Understanding how to say “this” in French is fundamental for expressing proximity and specificity. French, unlike English, has grammatical gender, which influences the forms of “this.” Mastering these forms allows you to accurately describe and identify objects or people near you.
This guide provides a detailed explovration of the different ways to say “this” in French, covering masculine, feminine, and plural forms, along with their usage in various contexts. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced learner, this comprehensive resource will enhance your ability to communicate effectively and correctly in French.
This article is designed to help English speakers learn how to use the demonstrative adjectives and pronouns that translate to “this” in French. It covers the grammatical rules, provides numerous examples, and includes practice exercises to solidify your understanding.
By the end of this guide, you will be able to confidently use “this” in French in a variety of situations.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of “This” in French
- Structural Breakdown
- Types and Categories
- Examples
- Usage Rules
- Common Mistakes
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- FAQ
- Conclusion
Definition of “This” in French
In French, the concept of “this” is expressed using demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns. Demonstrative adjectives modify nouns to indicate which specific item is being referred to. Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and also indicate a specific item. The choice of word depends on the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun being referenced, as well as the intended level of specificity.
Demonstrative adjectives always precede the noun they modify, while demonstrative pronouns stand alone, replacing the noun. Both forms are essential for clear communication and avoiding ambiguity.
Structural Breakdown
The structure for using “this” in French involves understanding the following components:
- Demonstrative Adjectives: These are used before nouns to specify which noun is being referred to. They agree in gender and number with the noun.
- Demonstrative Pronouns: These replace nouns to avoid repetition and to specify which noun is being referred to. They also agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
- Suffixes: The suffixes “-ci” and “-là” can be added to demonstrative pronouns to indicate “this one here” and “that one there,” respectively. These suffixes add precision and context to the pronoun.
Understanding these structural elements allows you to construct grammatically correct and contextually appropriate sentences using “this” in French.
Types and Categories
Masculine Singular: Ce, Cet
The masculine singular forms of “this” are ce and cet. Ce is used before masculine singular nouns that begin with a consonant. Cet is used before masculine singular nouns that begin with a vowel or a mute ‘h’.
Examples:
- Ce livre (This book)
- Cet arbre (This tree)
- Ce garçon (This boy)
- Cet homme (This man)
Feminine Singular: Cette
The feminine singular form of “this” is cette. It is used before all feminine singular nouns, regardless of whether they begin with a vowel or a consonant.
Examples:
- Cette fille (This girl)
- Cette table (This table)
- Cette école (This school)
- Cette idée (This idea)
Plural: Ces
The plural form of “this” is ces. It is used before all plural nouns, regardless of their gender or whether they begin with a vowel or a consonant.
Examples:
- Ces livres (These books)
- Ces filles (These girls)
- Ces arbres (These trees)
- Ces idées (These ideas)
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and indicate a specific item or items. There are two main types of demonstrative pronouns: simple and compound.
Simple Demonstrative Pronouns
Simple demonstrative pronouns are celui (masculine singular), celle (feminine singular), ceux (masculine plural), and celles (feminine plural). These pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
Examples:
- J’aime ce livre, mais je préfère celui que tu m’as donné. (I like this book, but I prefer the one you gave me.)
- Cette voiture est rapide, mais celle de mon frère est plus rapide. (This car is fast, but the one my brother has is faster.)
- Ces chaussures sont belles, mais ceux que j’ai vus hier étaient encore plus belles. (These shoes are beautiful, but the ones I saw yesterday were even more beautiful.)
- Ces fleurs sont fraîches, mais celles de mon jardin sont plus parfumées. (These flowers are fresh, but the ones in my garden are more fragrant.)
Compound Demonstrative Pronouns
Compound demonstrative pronouns are formed by adding the suffixes “-ci” (here) and “-là” (there) to the simple demonstrative pronouns. This adds specificity, indicating proximity or distance.
Forms:
- Celui-ci (this one here – masculine singular)
- Celle-ci (this one here – feminine singular)
- Ceux-ci (these ones here – masculine plural)
- Celles-ci (these ones here – feminine plural)
- Celui-là (that one there – masculine singular)
- Celle-là (that one there – feminine singular)
- Ceux-là (those ones there – masculine plural)
- Celles-là (those ones there – feminine plural)
Examples:
- Je préfère ce stylo-ci à celui-là. (I prefer this pen here to that one there.)
- Cette robe-ci est plus jolie que celle-là. (This dress here is prettier than that one there.)
- Ces gâteaux-ci sont délicieux, mais ceux-là sont trop sucrés. (These cakes here are delicious, but those ones there are too sweet.)
