Demonstratives

1 Definitions

Demonstratives are words serving to point out a particular thing or things. Demonstrative adjectives, like all adjectives , serve to describe a noun :

Cette voiture est italienne

This car is Italian

Demonstrative pronouns, like all pronouns , take the place of a noun :

Voici deux voitures de sport: celle-ci est italienne et celle-là est allemande

Here are two sports cars : this one is Italian and that one is German

2 Demonstrative adjectives

2.1 Forms

2.2 Words beginning with h

Cet is used with masculine nouns beginning with an unaspirated h (that is where h is treated like a vowel ) : cet hiver. But ce is used with masculine nouns beginning with an aspirated h (where h is pronounced as in English, only without an audible release of breath) : ce handicap.

2.3 Creating emphasis

In order to emphasize or distinguish a noun, -ci is added to the end of the noun to convey the idea of this, and -là is added to the end of the noun to convey the idea of that:

C'est par cette porte-ci et non cette porte-là qu'on est entrés

We entered by this door (here) and not by that door (there)

2.4 Repetition before each noun

A demonstrative adjective normally precedes each noun to which it applies:

A qui sont ces chapeaux, ces pardessus et ces parapluies?

Whose are these hats, overcoats and umbrellas?

3 Demonstrative pronouns

3.1 Forms

Other demonstrative pronouns are : ceci, cela, ce and il

3.2 Celui and derivatives

These are used before describing structures beginning with:

3.2.1 A relative pronoun

This can be actual or impied:

Quel étudiant? Celui qui arrive toujours en retard

Which student? The one who always arrives late

Les accidents les plus fréquents sont ceux [qui sont] causés par le sommeil

The most frequent accidents are those caused by tiredness

3.2.2 The preposition de

Ce n'est pas mon livre, c'est celui de Pierre

It's not my book, it's Peter's

3.3 Celui-ci / celui-là and derivatives

The suffixes -ci and -là are used with celui, celle, ceux and celles where there is no describing structure:

Il y a plusieurs modèles disponibles, mais celui-ci est le plus populaire

There are several models available, but this one is the most popular

They are often used to express a distinction:

Voici deux livres. Celui-ci est bon marché, celui-là est plus cher

Here are two books. This one is cheap, that one is more expensive

Celui-ci, celle-ci etc. can also mean "the latter", and celui-là, celle-là etc. "the former". This can be remembered by an inverted mnemonic, i.e. celui-là means "the former" and not "the latter".

Le professeur regarda le garçon fixement; celui-ci resta figé sur sa place

The teacher stared at the boy; the latter stood frozen to the spot

3.4 Tous ceux / toutes celles

Tous ceux / toutes celles followed by a relative pronoun refer to specific people and things, and have the sense of "everyone", "all those" etc.:

Toutes celles qui s'y intéressent sont priées d'assister à la soirée

All those who are interested are welcome to attend the evening

Tout ce followed by a relative pronoun refers to things, ideas etc., and has the sense of "everything" or "all":

Tout ce qui se trouvait dans la maison a été confisqué

Everything that was found in the house was confiscated

3.5 Cela

Cela is used when referring to a statement or idea rather than to a specific noun , or to something, either an object or an idea, which has not yet been mentioned or defined:

Cela est le plus grand danger

That's the biggest danger

Ça n'a pas de sens que d'arriver deux jours à l'avance

It doesn't make sense to arrive two days early