Pointing things out: This and That
To point things out—like saying "this", "that", "these", or "those"—use demonstrative adjectives. They replace articles like le, la, or un and must agree with the noun's gender and number.
Unlike English, French doesn't make a strict distinction between "this" (close by) and "that" (further away). The same words work for both!
Masculine singular: ce and cet
For most masculine singular nouns, use ce.
| I prefer this market. | Je préfère ce marché. |
| This cheese is very expensive. | Ce fromage est très cher. |
If a masculine singular noun starts with a vowel or a mute h, use cet instead to make it easier to say (like "a" vs. "an" in English).
| I am buying this onion. | J'achète cet oignon. |
| Is this hotel expensive? | Est-ce que cet hôtel est cher ? |
Feminine singular: cette
For all feminine singular nouns, use cette. It works whether the noun begins with a consonant or a vowel.
| How much does this tomato cost? | Combien coûte cette tomate ? |
| We prefer this bakery. | Nous préférons cette boulangerie. |
Plural: ces
To say "these" or "those", simply use ces. It works for all plural nouns, masculine or feminine.
| These tomatoes are for you. | Ces tomates sont pour toi. |
| Why are you buying these onions? | Pourquoi est-ce que vous achetez ces oignons ? |
Summary
| Gender | Singular (consonant) | Singular (vowel or h) | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ce | cet | ces |
| Feminine | cette | cette | ces |
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