- Ces fleurs-ci sont pour toi, et celles-là sont pour Marie. (These flowers here are for you, and those ones there are for Marie.)
Examples
The following tables provide extensive examples of how to use “this” in French, categorized by gender and number.
Masculine Singular Examples
This table illustrates the usage of ce and cet with various masculine singular nouns.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Ce garçon est intelligent. | This boy is intelligent. |
| Ce livre est intéressant. | This book is interesting. |
| Ce chat est mignon. | This cat is cute. |
| Ce film est passionnant. | This movie is exciting. |
| Ce chien est fidèle. | This dog is loyal. |
| Ce problème est difficile. | This problem is difficult. |
| Ce restaurant est excellent. | This restaurant is excellent. |
| Ce manteau est chaud. | This coat is warm. |
| Ce pays est magnifique. | This country is magnificent. |
| Ce travail est important. | This job is important. |
| Cet homme est grand. | This man is tall. |
| Cet arbre est vieux. | This tree is old. |
| Cet étudiant est sérieux. | This student is serious. |
| Cet avion est rapide. | This airplane is fast. |
| Cet endroit est calme. | This place is calm. |
| Cet hiver est froid. | This winter is cold. |
| Cet exemple est clair. | This example is clear. |
| Cet objectif est réalisable. | This objective is achievable. |
| Cet incident est regrettable. | This incident is regrettable. |
| Cet argument est convaincant. | This argument is convincing. |
| Ce tableau est beau. | This painting is beautiful. |
| Ce jardin est fleuri. | This garden is flowery. |
| Ce musée est intéressant. | This museum is interesting. |
| Ce train est en retard. | This train is late. |
| Ce café est délicieux. | This coffee is delicious. |
| Ce vélo est neuf. | This bicycle is new. |
| Ce cadeau est original. | This gift is original. |
| Ce spectacle est incroyable. | This show is incredible. |
| Ce projet est ambitieux. | This project is ambitious. |
Feminine Singular Examples
This table illustrates the usage of cette with various feminine singular nouns.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Cette fille est gentille. | This girl is kind. |
| Cette maison est grande. | This house is big. |
| Cette voiture est rapide. | This car is fast. |
| Cette idée est brillante. | This idea is brilliant. |
| Cette chaise est confortable. | This chair is comfortable. |
| Cette table est propre. | This table is clean. |
| Cette porte est fermée. | This door is closed. |
| Cette fenêtre est ouverte. | This window is open. |
| Cette rue est bruyante. | This street is noisy. |
| Cette histoire est triste. | This story is sad. |
| Cette école est réputée. | This school is renowned. |
| Cette église est ancienne. | This church is old. |
| Cette chanson est populaire. | This song is popular. |
| Cette question est importante. | This question is important. |
| Cette réponse est correcte. | This answer is correct. |
| Cette semaine est chargée. | This week is busy. |
| Cette nuit est calme. | This night is calm. |
| Cette année est spéciale. | This year is special. |
| Cette occasion est unique. | This occasion is unique. |
| Cette expérience est enrichissante. | This experience is enriching. |
| Cette langue est belle. | This language is beautiful. |
| Cette fleur est parfumée. | This flower is fragrant. |
| Cette montre est élégante. | This watch is elegant. |
| Cette robe est chère. | This dress is expensive. |
| Cette tasse est pleine. | This cup is full. |
| Cette mission est difficile. | This mission is difficult. |
| Cette aventure est excitante. | This adventure is exciting. |
| Cette tradition est ancienne. | This tradition is old. |
| Cette culture est riche. | This culture is rich. |
Plural Examples
This table illustrates the usage of ces with various plural nouns.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Ces livres sont intéressants. | These books are interesting. |
| Ces enfants sont adorables. | These children are adorable. |
| Ces voitures sont rapides. | These cars are fast. |
| Ces idées sont novatrices. | These ideas are innovative. |
| Ces chaises sont confortables. | These chairs are comfortable. |
| Ces tables sont propres. | These tables are clean. |
| Ces portes sont fermées. | These doors are closed. |
| Ces fenêtres sont ouvertes. | These windows are open. |
| Ces rues sont bruyantes. | These streets are noisy. |
| Ces histoires sont tristes. | These stories are sad. |
| Ces écoles sont réputées. | These schools are renowned. |
| Ces églises sont anciennes. | These churches are old. |
| Ces chansons sont populaires. | These songs are popular. |
| Ces questions sont importantes. | These questions are important. |
| Ces réponses sont correctes. | These answers are correct. |
| Ces semaines sont chargées. | These weeks are busy. |
