Editing Language/French/Grammar/Comparing-neutral-ce,-cela,-ça-with-personal-il-ils-and-elle-elles
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[[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | [[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | ||
<div | <div style="font-size:300%"> Comparing neutral ce, cela, ça with personal il/ils and elle/elles</div> | ||
il/ils and elle/elles refer to people and things (both concrete and abstract), ce, cela, ça refer to events, actions, states or general classes of phenomena. | il/ils and elle/elles refer to people and things (both concrete and abstract), ce, cela, ça refer to events, actions, states or general classes of phenomena. | ||
Compare: | Compare: | ||
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(refers to a specific example of wine) | (refers to a specific example of wine) | ||
*C'est lourd, cette valise | *C'est lourd, cette valise | ||
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(implies that it is heavy to carry) | (implies that it is heavy to carry) | ||
*Elle est lourde, cette valise | *Elle est lourde, cette valise | ||
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(refers to the object itself) | (refers to the object itself) | ||
*J'adore m'occuper des enfants. C'est si câlin à cet âge-là | *J'adore m'occuper des enfants. C'est si câlin à cet âge-là | ||
I love looking after children. They're so cuddly when they're that age | I love looking after children. They're so cuddly when they're that age | ||
(ce referring to small children in general) | (ce referring to small children in general) | ||
*J'adore m'occuper de tes enfants. Ils sont si câlins | *J'adore m'occuper de tes enfants. Ils sont si câlins | ||
I love looking after your children. They're so cuddly | I love looking after your children. They're so cuddly | ||
(referring to specific small children) | (referring to specific small children) | ||
In informal spoken French many speakers use ça where il/ils, elle/elles are used in more formal spoken and written French: | In informal spoken French many speakers use ça where il/ils, elle/elles are used in more formal spoken and written French: | ||
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*Tu sais, ces gens-là, ça boit | *Tu sais, ces gens-là, ça boit | ||
You know, those people, they like their drink | You know, those people, they like their drink | ||
NB: Because this usage is regarded as a feature of informal spoken French, the foreign learner should avoid using it in the written language. | NB: Because this usage is regarded as a feature of informal spoken French, the foreign learner should avoid using it in the written language. | ||
==Related Lessons== | |||
== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Differences-in-the-use-of-numbers-in-French-and-English-mille-milliers-milliards|Differences in the use of numbers in French and English mille milliers milliards]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Differences-in-the-use-of-numbers-in-French-and-English-mille-milliers-milliards|Differences in the use of numbers in French and English mille milliers milliards]] | ||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Indefinite-and-negative-noun-phrases-with-adjective-complements|Indefinite and negative noun phrases with adjective complements]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Indefinite-and-negative-noun-phrases-with-adjective-complements|Indefinite and negative noun phrases with adjective complements]] | ||
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* [[Language/French/Grammar/Marked-use-of-tu|Marked use of tu]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Marked-use-of-tu|Marked use of tu]] | ||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—amment-and-—eminent-derived-from-adjectives-ending-in-—ant-or-—ent|Adverbs ending in —amment and —eminent derived from adjectives ending in —ant or —ent]] | * [[Language/French/Grammar/Adverbs-ending-in-—amment-and-—eminent-derived-from-adjectives-ending-in-—ant-or-—ent|Adverbs ending in —amment and —eminent derived from adjectives ending in —ant or —ent]] | ||