Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns Flashcards
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are the rules of use of the demonstrative adjectives?
- Demonstrative adjectives are always immediately followed by a noun and agree in gender and number with that noun.
a) The masculine singular has two forms
- “Ce” is used before a masculine singular noun or adjective beginning with a consonant or “h” aspiré.
f. e. Ce verre.
- “Cet” is used before a masculine singular noun or adjective beginning with a vowel or mute “h”.
b) The feminine singular form is “cette”. It is used before all feminine singular nouns and adjectives.
f. e. cette asiette
c) The plural form is “ces”. It is used before all plural nouns or adjectives (masculine or feminine).
f. e. ces verres - The demonstrative adjectives must be repeated before each noun in a series.
f. e. Ce chandail et cette jupe. - “Ce”, “cet” and “cette” mean both “this” and “that”, “ces” means both “these” and “those”.
f. e. Comment trouves-tu ce film? (How do you like this/that movie?)
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are demonstrative adjectives?
Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out a noun. In French, demonstrative adjectives have the following forms:
Singular Plural masculine ce ces masculine before vowel or mute "h" cet ces feminine cette ces
Liason is mandatory between “ces” and a following vowel or mute “h”.
The pronunciation of “cet” and “cette” is identical.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that loudspeaker
ce haut-parleur
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that new hotel
ce nouvel hôtel
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that old man
ce vieil homme
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that friend
cet ami
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that man
cet homme
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that veteran
cet ancien combattant
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that hotel
cet hôtel
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that plate
cette asiette
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that other cup
cette autre tasse
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that story
cette histoire
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that hedge
cette haie
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those glasses
ces verres
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those men
ces hommes
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those plates
ces assiettes
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those other cups
ces autres tasses
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those green beans
ces haricots verts
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this/that man and woman
cet homme et cette femme
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these/those girls and boys
ces filles et ces garçons
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
I don’t know these/those people.
Je ne connais pas ces gens.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
How is the contrast between “this, these” and “that, those” made in French?
When a contrast between “this” and “that” or between “these” and “those” need to be made, one adds a hyphenated “-ci” to the noun (preceded by the appropriate demonstrative adjective) in order to express “this” or “these”, and one adds a hyphenated “-là” to the noun (preceded by the appropriate demonstrative adjective) in order to express “that” and “those”. The particle “-ci” indicates that the noun is close to the speaker, “-là” that the noun is farther away from the speaker.
f.e. ce manteau-ci, ce vélo-là
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this computer
cet ordinateur-ci
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
that tree
cet arbre-là
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this car
cette voiture-ci
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
that street
cette rue-là
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
these students
ces étudiants-ci
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
those napkins
ces serviettes-là
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Do you prefer this color or that color?
Préférez-vous cette couleur-ci ou cette couleur-là?
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this morning
ce matin
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this afternoon
cet après-midi
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
tonight (evening)
ce soir
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
tonight, last night
cette nuit (means either “tonight” or “last night” depending on the context)
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this month
ce mois
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this year
cette année
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns this Easter (Christmas)
cette année à Pâques (Noël)
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
at the moment
en ce moment
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this century
ce siècle
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this summer
cet été
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this winter
cet hiver
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this spring
ce printemps
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this fall
cet automne
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
this time
cette fois
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
one of these days
un de ces jours
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
I am going to sleep well tonight.
Je vais bien dormir cette nuit.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
I slept badly last night.
J’ai mal dormi cette nuit.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are the demonstrative pronouns?
Demonstrative pronouns are not followed by nouns, they replace (usually previously mentioned) nouns. In French demonstrative pronoun agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaces and has the following four formats:
Singular Plural masculine celui ceux feminine celle celles
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are the rules of use of the demonstrative pronouns?
“Celui”, “celle”, “ceux” and “celles” are never used alone. They are always immediately followed by obe of the following:
1. a relative pronoun (qui, que, dont, où, auquel, etc.)
f.e. celui (celle) qui - the one who (that, which)
f.e. Quel foulard désirez-vous? - Je voudrais celui qui est dans la vitrine.
2. the preposition “de” (generally follwed by a noun indicating possesion and corresponding to English “noun+’s”
f.e. celui (celle) de
f.e. ceux (celles) de
f.e Je préfère le climat de la Bretagne à celui de la Provence.
3. “-ci” or “-là” when a contrast between “this one” and “that one” and between “these (ones)” and “those (ones)” needs to be made.
f.e. celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, celles-ci
f.e. celui-là, celle-là, ceux-là, celles-là
f.e. Quel chemin devons-nous prendre, celui-ci où celui-là?