| Ces nuits sont calmes. | These nights are calm. |
| Ces années sont spéciales. | These years are special. |
| Ces occasions sont uniques. | These occasions are unique. |
| Ces expériences sont enrichissantes. | These experiences are enriching. |
| Ces langues sont belles. | These languages are beautiful. |
| Ces fleurs sont parfumées. | These flowers are fragrant. |
| Ces montres sont élégantes. | These watches are elegant. |
| Ces robes sont chères. | These dresses are expensive. |
| Ces tasses sont pleines. | These cups are full. |
| Ces missions sont difficiles. | These missions are difficult. |
| Ces aventures sont excitantes. | These adventures are exciting. |
| Ces traditions sont anciennes. | These traditions are old. |
| Ces cultures sont riches. | These cultures are rich. |
| Ces exercices sont utiles. | These exercises are useful. |
Demonstrative Pronouns Examples
This table demonstrates the use of simple and compound demonstrative pronouns.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| J’aime ce livre, mais je préfère celui que tu m’as offert. | I like this book, but I prefer the one you gave me. |
| Cette voiture est rouge, mais celle de mon père est bleue. | This car is red, but my father’s is blue. |
| Ces chaussures sont neuves, mais celles que j’ai achetées hier sont plus confortables. | These shoes are new, but the ones I bought yesterday are more comfortable. |
| Ce gâteau est délicieux, mais celui que tu as fait est encore meilleur. | This cake is delicious, but the one you made is even better. |
| Cette maison est grande, mais celle que nous allons visiter est immense. | This house is big, but the one we are going to visit is huge. |
| Ces fleurs sont belles, mais celles de ton jardin sont magnifiques. | These flowers are beautiful, but the ones in your garden are magnificent. |
| Ce film est intéressant, mais celui que nous avons vu la semaine dernière était captivant. | This movie is interesting, but the one we saw last week was captivating. |
| Cette idée est bonne, mais celle que tu as proposée est meilleure. | This idea is good, but the one you proposed is better. |
| Ces exercices sont utiles, mais ceux que le professeur a donnés sont plus difficiles. | These exercises are useful, but the ones the teacher gave are more difficult. |
| Ce restaurant est cher, mais celui où nous sommes allés hier était hors de prix. | This restaurant is expensive, but the one we went to yesterday was outrageously priced. |
| Je préfère ce livre-ci à celui-là. | I prefer this book here to that one there. |
| Cette robe-ci est plus élégante que celle-là. | This dress here is more elegant than that one there. |
| Ces chaussures-ci sont plus confortables que celles-là. | These shoes here are more comfortable than those ones there. |
| Ce gâteau-ci est moins sucré que celui-là. | This cake here is less sweet than that one there. |
| Cette maison-ci est plus petite que celle-là. | This house here is smaller than that one there. |
| Ces fleurs-ci sont pour toi, et celles-là sont pour Marie. | These flowers here are for you, and those ones there are for Marie. |
| Ce film-ci est plus drôle que celui-là. | This movie here is funnier than that one there. |
| Cette idée-ci est plus réalisable que celle-là. | This idea here is more feasible than that one there. |
| Ces exercices-ci sont plus faciles que ceux-là. | These exercises here are easier than those ones there. |
| Ce restaurant-ci est plus proche que celui-là. | This restaurant here is closer than that one there. |
| Voici ce livre-ci et celui-là. | Here is this book here and that one there. |
| Cette voiture-ci est la mienne, celle-là est à mon frère. | This car here is mine, that one there belongs to my brother. |
| Prends ces pommes-ci, je garde celles-là. | Take these apples here, I’ll keep those ones there. |
| Ce chat-ci est plus joueur que celui-là. | This cat here is more playful than that one there. |
| Cette montre-ci est en or, celle-là est en argent. | This watch here is gold, that one there is silver. |
Usage Rules
Rules for Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Here are the key rules:
- Use ce before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
- Use cet before masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or a mute ‘h’.
- Use cette before all feminine singular nouns.
- Use ces before all plural nouns, regardless of gender.
Rules for Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns must also agree in gender and number with the noun they replace. Additionally:
- Use simple demonstrative pronouns (celui, celle, ceux, celles) to replace nouns, often followed by a relative clause or prepositional phrase.
- Use compound demonstrative pronouns (celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, celles-ci, celui-là, celle-là, ceux-là, celles-là) to indicate proximity or distance.
