Overview
Demonstrative pronouns in French are used to replace a noun and indicate specific things or people, similar to "this," "that," "these," or "those" in English. They help point out particular objects or individuals without repeating the noun.
French Demonstrative Pronouns
The main demonstrative pronouns in French are celui, celle, ceux, and celles. They agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they replace. They often require additional words like -ci and -là to specify "this one" or "that one."
Forms and Usage
- Celui: masculine singular (this one/that one)
- Celle: feminine singular
- Ceux: masculine plural
- Celles: feminine plural
Adding -ci (meaning here) or -là (meaning there) after these pronouns clarifies proximity or distance, e.g., celui-ci (this one), celle-là (that one).
Examples of Demonstrative Pronouns
- Celui-ci est mon livre. (This one is my book.)
- Celle-là est ta voiture. (That one is your car.)
- Ceux-ci sont mes amis. (These are my friends.)
- Celles-là sont belles. (Those are beautiful.)
Demonstrative pronouns can also be followed by relative clauses to specify which thing or person is meant:
- Celui qui parle est professeur. (The one who is speaking is a teacher.)
- Celle que tu as vue est ma sœur. (The one you saw is my sister.)
Demonstrative pronouns are vital for clear and concise communication in French, especially when distinguishing between multiple items or people.
