This and that
ce, cette, ces, celui and ça.
ce, cet, cette and ces mean both "this" and "that", and agree with the noun.
| Masculine | Masculine before a vowel | Feminine | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| ce livre | cet homme | cette maison | ces livres |
The t of cet is said and runs into the noun: cet ami. To contrast "this" with "that", add -ci or -là to the noun: ce livre-ci "this book", ce livre-là "that book". In speech, -là is far more common, and often just means "that".
The one, the ones
celui, celle, ceux and celles mean "the one" or "the ones", and are followed by -ci, -là, de or qui.
- Which book? Marie's.
- I prefer this one.
- Those who want to come are welcome.
ça
ça, short for cela, is "that" or "it" for something not named: Ça va ?, J'aime ça, C'est quoi, ça ? ceci "this" is mostly written.
là, ici, là-bas
ici is "here" and là-bas "over there". là means "there", but in speech often "here": Je suis là "I'm here".
Cards from this guide
7 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Nouns and adjectives cards.
What are the forms of "this" or "that" before a noun?
ce (masculine), cet (masculine before a vowel), cette (feminine), ces (plural).
When is ce written cet?
Before a masculine noun starting with a vowel or silent h.
How do you contrast "this book" with "that book"?
ce livre-ci and ce livre-là.
What does celui mean?
"The one", for a masculine noun.
What does ça mean?
"That" or "it", for something not named.
How do you say "these ones" for feminine shoes, les chaussures?
celles-ci.
What does là usually mean in Je suis là?
"Here": "I'm here".