Practice Makes Perfect

Singular

celui-ci  this one (masculine) 

celui-là   that one (masculine)

celle-ci  this one (feminine) 

celle-là  that one (feminine)

Plural

ceux-ci  these (ones)  

ceux-là  those (ones)  

 

  (masc.; masc. and fem.)  

 

(masc.; masc. and fem.)

celles-ci  these (ones) (fem.) 

celles-là  those (ones) (feminine)

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 Pronouns 

381

Celui-ci est en argent. Celui-là est en or.  This one is silver. That one is gold.

Celle-ci coûte cher. Celle-là est bon  

This one is expensive. That one is cheap. 

marché. 

Ceux-ci sont vrais. Ceux-là sont faux. 

These are real. Those are fake.

Celles-ci sont belles. Celles-là sont  

These are beautiful. Those are ugly. 

laides.

Note that celui-ci (celle-ci) and celui-là (celle-là) may carry a condescending or derogatory 

meaning when used to talk about a person who is not present. Therefore, be careful if you decide 

to use it to refer to a person.

Tu connais son frère?  

Do you know his brother? 

—Ah, celui-là! Il est odieux! 

  —Ah, that one! He is obnoxious!

Tu as posé la question à ta voisine? 

Did you ask your neighbor? 

—Ah, celle-là, je ne lui adresse jamais     —Ah! That one! I don’t talk to her! 

  la parole! 

The demonstrative pronoun 

ce

The demonstrative pronoun ce (c’) is invariable and is often the subject of the verb être. It refers 

to an idea previously introduced. The adjective following ce (c’) is always in the masculine even if 

it refers to a feminine antecedent. See the example sentences below:

Les erreurs qu’elle a faites! C’est idiot!  

The mistakes she made! It’s so stupid!

Cette ville en hiver! C’est si beau! 

This city in the winter! It’s so beautiful!