GRAMMER: Demonstrative Determiners

les adjectifs démonstratifs

demonstrative determiners / demonstrative adjectives; they agree in number and gender with the noun they introduce

ce

this / that (masculine singular)

cet

this / that (masculine singular before a vowel sound)

cette

this / that (feminine singular)

ces

these / those (plural, masculine or feminine)

ce magasin

this store

cet hôtel

this hotel

cette librairie

this bookstore

ces musées

these museums

ces appartements

these apartments

Which demonstrative goes with a masculine singular noun starting with a vowel sound?

cet (ex: cet hôtel)

Which demonstrative is used for any plural noun?

ces (masculine or feminine)

liaison with cet / ces

compulsory before words starting with a vowel or silent h

t liaison

cet hôtel

z liaison

ces appartements

usage of demonstrative determiners

to point out things or people; they designate something one can see or show

Ce bâtiment, c'est Homer Rainey Hall.

This building, it's Homer Rainey Hall.

Cette femme, c'est l'épouse de mon cousin.

That woman, she is my cousin's wife.

le suffixe -ci

indicates something relatively close to the speaker; this… here

le suffixe -là

indicates something farther away; that… there

Why add -ci or -là to a noun?

to distinguish between two or more elements (close vs. far)

ce restaurant-ci

this restaurant here

ce restaurant-là

that restaurant there

Tu aimes ce restaurant-ci? C'est un restaurant italien.

Do you like this restaurant here? It's an Italian restaurant.

Non… Je préfère le restaurant français. Tu aimes ce restaurant-là?

No… I prefer the French restaurant. Do you like that restaurant there?

Tammy et Tex décident où ils mangent en ville.

Tammy and Tex are deciding where to eat in town.