Demonstrative adjectives in French (ce, cet, cette, ces) indicate specific nouns near the speaker, matching gender and number.
Demonstrative adjectives in French are used to point to specific people, things, or ideas. They agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify.
- Singular: ce (masc.), cet (masc. before a vowel or mute h), cette (fem.)
- Plural: ces (masc. and fem.)
- They must always be followed by a noun (and any necessary modifiers).
Examples
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ce livre est intéressant. | This book is interesting. |
| Cet homme est médecin. | This man is a doctor. |
| Cette fille est gentille. | This girl is kind. |
| Ces chiens sont bruyants. | These dogs are noisy. |
Usage
- ce: Used before masculine singular nouns beginning with a consonant
- cet: Used before masculine singular nouns beginning with a vowel or mute h
- cette: Used before all feminine singular nouns
- ces: Used before all plural nouns (masculine and feminine)
Tips
- The choice between ce and cet depends on pronunciation, not spelling (e.g., cet avion, not ce avion).
- ces is for all plurals, regardless of gender.
- Demonstrative adjectives can refer to things near in space or time, or to something just mentioned.
What is the key pronunciation tip for choosing between 'ce' and 'cet'?
Use 'cet' if the masculine singular noun begins with a vowel or mute h, otherwise use 'ce'.
'Cet' is specifically a phonetic choice to ease pronunciation before vowels or mute h.
Summary
French demonstrative adjectives specify which noun is being talked about. They match the noun’s gender and number and must come before the noun.
- Masculine singular: ce (consonant) / cet (vowel or mute h)
- Feminine singular: cette
- Plural: ces (masc. and fem.)
Do French demonstrative adjectives agree with the noun’s gender and number?
Yes, they always match both gender and number.
Agreement in both gender and number is mandatory for French demonstrative adjectives.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- English Example: This book is interesting.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
