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Les pronoms démonstratifs
Simples et composés
LES PRONOMS DÉMONSTRATIFS
• Demonstrative pronouns are words that helps us to specify which thing or person in a group we are specifically talking about.
Ex: Il y a deux portraits. Celui à droite est plus grand. (There are two portraits. The one on the right is bigger)
• They must agrees with the gender and number of the noun they replace.
• Is also used to avoid the repetition.
• Demonstrative pronoun can be used to express possession or origin.
• We have demonstrative pronoun simple and compound (Les pronoms démonstratifs Simples et
Composés)
• Demonstrative pronoun stands alone they do not accompany a noun, they stand in its place.
ex: J’aime celui- ci pas celui- là. (I like this one not that one.)
LES PRONOMS DÉMONSTRATIFS
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SIMPLES ET COMPOSÉS
Simples composé
Near Not near
Masculin singular celui celui- ci celui – là
Include Others
(the one) (this one, this one here) (that one, that one [over] there)
Masculin plural ceux ceux- ci ceux- là
(the ones) (these, these here) (those, those [over] there)
Feminine singular celle celle- ci celle- là
(the one) (this one, this one here) (that one, that one [over] there)
Feminine plural celles celles- ci celles- là
(the ones) (these, these here) (those, those [over] there)
Neuter ce Ceci, cela, ça
c’ (this, that)
(this, that, it)
• The simple form is used :
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when the demonstrative pronoun is followed by “de”
ex: Eva aime mes biscuits mais déteste ceux de sa tante. (Eva likes my biscuits but hates her aunt’s.)
Prepositional phrase
ex: Dans ce groupe, le chanteur est celui avec des lunettes. (In this band, the singer is the one with glasses.)
Relative clause ( qui, que, dont, avec lesquels ….)
ex: Celles que je préfère sont les pommes vertes. (The ones I prefer are the green apples.)
• The composed form is used :
To indicate nearness or farness like the distinction between this one and that one.
ex: J’aime celui-ci pas celui-là. (I like this one not that one.)
To compare like this one or that one.
ex: On peut voir deux tables. Celle- la est plus belle. Celle- ci est trop petite
(We can see two tables,. That one over there is nicer. This one here is smaller.)
• Neutral demonstrative pronoun is used when what they replace is either a whole phrase or hasn’t been
previously mentioned.
Ce / C’ :
We use ce / c’ before the être verb. Both forms are used to refer to a thing or a person.
ex: C’est ma maison. (This is my house)
Ce sont mes maisons. (These are my houses)
Ceci et Cela :
Refers to an idea or indefinite expression.
Ceci (this) refer to an object closer to the speaker and cela (that) to a more distant object)
ex: Ceci marche avec des piles, mais pas cela. (This works with batteries, but not that)
When referring to a notion ; ceci introduces the notion , cela refers to an idea already mentioned.
ex : L’environnement est une cause importante. Je comprends cela. (The environment is an important cause . I understand
that.)
Cela dit , il est quand même un très bon ami. (That said, he’s still a very good friend.)
Ça :
The pronoun ça is a contraction of cela, but it is used much more frequently, particularly in speech or informal writing.
ex: La grammaire française? Je trouve ça trop difficile ! (French grammar? I find that too hard !)
When referring to something in general , even if the thing is plural, ça is used .
ex: Les probabilitiés , ça m’énerve! (Probabilities get on my nerves!)
Ceci/ Cela versus Ça :
In everyday , less formal speech, ceci and cela are commonly replaced with ça.
ex: J’ai toujours détesté ça! (I’ve always hated that!)
When using ceci and cela together as contrasting elements, you cannot replace them with ça .
EXAMPLES
• J’adore la barbe de Victor. - Oui, mais moi je préfère celle de Marcel. (I love Victor’s beard. -Yes but I prefer
Marcel’s.)
• Je parle de celui du milieu. Les autres sont trop grands. ( I am talking about the middle one. The others are too
big.)
• Ceux qui m'écoutent recevront un prix. ( Those who listen to me will receive a prize)
•. Je voudrais une baguette s’il vous plaît. (I’d like a baguette please.)
- Celle-ci ? (This one?)
- Non, celle-là, elle est moins cuite. (No, that one. It’s less brown.)
• Lequel? Celui-ci ou celui- là. (Which? This one or that one)
• Cela est bien dit. ( This is well said.)
• Tiens, range ceci dans le tiroir ! (Here, put this away in the drawer!)
EXERCISES
Complétez avec les pronoms démonstratifs: [celle, celui, celles, ceux,
celle-ci/là , celui-ci/la, celles-ci/là, ceux-ci/là]
(i) Cette fille-ci est jeune, est âgée. .......
(ii) Voilà les clés de ma maison et voilà de ma voiture.
(iii) Ce meuble-ci est ancien, est moderne.
(iv) Voici deux garçons, . est debout et est assis. ......
(v) Je n'aime pas les romans de Zola, je préfère de Balzac.
M ERC
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