Demonstrative adjectives

1 Definitions

Demonstratives adjectives are adjectives used to point out a particular thing or things:

Cette voiture est italienne

This car is Italian

2 Use

2.1 Forms

Demonstratives adjectives have the following forms:

Ce musée est fermé le mardi

This museum is closed on Tuesdays

J'ai lu presque tous les livres de cet auteur

I've read almost all this author's books

Cette région est très connue pour son vin

This region is very well known for its wine

Ces oiseaux se font de plus en plus rares

These birds are becoming more and more rare

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

This winter we're going to Australia

But ce is used with masculine nouns beginning with an aspirated h:

Nous essayons de mieux comprendre ce handicap

We're trying to get a better understanding of this handicap

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

We entered by this door (here) and not by that door (there)

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?

Whose are these hats, overcoats and umbrellas?