est plus cher, mais c'est celui que je recommande.
Et ceux qui sont en vitrine ? Ils sont soldés ?
Ceux-là ? Oui, mais c'est la dernière collection.
Practice French demonstrative pronouns (celui, celle, ceux, celles) with 20 interactive questions on PrepMyFrench. Instant scoring with grammar explanations.
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