lekuSoftDemonstrative Adjectives
A demonstrative adjective is used to point out, show, or specify a particular person, animal, or thing (“ce livre-ci”, “cette femme-là”).
In French, it always agrees in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun it accompanies.
1. Table of Forms
| Gender and Number | Demonstrative Adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular (consonant) | ce | ce garçon, ce livre |
| Masculine singular (vowel or silent h) | cet | cet homme, cet ordinateur |
| Feminine singular | cette | cette femme, cette école |
| Plural (masculine and feminine) | ces | ces enfants, ces tables |
2. The Special Rule for Masculine Singular: CE vs CET
Before a masculine singular noun, the form changes according to the first letter of the word that follows directly:
- We use ce before a consonant or an aspirated h:
- Examples: ce stylo, ce héros.
- We use cet before a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) or a silent h to make pronunciation easier:
- Examples: cet appartement, cet hôtel, cet étudiant.
Attention: If a descriptive adjective is placed between the demonstrative adjective and the masculine noun, the rule applies to the first letter of that adjective.
- Example: ce grand appartement (starts with ‘g’), but cet ancien appartement (starts with ‘a’).
3. Specifying Distance: -ci and -là
To distinguish proximity or distance (or to contrast two elements), we sometimes add the particles -ci (near) or -là (far) after the noun.
- -ci indicates something nearby (here):
- Example: Regarde ce livre-ci. (the one I have in my hand)
- -là indicates something farther away (over there):
- Example: Tu préfères cette robe-ci ou cette robe-là ?