Demonstrative adjectives 1 Definitions Demonstratives adjectives are
adjectives
used to point out a particular
thing or things:
Cette voiture est italienne
Your browser does not support the audio element.
This car is Italian
2 Use 2.1 Forms Demonstratives adjectives have the following forms:
Table 44.2.1a: Demonstrative adjectives
Masc sing Fem sing Plural before consonant ce cette ces before vowel cet cette ces
Note
The word cettes does not exist in French.
Ce musée est fermé le mardi
Your browser does not support the audio element.
This museum is closed on Tuesdays
J'ai lu presque tous les livres de cet auteur
Your browser does not support the audio element.
I've read almost all this author's books
Cette région est très connue
pour son vin
Your browser does not support the audio element.
This region is very well known for its wine
Ces oiseaux se font de plus
en plus rares
Your browser does not support the audio element.
These birds are becoming more and more rare
Cet album est sorti en 1972.
This album came out in 1972.
J'aime le football et le tennis. Ces sports occupent beaucoup de mon temps libre.
I like football and tennis. These sports take up a lot of my spare time.
Ces filles sont intelligentes et sérieuses.
These girls are clever and conscientious.
Je suis très satisfait de cet étudiant.
I’m very satisfied with this student.
Cette femme a beaucoup contribué à la cause des sans-abri.
This woman has contributed a lot to the cause of the homeless.
2.2 Before masculine words beginning with h
Cet is used with
masculine
nouns
beginning with an
unaspirated
h :
Cet hiver nous partons en Australie
Your browser does not support the audio element.
This winter we're going to Australia
Où as-tu acheté cet habit?
Where did you buy this outfit?
Je pêche avec cet hameçon.
I fish with this hook.
Tu as vu cet homme? C’est un voleur.
Have you seen this man? He’s a thief.
Elle refuse de retourner dans cet hôpital.
She refuses to go back to this hospital.
A chaque fois que nous venons à Paris nous descendons dans cet hôtel.
Every time we come to Paris we stay at this hotel.
But ce is used with masculine
nouns beginning with an
aspirated
h :
Nous essayons de mieux comprendre ce handicap
Your browser does not support the audio element.
We're trying to get a better understanding of this handicap
Mes parents m’ont acheté ce hamster pour mon anniversaire.
My parents bought me this hamster for my birthday.
Marie s’est cassé la jambe: ce handicap l’empêche de faire du sport.
Marie has broken her leg: this handicap prevents her from doing sport.
Nous habitons dans ce hameau depuis plus de vingt ans.
We’ve lived in this hamlet for more than twenty years.
Il y a de magnifiques chevaux dans ce haras.
There are magnificent horses in this stable.
Ce hautbois appartenait à mon grand-père.
This oboe belonged to my grandfather.
2.3 Creating emphasis
In order to emphasize a
noun
, -ci is added to the end of the
noun
to convey the idea of this , and -là
is added to the end of the noun to convey the idea of that :
C'est par cette porte-ci
et non cette porte-là
qu'on est entrés
Your browser does not support the audio element.
We entered by this door (here) and not by that door (there)
Ces pommes-ci sont meilleur marché que celles-là.
These apples are cheaper than those ones.
J’aime bien ce musée-là. Il est plein de tableaux impressionnistes.
I like that museum. It’s full of impressionist paintings.
Je pense qu’à ce moment-là vous auriez dû appeler la police.
I think that at that moment you should have called the police.
Je n’aime pas tellement ce groupe-là. Je les trouve trop bruyants.
I don’t really like that group. I find them too noisy.
Ce mois-ci il y a la facture d’électricité à payer.
This month there’s the electricity bill to pay.
2.4 Use before each noun
Unlike in English, demonstrative adjectives normally come before each
noun
they apply to:
A qui sont ces chapeaux, ces
pardessus et ces parapluies?
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Whose are these hats, overcoats and umbrellas?
