Demonstrative Pronouns

• The demonstrative pronoun celui and its forms mean this one/that one/the one/these/those/the ones

  • Use for pointing something out or indicating a preference

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• Celui- masculine singular (this one, that one, the one)

• Celle- feminine singular (this one, that one, the one)

• Ceux- masculine plural (these, those, the ones)

• Celles- feminine plural (these, those, the ones)

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• -ci and -là can be added after a form of celui to distinguish between people or objects that are closer (celle-ci) or farther (celui-là)
• A form of celui can also be followed by a relative clause to mean the one(s) that or the one(s) whose
  • Le comptable de Marc, c’est celui que tu aimes bien?
• A prepositional phrase can also follow a demonstrative pronoun
  • Ce poste est moins interessant que celui en Belgique
• Adjectives that modify forms of celui must agree in gender and number
  • Ceux qui sont fainéants ne vont pas être promus.
• You can use celui-là/celle-là to refer to someone in a familiar or scornful manner
  • Elle croit qu’elle sait tout, celle-là?
• Ceci & cela are also demonstrative pronouns. Unlike other pronouns, they do not refer to any noun in particular, but rather an idea. Ceci=about to be said, cela=already been said
  • Je vous dis ceci: il ne faut pas démissionner.
• Ceci & cela have a literary tone to them. In everyday French, use ce or ça

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