Learn French: Ces chiens sont affectueux, alors que ceux-là sont têtus. - These dogs are affectionate, whereas those are stubborn.

Ces chiens sont affectueux, alors que ceux-là sont têtus.

These dogs are affectionate, whereas those are stubborn.

Breakdown of Ces chiens sont affectueux, alors que ceux-là sont têtus.

that, those (demonstrative suffix)

Questions & Answers about Ces chiens sont affectueux, alors que ceux-là sont têtus.

Can I use tandis que instead of alors que in this sentence?

Yes, absolutely! Both mean "whereas" or "while" when expressing a contrast. You could just as easily say tandis que ceux-là sont têtus. Alors que is slightly more common in everyday spoken French, but they are fully interchangeable here.

If alors que can translate to "while," could I use pendant que instead?

Not here. Pendant que means "while" only in terms of time (two actions happening at the exact same moment). Since this sentence is comparing two different personalities ("whereas"), you have to use a conjunction of contrast like alors que or tandis que.

Why does the sentence use ces for "these dogs" but ceux-là for "those"?

Ces is an adjective, meaning it must sit right next to a noun (ces chiens). Ceux-là is a pronoun meaning "those ones," which stands on its own so you don't have to repeat the word "dogs." The -là part emphasizes "those over there" to create a clear contrast with the first group.

Since both adjectives refer to plural dogs, shouldn't affectueux have an "s" at the end like têtus?