French Demonstrative Adjectives

Overview

A demonstrative adjective is one of the words this, that, these and those used with a noun in English to point out a particular thing or person, for example, this woman, that dog. In French you use ce to point out a particular thing or person. Like all adjectives in French, ce changes its form depending on whether you are referring to a noun that is masculine or feminine, singular or plural.

July 18, 2023

Stephen Sovenyhazy

A demonstrative adjective is a word used in English to express this, that, these, or those. Demonstrative adjectives are used before a noun and are determined by the gender and number of what the noun is. Below shows the chart of demonstrative adjectives and examples of how to use them.

	Before a masculine noun (m)	Before a feminine noun (f)	Meaning
Singular (s)	ce cet (before a vowel)	cette	this / that
Plural (p)	ces	ces	these / those

Examples:

Ce drapeau représente le Maroc. This flag represents Morocco.

J’aime cette idée. I like this idea.

*Christophe habite dans cet appartement. Christophe lives in this apartment.

Ces repas sont italiens. These meals are italian.

To be more precise of what noun is being referred to when using demonstrative adjectives, one can use –ci and -la to mean “here” and “there” respectively. It’s as if someone was pointing to the noun being talked about. These will be added after the noun and connected with a hyphen.

Je prends ce bateau-là. I am taking that boat there.

Cette télévision-ci est chère. This television here is expensive.

Vous allez à cet hôpital-là ? You are going to that hospital there?

Elles préfèrent ces chaussures-ci. They prefer these shoes here.

Highlighted Author:

Stephen Sovenyhazy

Stephen is the President of CORE Languages having founded the company in 2007. His focus is on empowering those with a need for community, culture and communication. For over a decade, CORE has helped businesses achieve their strategic international goals by empowering employees to learn and find joy in communicating in a new language and cultural context. With our online instructor-led courses, we now bring this to community members across the globe. A quote from Stephen. "When I started teaching, I sought to bring that same energy, dedication, and sense of purpose into my own classrooms. I founded CORE Languages to expand that vision, seeing the growing need for language training options designed to meet the unique needs of business environments. For over a decade, CORE has helped businesses achieve their strategic international goals by empowering employees to learn and find joy in communicating in a new language and cultural context. With our online instructor-led courses, we now bring this to community members across the globe. It’s a privilege to do what we do and share what we love with you.”

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Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The CEFR is an international standard used to describe language ability. Here are specific details of the CEFR for this topic.

General Explanation:

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.

Specific Capabilities at this Level

Writing:

I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. I can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering my name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form.

Spoken Production:

I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know.

Spoken Interaction:

I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I’m trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.

Reading:

I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues.

Listening:

I can recognize familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly.