Demonstrative Adjectives in French

Demonstrative adjectives in French are used to indicate specific nouns and are equivalent to “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” in English. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Here’s a detailed explanation along with a chart for clarity:

Demonstrative Adjectives in French

1. Ce – This/That (masculine singular before a consonant)
   • Example: Ce livre (this book / that book)
2. Cet – This/That (masculine singular before a vowel sound)
   • Example: Cet ordinateur (this computer / that computer)
3. Cette – This/That (feminine singular)
   • Example: Cette chaise (this chair / that chair)
4. Ces – These/Those (plural for both masculine and feminine)
   • Example: Ces livres (these books / those books)
   • Example: Ces chaises (these chairs / those chairs)

Chart of Demonstrative Adjectives

Examples:

• Ce (Masculine Singular before a consonant)
  • Ce stylo est rouge. (This pen is red.)
• Cet (Masculine Singular before a vowel sound)
  • Cet hôtel est luxueux. (This hotel is luxurious.)
• Cette (Feminine Singular)
  • Cette voiture est rapide. (This car is fast.)
• Ces (Plural)
  • Ces enfants sont gentils. (These children are nice.)
  • Ces pommes sont délicieuses. (These apples are delicious.)

Usage in Sentences:

1. Ce:
   • Ce garçon est mon frère. (This boy is my brother.)
2. Cet:
   • Cet appartement est moderne. (This apartment is modern.)
3. Cette:
   • Cette robe est élégante. (This dress is elegant.)
4. Ces:
   • Ces films sont intéressants. (These movies are interesting.)
   • Ces fenêtres sont grandes. (Those windows are large.)

Note:

• The choice between ce and cet depends on the initial sound of the noun. Use cet before nouns starting with a vowel or a silent ‘h’ to ensure smoother pronunciation.
• Ces is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns.