Understanding how to translate “this” into French is crucial for anyone learning the language. It’s a fundamental concept that appears in everyday conversations and written texts.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to the various ways you can express “this” in French, covering different grammatical contexts, nuances, and usage rules. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this detailed explanation, complete with examples and practice exercises, will help you master this essential aspect of French grammar.
This guide is perfect for students, travelers, and anyone looking to improve their French language skills. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to confidently and accurately use the correct form of “this” in any situation.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition: Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns
- Structural Breakdown of Demonstratives
- Types and Categories of “This” in French
- Examples of “This” in French
- Usage Rules for “This” in French
- Common Mistakes When Using “This” in French
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Definition: Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns
In French, “this” is primarily expressed through demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns. These words point out specific nouns and must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify or replace. Understanding the distinction between these two grammatical functions is key to using “this” correctly.
Demonstrative adjectives modify nouns and are placed before them. They specify which noun is being referred to. The main forms are ce, cet, cette, and ces. For example, “this book” would be translated using a demonstrative adjective.
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns. They stand alone and do not directly modify a noun. The main forms are celui, celle, ceux, and celles. These pronouns often include the suffixes -ci (here) and -là (there) to further specify which item is being referenced. For example, instead of saying “this book is interesting,” you could use a demonstrative pronoun to say “this one is interesting.”
Structural Breakdown of Demonstratives
The structure of French demonstratives is based on the gender and number of the noun they refer to. Here’s a breakdown:
- Masculine Singular: ce (this), cet (this – before a vowel or silent h), celui (this one)
- Feminine Singular: cette (this), celle (this one)
- Masculine Plural: ces (these), ceux (these ones)
- Feminine Plural: ces (these), celles (these ones)
The forms -ci and -là can be added to demonstrative pronouns to indicate proximity or distance, respectively. This adds a layer of specificity to the reference. For example, celui-ci means “this one here,” while celui-là means “that one there.”
The choice between ce and cet depends on the following noun. If the noun begins with a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u, y, or a silent h), ce becomes cet for easier pronunciation. This is a common phonetic rule in French.
Types and Categories of “This” in French
Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific nouns. They precede the noun and must agree in gender and number.
The four forms are:
- Ce: Used before masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
- Cet: Used before masculine singular nouns starting with a vowel or a silent “h.”
- Cette: Used before feminine singular nouns.
- Ces: Used before plural nouns (masculine or feminine).
For instance, ce livre (this book), cet homme (this man), cette table (this table), and ces livres (these books) are all examples of demonstrative adjectives in action. Notice how the form changes based on the noun’s gender and whether it starts with a vowel sound.
Demonstrative Pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns and are used to avoid repetition or to emphasize a specific item. They can be simple or compound, with the addition of -ci or -là. The forms are:
- Celui: Masculine singular (this one, that one)
- Celle: Feminine singular (this one, that one)
- Ceux: Masculine plural (these ones, those ones)
- Celles: Feminine plural (these ones, those ones)
- Ceci: This (refers to something unspecified or a general idea)
- Cela: That (refers to something unspecified or a general idea) – often contracted to ça
Examples include: Celui qui parle est mon frère (The one who is speaking is my brother). Celle que j’ai choisie est rouge (The one I chose is red). Ceux qui étudient réussiront (Those who study will succeed). Celles que tu vois sont belles (The ones you see are beautiful). Ceci est important (This is important). Cela est faux (That is false) or Ça c’est faux.
Examples of “This” in French
Here’s an extensive collection of examples illustrating the use of “this” in French, categorized for clarity.
Masculine Singular Examples
The following table presents examples of the demonstrative adjectives *ce* and *cet* used with masculine singular nouns. These forms change based on whether the following noun starts with a consonant or a vowel sound, respectively.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Ce livre est intéressant. | This book is interesting. |
| Ce garçon est intelligent. | This boy is intelligent. |
| Ce chat est mignon. | This cat is cute. |
| Ce problème est difficile. | This problem is difficult. |
| Ce film est passionnant. | This film is exciting. |
| Ce restaurant est cher. | This restaurant is expensive. |
| Ce tableau est magnifique. | This painting is magnificent. |
| Ce vin est délicieux. | This wine is delicious. |
| Ce train est en retard. | This train is late. |
| Ce jardin est grand. | This garden is large. |
| Cet homme est grand. | This man is tall. |
| Cet arbre est vieux. | This tree is old. |
| Cet étudiant est sérieux. | This student is serious. |
| Cet avion est rapide. | This airplane is fast. |
| Cet endroit est calme. | This place is quiet. |
| Cet hôtel est confortable. | This hotel is comfortable. |
| Cet hiver est froid. | This winter is cold. |
| Cet ordinateur est nouveau. | This computer is new. |
| Cet opéra est célèbre. | This opera is famous. |
| Cet exemple est clair. | This example is clear. |
| Ce matin, il pleut. | This morning, it’s raining. |
| Ce soir, je suis fatigué. | This evening, I’m tired. |
| Ce jour est spécial. | This day is special. |
| Ce mois est important. | This month is important. |
| Cet an, je voyage. | This year, I’m traveling. |
| Ce pays est beau. | This country is beautiful. |
| Ce village est petit. | This village is small. |
Feminine Singular Examples
The following table shows examples of the demonstrative adjective *cette* used with feminine singular nouns. Note that *cette* is used regardless of whether the noun starts with a vowel or consonant.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Cette maison est belle. | This house is beautiful. |
| Cette fille est gentille. | This girl is kind. |
| Cette voiture est rapide. | This car is fast. |
| Cette chaise est confortable. | This chair is comfortable. |
| Cette idée est intéressante. | This idea is interesting. |
| Cette chanson est populaire. | This song is popular. |
| Cette porte est fermée. | This door is closed. |
| Cette fenêtre est ouverte. | This window is open. |
| Cette rue est bruyante. | This street is noisy. |
| Cette histoire est triste. | This story is sad. |
| Cette année est difficile. | This year is difficult. |
| Cette semaine est chargée. | This week is busy. |
| Cette nuit est calme. | This night is calm. |
| Cette école est grande. | This school is big. |
| Cette église est ancienne. | This church is old. |
| Cette orange est juteuse. | This orange is juicy. |
| Cette université est prestigieuse. | This university is prestigious. |
| Cette exposition est fascinante. | This exhibition is fascinating. |
| Cette image est claire. | This image is clear. |
| Cette activité est amusante. | This activity is fun. |
| Cette question est importante. | This question is important. |
| Cette réponse est correcte. | This answer is correct. |
| Cette langue est belle. | This language is beautiful. |
| Cette ville est animée. | This city is lively. |
| Cette région est magnifique. | This region is magnificent. |
| Cette plante est verte. | This plant is green. |
| Cette fleur est parfumée. | This flower is fragrant. |
Plural Examples
The demonstrative adjective *ces* is used for both masculine and feminine plural nouns. The following examples illustrate its usage.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Ces livres sont intéressants. | These books are interesting. |
| Ces garçons sont intelligents. | These boys are intelligent. |
| Ces chats sont mignons. | These cats are cute. |
| Ces problèmes sont difficiles. | These problems are difficult. |
| Ces films sont passionnants. | These films are exciting. |
| Ces restaurants sont chers. | These restaurants are expensive. |
| Ces tableaux sont magnifiques. | These paintings are magnificent. |
| Ces vins sont délicieux. | These wines are delicious. |
| Ces trains sont en retard. | These trains are late. |
| Ces jardins sont grands. | These gardens are large. |
| Ces maisons sont belles. | These houses are beautiful. |
| Ces filles sont gentilles. | These girls are kind. |
| Ces voitures sont rapides. | These cars are fast. |
| Ces chaises sont confortables. | These chairs are comfortable. |
| Ces idées sont intéressantes. | These ideas are interesting. |
| Ces chansons sont populaires. | These songs are popular. |
| Ces portes sont fermées. | These doors are closed. |
| Ces fenêtres sont ouvertes. | These windows are open. |
| Ces rues sont bruyantes. | These streets are noisy. |
| Ces histoires sont tristes. | These stories are sad. |
| Ces années sont difficiles. | These years are difficult. |
| Ces semaines sont chargées. | These weeks are busy. |
| Ces nuits sont calmes. | These nights are calm. |
| Ces écoles sont grandes. | These schools are big. |
| Ces églises sont anciennes. | These churches are old. |
| Ces oranges sont juteuses. | These oranges are juicy. |
| Ces universités sont prestigieuses. | These universities are prestigious. |
Demonstrative Pronoun Examples
This table provides examples of demonstrative pronouns (celui, celle, ceux, celles) with and without the suffixes -ci and -là to indicate proximity or distance.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Celui-ci est meilleur que celui-là. | This one is better than that one. |
| Celle-ci est la plus belle. | This one is the most beautiful. |
| Ceux-ci sont les miens. | These ones are mine. |
| Celles-là sont à Marie. | Those ones belong to Marie. |
| Celui que tu vois est mon frère. | The one you see is my brother. |
| Celle qui chante est talentueuse. | The one who is singing is talented. |
| Ceux qui étudient réussiront. | Those who study will succeed. |
| Celles qui travaillent dur seront récompensées. | Those who work hard will be rewarded. |
| Je préfère celui-ci. | I prefer this one. |
| Elle a choisi celle-là. | She chose that one. |
| Ceux-ci sont plus chers. | These ones are more expensive. |
| Celles-là sont moins chères. | Those ones are less expensive. |
| Celui d’hier était meilleur. | The one from yesterday was better. |
| Celle de ma sœur est bleue. | My sister’s one is blue. |
| Ceux du jardin sont magnifiques. | The ones in the garden are magnificent. |
| Celles de la boutique sont élégantes. | The ones in the shop are elegant. |
| Celui que j’ai lu était passionnant. | The one I read was exciting. |
| Celle que j’ai vue était effrayante. | The one I saw was frightening. |
| Ceux que tu as rencontrés sont sympas. | The ones you met are nice. |
| Celles que tu as invitées sont charmantes. | The ones you invited are charming. |
| Celui-ci est mon préféré. | This one is my favorite. |
| Celle-ci est plus petite. | This one is smaller. |
| Ceux-ci sont plus modernes. | These ones are more modern. |
| Celles-là sont plus traditionnelles. | Those ones are more traditional. |
| Celui que je veux, c’est celui-là. | The one I want is that one. |
| Celle que j’aime, c’est celle-ci. | The one I like is this one. |
Usage Rules for “This” in French
Agreement with Gender and Number
The most important rule is that demonstrative adjectives and pronouns must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify or replace. This is a fundamental principle of French grammar.
Failure to adhere to this rule will result in grammatical errors that can confuse the listener or reader. Always double-check the gender and number of the noun you are referring to before selecting the appropriate demonstrative form.
Adding -ci and -là for Emphasis
The suffixes -ci and -là are added to demonstrative pronouns to provide emphasis and clarify which item is being referred to, especially when there are multiple options. -ci indicates “this one here” (closer proximity), while -là indicates “that one there” (further distance).
Using these suffixes is not always mandatory, but they can be very helpful in avoiding ambiguity, particularly in situations where context alone is not sufficient to determine which item is being referenced. For example, if you have two books in front of you, using celui-ci and celui-là makes it clear which book you are talking about.
Indicating Relative Distance
The use of -ci and -là also implies a relative distance between the items being discussed. -ci suggests the item is closer to the speaker, while -là suggests it is further away. This can be physical distance or even conceptual distance.
For example, you might say “Je préfère cette chemise-ci à cette chemise-là” (I prefer this shirt here to that shirt there), indicating that one shirt is closer to you or more appealing than the other.
Common Mistakes When Using “This” in French
One of the most frequent errors is using the wrong form of the demonstrative adjective or pronoun due to incorrect gender or number agreement. Here are some examples of common mistakes and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Cette table est belle. | “Table” is feminine, so “cette” should be used. | |
| Ce livre est intéressant. | “Livre” is masculine, so “ce” should be used. | |
| Ces garçons sont grands. | “Garçon” is masculine plural, so “ces” is correct, but remember to make the noun plural. | |
| Cet homme est intelligent. | “Homme” starts with a silent “h,” so “cet” should be used. | |
| Celui que j’aime est celle-ci. | If you are using a pronoun, it must agree in gender. | |
| Ceci est mon livre, pas celui-là. | While “cela” (or “ça”) can mean “that”, in this context, you need the demonstrative pronoun, so you must use “celui-là”. |
Another common mistake is confusing ceci and cela. Remember that ceci refers to something that is about to be mentioned, while cela refers to something that has already been mentioned or is understood from context. Using *ça* instead of *cela* in formal situations is also frequent.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Choose the correct form of “this” in French to complete each sentence.
