Language/French/Grammar/Demonstrative-determiners

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French Grammar - Demonstrative determiners

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Definition: Demonstrative Determiners[edit | edit source]

The demonstrative determiner makes it possible to show in a precise way the thing, the person or the animal of which one speaks or which one spoke previously. It varies with the gender and number of the name it qualifies.

masculine singular feminine singular plural
Ce, Cet cette ces

Note[edit | edit source]

There are also forms composed with -ci or -là :

We use -ci to express proximity in time or space and -là for distance:

  • Singular masculine: ce ...-là, ce ...-ci, cet ...-ci, cet ...-là
  • Singular feminine: cette ...-ci, cette ...-là
  • Plural: ces...-ci, ces...-là.

Examples[edit | edit source]

  • Cet homme-ci est marié avec cette femme-.

This man here is married that woman there.

  • Ces enfants- sont très sages.

These children there are very wise.

Note[edit | edit source]

When the determinant precedes a noun (or an adjective qualifying this noun) which begins with a vowel or a silent h ('h muet' in French), we must use cet instead of ce.

French English
cet homme this man
cet ancien artisan that old craftsman
cet héroïsme that heroism

When you add an adjective in front of the noun and if this adjective does not start with a vowel or a silent h, it is "ce" which must be used again.

  • cet homme -> ce vieil homme

this man -> this old man

  • cet artisan -> ce jeune artisan

this craftsman -> this young craftsman

  • ce discours -> cet accablant discours

this  speech -> this  overwhelming speech

Summary table: Demonstrative Determiners[edit | edit source]

Proximate Non-proximate
masc ce, cet ce, cet ... ci ce, cet ... là

this, that

this ... (here)

that ... (there)

fern cette cette ... ci cette ... là

this, that

this ... (here)

that... (there)

plur ces ces ... ci ces ... là

these, those

these ... (here)

those ... (there)

Other chapters[edit | edit source]

Table of Contents

Nouns


Determiners


Personal and impersonal pronouns


Adjectives


Adverbs


Numbers, measurements, time and quantifiers


Verb forms


Verb constructions


Verb and participle agreement


Tense


The subjunctive, modal verbs, exclamatives and imperatives


The infinitive


Prepositions


Question formation


Relative clauses


Negation


Conjunctions and other linking constructions

Videos[edit | edit source]

Practise your French demonstrative adjectives: CE, CET, CETTE ...[edit | edit source]

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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