When no contrast (between “this one” and “that one”, and between “these” and “those”) is expressed, the “-ci” forms and “-là” forms are interchangeable, meaning both “this one” or “that one” in the singular and “these” or “those” in the plural.
f.e. Quelle tarte voudriez-vous? - Donnez-moi celle-ci. or Donnez-moi celle-là.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Which form is prefered in French “-ci” or “-là” when no contrast is expressed between “this one” and “that one”, and between “these” and “those”)?
- là
f. e. Quel dessert prenez-vous? - Je vais prendre celui-là.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Of these belts, the one which I prefer is the purple one.
De toutes ces ceintures, celle que je préfère est la violette.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
We always like the ones who admire us, and we don’t always like the ones whom we admire.
Nous aimons toujours ceux qui nous admirent, et nous n’aimons pas toujours ceux que nous admirons.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
The best vacation is the one which one spends with the family.
Les meilleurs vacances, ce sont celles que l’on passe en famille.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Truffaut’s films are the ones (which) I remember best.
Les films de Truffaut sont ceux dont je me souviens le mieux.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
He writes as well in Molière’s language as in Shakespeare’s.
Il écrit aussi bien dans la langue de Molière que dans celle de Shakespeare.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
My father’s parents live in Paris, my mother’s live in Lyon.
Les parents de mon père vivent à Paris, ceux de ma mère habitent à Lyon.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What is the brand name of these cars? - This one is Renault, that one is a Peugeot.
Quelle est la marque de ces voitures? - Celle-ci est une Renault, celle-là est une Peugeot.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Which stamps do you want, these or those?
Quels timbres voulez-vous, ceux-ci ou ceux-là?
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
The one who wins will receive a prize.
Celui/celle qui gagne recevra un prix.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Which shoes do you want to see? - Those, the red ones.
Quels souliers voulez-vous voir? - Ceux-là, les rouges.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are the rules of use of the demonstrative pronoun “ce” (“ c’ “ before “e”)?
When “ce” is used as a demonstrative pronoun, it is invariable. It can mean “this, that, these, it” and, when it precedes a noun indicating a person or persons, “he, she” or “they”. As a pronoun, “ce” is always used with a form of the verb “être” (which either precedes or follows “ce” immediately) and generally refers to something previously mentioned.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What is the construction “ce+être” followed by?
ce + être is followe by:
1. a determiner (an article or possessive adjective) + noun (which can be modified by an adjective)
Sentences consisting of “ce+être+determiner+noun” normally refer to a previous statement or situation, but “ce” can also refer to a following sentence part introduced by “de + infinitive”.
f.e. C’était un plaisir de vous connaître.
2. a proper noun
f.e. C’est David.
3. a pronoun
Qui est-ce? Est-ce toi, Pierre?
4. a superlative
C’est le meilleur film de tous les temps.
5. a masculine singular adjective or an adverb to refer to a previously mentioned idea, situation or event.
C’est triste!
“Ce” followed by “être+masculine singular adjective or adverb” can also announce a specific noun or clause.
C’est joli, ce paysage.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What is the gender and number of the adjective after “ce+être”?
After “ce+être”, the adjective is always in the masculine singular form, no matter what “ce” refers to.
f.e. Cette région en hiver, c’est très beau! (NOT “belle”!)
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What does precede the infinitive when “ce+être+adjective” is followed by an infinitive?
the preposition “à”
f.e. Quel âge a-t-elle? - C’est difficile à dire.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
It’s a miracle!
C’est un miracle!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s a good idea!
C’est une bonne idée!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s not good French!
Ce n’est pas du bon français.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
It’s not worth the trouble.
Ce n’est pas la peine.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s the same thing.
C’est la même chose.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
They are my nephews.
Ce sont mes neveux.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What is that? - That’s a butterfly.
Qu’est-ce que c’est? -C’est un papillon.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
It’s them.
Ce sont eux. (spoken French generally uses “c’est” before “eux” and “elles”)
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
This is not your coat, it’s mine.
Ce n’est pas ton manteau, c’est le mien.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s the one I want.
C’est celui-là que je veux.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s all.
C’est tout.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s great!
C’est bien / génial / chouette / formidable!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s super!
C’est super!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s the same.
C’est pareil.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
It’s agreed!
C’est entendu!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s funny!
C’est drôle!
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Don’t worry about it. It’s no big deal.
Ce n’est pas grave.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s true.
C’est vrai.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s false.
C’est faux.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
Is that far from here?
C’est loin d’ici?
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s unfair.
Ce n’est pas juste.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s for sure.
C’est sûr.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
That’s (very) nice of you.
C’est (très) gentil de votre part.
or
C’est (très) gentil à vous.
Demonstrative adjectives and Pronouns
What are you saying is interesting.
C’est intéressant, ce que vous dites.