Demonstrative adjectives

Question 1

Demonstrative adjectives: forms …

Answer 1

singular / plural
masculine:
ce cafe **cet **éclair / ces cafes, ces éclairs

feminine:
cette surprise cette amie / ces surprises, ces amies

Question 2

this/these,
that/those

Answer 2

ce/cet/ces,
cette/cette/ces

(The forms of ce can refer to a noun that is near (this/these) and one that is far (that/those); the meaning will be clear from the context.)

Question 3

Referring to something near versus something far …

Answer 3

… add -ci or -la to the noun following the demonstrative adjective.

ce couple-ci
(this couple (here))
ces biscuits-ci
(these cookies (here)
cette invitee-la
(that guest (there))
ces bieres-la
(those beers (there))

Question 4

To contrast items in a sentence …

Answer 4

… use -ci and -la in the same sentence to contrast items.

On prend cette glace-ci, pas cette glace-la.
(We’ll have this ice cream, not that ice cream.)
Tu achetes ce fromage-ci ou ce fromage-la?
(Are you buying this cheese or that cheese?)