| Question | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| ______ livre est passionnant. (This book is exciting.) | Ce |
| ______ maison est très vieille. (This house is very old.) | Cette |
| ______ hommes sont fatigués. (These men are tired.) | Ces |
| ______ étudiant est intelligent. (This student is intelligent.) | Cet |
| ______ idée est intéressante. (This idea is interesting.) | Cette |
| Je préfère ______ chemise-ci à ______ chemise-là. (I prefer this shirt to that shirt.) | cette, cette |
| ______ est important à retenir. (This is important to remember.) | Ceci |
| ______ est faux, il ne faut pas le faire. (That is wrong, you shouldn’t do it.) | Cela (or Ça) |
| ______ sont mes amis. (These are my friends.) | Ceux-ci |
| ______ que tu vois là-bas, c’est ma soeur. (The one you see over there is my sister.) | Celle |
| ______ exercice est difficile. (This exercise is difficult.) | Cet |
| ______ fleurs sont magnifiques. (These flowers are magnificent.) | Ces |
| ______ arbre est immense. (This tree is huge.) | Cet |
| ______ voiture est rapide. (This car is fast.) | Cette |
| ______ problème est compliqué. (This problem is complicated.) | Ce |
| ______ matin, il fait beau. (This morning, the weather is nice.) | Ce |
| ______ soir, je vais au cinéma. (This evening, I’m going to the cinema.) | Ce |
| ______ année, je voyage en France. (This year, I’m traveling to France.) | Cette |
| ______ semaine, je suis très occupé. (This week, I’m very busy.) | Cette |
| ______ sont les meilleurs étudiants de la classe. (These are the best students in the class.) | Ceux-ci |
| ______ est inacceptable. (This is unacceptable.) | Ceci |
| ______ idée est géniale! (This idea is great!) | Cette |
| J’aime bien ______ chapeau. (I like this hat.) | Ce |
| ______ est mon dernier mot. (This is my last word.) | Ceci |
| Je préfère ______ à celui-là. (I prefer this one to that one.) | Celui-ci |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of demonstrative pronouns in complex sentence structures is essential. This includes their use in relative clauses and with prepositions.
For example, consider the sentence: “The book I’m reading, this one here, is very interesting.” This can be translated as: “Le livre que je lis, celui-ci, est très intéressant.”
Another advanced topic is the subtle difference in meaning between ceci and cela (or ça). While both refer to “this” or “that,” ceci is generally used to introduce something new, while cela refers back to something already mentioned. However, *ça* is used far more frequently in everyday conversations, and *cela* is more formal.
Additionally, mastering the use of demonstrative pronouns with prepositions requires careful attention. For example, “I’m talking about this one” can be translated as “Je parle de celui-ci.” The preposition “de” is essential for conveying the correct meaning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What’s the difference between ce and cet?
Ce is used before masculine singular nouns that start with a consonant sound, while cet is used before masculine singular nouns that start with a vowel sound or a silent “h.” This is purely for ease of pronunciation.
- When should I use -ci and -là?
Use -ci to indicate “this one here” (something closer) and -là to indicate “that one there” (something further away). They add emphasis and clarity, especially when distinguishing between multiple items.
- Can I use ceci and cela interchangeably?
Not exactly. Ceci typically introduces something new, while cela refers back to something already mentioned. However, in informal speech, *ça* is much more common than *cela*.
- How do I know if a noun is masculine or feminine in French?
Unfortunately, there’s no foolproof rule. You often have to memorize the gender of each noun as you learn it. However, some patterns can help. For example, nouns ending in “-e” are often feminine, but there are many exceptions. Consulting a dictionary that indicates the gender of nouns is highly recommended.
- What happens if I use the wrong demonstrative adjective?
Using the wrong demonstrative adjective will result in a grammatical error that can potentially confuse the listener or reader. While they might still understand your meaning, it’s important to use the correct form to demonstrate proficiency in French.
- Are demonstrative pronouns always necessary?
No, demonstrative pronouns are not always necessary. They are used to avoid repetition or to emphasize a specific item. Sometimes, the context makes it clear which item you are referring to, and you can simply use a regular pronoun or omit the pronoun altogether.
- How are demonstrative adjectives different from possessive adjectives?
Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces) point out specific nouns, while possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes, etc.) indicate ownership. They serve different grammatical functions.
- Is it okay to use *ça* instead of *cela*?
Yes, *ça* is a shortened, more informal version of *cela* and is perfectly acceptable in most everyday conversations. However, in formal writing or speech, *cela* is generally preferred.
Conclusion
Mastering the forms of “this” in French – *ce*, *cet*, *cette*, *ces*, celui, celle, ceux, celles – is a fundamental step in achieving fluency. Understanding the distinction between demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, along with the rules of gender and number agreement, is crucial for accurate and effective communication.
Remember to pay close attention to the context and use the appropriate form based on the noun you are referring to. Practice regularly with examples and exercises to solidify your understanding.
By following the guidelines and tips provided in this article, you’ll be well on your way to confidently using “this” in French in various situations. Keep practicing and don’t be afraid to make mistakes – that’s how you learn!