The demonstrative adjectives modify nouns by identifying specific things or persons. They are used to pinpoint something or someone. The demonstrative adjectives as all adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Examples with masculine singular nouns, feminine singular nouns, and plural (masculine or feminine) nouns:
Ce livre-ci est très intéressant.
This book is very interesting. (The book that’s near us, or in front of us)
Cette fille-là est un peu bizarre.
That girl is a little weird. (The girl who is not next to us or in front of us)
Il ne dort jamais à cette heure-ci.
He never sleeps at this time of the day. (At the moment we are speaking)
La bibliothèque ouvre à 8 heures du matin. A cette heure-là, je suis au travail.
The library opens at 8 am. At that time, I am at work. (At that time)
Je préfère cette robe-ci à cette robe-là.
I prefer this dress to that dress.
More examples:
Cette réceptioniste m’énerve.
This receptionist (female) gets on my nerves.
Cet horaire ne me convient pas.
This schedule is not convenient for me. (“horaire” is a masculine noun)
Ce mois-ci, il a doublé ses recettes.
This month, he has doubled his gains.
Je te pardonne cette fois-ci mais gare à la prochaine bêtise.
This time, I forgive you but be careful next time.
Il n’a lu ni ce livre-ci, ni ce livre-là. Il n’a fait que regarder la télé.
He read neither this book nor that book. He did nothing but watching TV.
Ces enfants vont me rendre folle !
These kids are driving me crazy!
Il a planté cet arbre il y a dix ans de cela.
He planted this tree ten years ago.
Ce garçon fait rire tout le monde. Il est vraiment drôle !
This boy makes everybody laugh. He is really funny!
| Singular | Plural | |
| Masculine | ce/cet | ces |
| Feminine | cette | ces |
Examples with masculine singular nouns, feminine singular nouns, and plural (masculine or feminine) nouns:
| Noun | Noun with demonstrative adjective | |
| Masculine singular beginning with a consonant | un livre - a book | ce livre - this book |
| Masculine singular beginning with a vowel | un avion - a plane | cet avion - this plane |
| Masculine singular beginning with a mute “h” | un hôtel - a hotel | cet hôtel - this hotel |
| Feminine singular | une fille - a girl | cette fille - this girl |
| Plural (feminine or masculine) | des livres - books des avions - planes des hôtels - hotels des filles - girls | ces livres - these books ces avions - these planes ces hôtels - these hotels ces filles - these girls |
-ci and -là:
We add “-ci” and “-là” to the noun, followed by the demonstrative adjective, when we want to make a distinction or an opposition between two elements in one sentence, and also when we want to situate a thing we are referring to according to time or place.Ce livre-ci est très intéressant.
This book is very interesting. (The book that’s near us, or in front of us)
Cette fille-là est un peu bizarre.
That girl is a little weird. (The girl who is not next to us or in front of us)
Il ne dort jamais à cette heure-ci.
He never sleeps at this time of the day. (At the moment we are speaking)
La bibliothèque ouvre à 8 heures du matin. A cette heure-là, je suis au travail.
The library opens at 8 am. At that time, I am at work. (At that time)
Je préfère cette robe-ci à cette robe-là.
I prefer this dress to that dress.
More examples:
Cette réceptioniste m’énerve.
This receptionist (female) gets on my nerves.
Cet horaire ne me convient pas.
This schedule is not convenient for me. (“horaire” is a masculine noun)
Ce mois-ci, il a doublé ses recettes.
This month, he has doubled his gains.
Je te pardonne cette fois-ci mais gare à la prochaine bêtise.
This time, I forgive you but be careful next time.
Il n’a lu ni ce livre-ci, ni ce livre-là. Il n’a fait que regarder la télé.
He read neither this book nor that book. He did nothing but watching TV.
Ces enfants vont me rendre folle !
These kids are driving me crazy!
Il a planté cet arbre il y a dix ans de cela.
He planted this tree ten years ago.
Ce garçon fait rire tout le monde. Il est vraiment drôle !
This boy makes everybody laugh. He is really funny!