A common question among French learners is: How do you use ce, cette, ces, and celui-ci? These terms are important in French for indicating or referring to people or things. Let’s break them down!
1. Ce – This/That
Ce is a demonstrative pronoun used for singular masculine nouns. It can be translated as “this” or “that” in English.
- Example 1:
- Ce livre est intéressant.
(This book is interesting.)
Here, ce refers to a specific book.
- Ce livre est intéressant.
- Example 2:
- Ce sont mes amis.
(These are my friends.)
In this case, ce is used to introduce a group.
- Ce sont mes amis.
2. Cette – This/That
Cette is the feminine form of ce and is used for singular feminine nouns. It also translates to “this” or “that.”
- Example 1:
- Cette maison est belle.
(This house is beautiful.)
Here, cette refers to a specific house.
- Cette maison est belle.
- Example 2:
- J’aime cette chanson.
(I love this song.)
In this case, cette is used to refer to a specific song.
- J’aime cette chanson.
3. Ces – These/Those
Ces is the plural form used for both masculine and feminine nouns. It translates to “these” or “those.”
- Example 1:
- Ces livres sont très vieux.
(These books are very old.)
Here, ces refers to a specific set of books.
- Ces livres sont très vieux.
- Example 2:
- Ces fleurs sentent bon.
(Those flowers smell good.)
In this case, ces is used to describe a group of flowers.
- Ces fleurs sentent bon.
4. Celui-ci – This One (Masculine)
Celui-ci is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “this one” and is used for masculine singular nouns.
- Example 1:
- Je préfère celui-ci.
(I prefer this one.)
Here, celui-ci refers to a specific item that is being discussed.
- Je préfère celui-ci.
- Example 2:
- Celui-ci est plus grand que celui-là.
(This one is bigger than that one.)
In this case, celui-ci is used to compare two masculine items.
- Celui-ci est plus grand que celui-là.
Summary of Usage:
- Use Ce for masculine singular nouns (this/that).
- Use Cette for feminine singular nouns (this/that).
- Use Ces for plural nouns (these/those).
- Use Celui-ci for masculine singular nouns when specifying “this one.”