Exceptions
There are few exceptions to these rules, but it’s important to note that the choice between ce and cet is solely based on the sound of the following word, not its meaning. For example, even if a word has a feminine meaning but is grammatically masculine and starts with a vowel, cet is used.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using “this” in French:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Ce fille est belle. | Cette fille est belle. | Using ce instead of cette before a feminine noun. |
| Cet livre est intéressant. | Ce livre est intéressant. | Using cet instead of ce before a masculine noun starting with a consonant. |
| Ce homme est grand. | Cet homme est grand. | Using ce instead of cet before a masculine noun starting with a vowel sound. |
| Ceux livre est bon. | Ce livre est bon. | Using the plural form ceux when referring to a singular noun. |
| J’aime cette, pas celle-là. | J’aime celle-ci, pas celle-là. | Forgetting to use the complete compound demonstrative pronoun. |
Practice Exercises
Complete the following sentences with the correct form of “this” (ce, cet, cette, ces, celui, celle, ceux, celles, celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, celles-ci, celui-là, celle-là, ceux-là, celles-là).
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| ______ livre est très intéressant. | Ce |
| ______ fille est ma sœur. | Cette |
| ______ arbres sont magnifiques. | Ces |
| ______ homme est mon père. | Cet |
| Je préfère ______ robe-ci à ______ robe-là. | cette, celle |
| ______ exercices sont difficiles. | Ces |
| ______ idée est excellente. | Cette |
| ______ avion est en retard. | Cet |
| J’aime ______ chaussures, mais je préfère ______ que tu as achetées. | ces, celles |
| ______ chat est très joueur. | Ce |
| ______ année est importante pour moi. | Cette |
| ______ étudiants sont très motivés. | Ces |
| ______ hôtel est confortable. | Cet |
| Je prends ______ gâteau-ci, tu peux prendre ______. | ce, celui-là |
| ______ fleurs sont pour toi. | Ces |
| ______ école est proche de chez moi. | Cette |
| ______ ordinateur est rapide. | Cet |
| Je préfère ______ chemise à carreaux à ______ unie. | cette, celle |
| ______ film est incroyable. | Ce |
| ______ occasion est unique. | Cette |
Advanced Topics
Nuances in Meaning
The choice between -ci and -là can be subtle. Generally, -ci indicates something closer to the speaker, while -là indicates something further away. However, the distinction can also be used to contrast two items, regardless of their physical distance.
Formal vs. Informal Usage
In informal speech, the distinction between simple and compound demonstrative pronouns can sometimes be blurred. However, in formal writing and speech, it’s important to maintain the correct usage for clarity and precision.
FAQ
- Q: What is the difference between ce and cet?
A: Ce is used before masculine singular nouns that start with a consonant, while cet is used before masculine singular nouns that start with a vowel or a mute ‘h’.
- Q: When do I use cette?
A: You use cette before all feminine singular nouns, regardless of whether they start with a vowel or a consonant.
- Q: How do I know when to use ces?
A: Use ces before all plural nouns, regardless of their gender.
- Q: What are demonstrative pronouns used for?
A: Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition and to specify which noun is being referred to. They agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
- Q: What is the difference between simple and compound demonstrative pronouns?
A: Simple demonstrative pronouns (celui, celle, ceux, celles) replace nouns, while compound demonstrative pronouns (celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, celles-ci, celui-là, celle-là, ceux-là, celles-là) add specificity by indicating proximity or distance.
- Q: How do I use -ci and -là?
A: Add -ci to indicate “this one here” and -là to indicate “that one there.” These suffixes are added to demonstrative pronouns to provide additional context.
- Q: Can I use demonstrative pronouns without a noun?
A: Yes, demonstrative pronouns replace nouns, so they stand alone. You would use them when the noun is already understood from the context.
- Q: Is it always necessary to use -ci and -là to indicate proximity or distance?
A: No, it is not always necessary. Simple demonstrative pronouns can also be used, but adding -ci and -là provides more clarity and precision, especially when comparing two items.
Conclusion
Mastering the use of “this” in French, through demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, is crucial for clear and accurate communication. Understanding the grammatical gender and number agreement, as well as the nuances of simple and compound forms, will greatly enhance your French language skills.
By practicing regularly and paying attention to context, you can confidently use these forms in both spoken and written French.
Remember to focus on the gender and number of the nouns you are referring to and to practice using the different forms in various contexts. With consistent effort, you will become proficient in using “this” in French, enhancing your ability to express yourself effectively and accurately.
Keep practicing, and you’ll find that these concepts become second nature!