1.44: Pronoms demonstratifs

Demonstrative pronouns celui, celle, ceux and celles replace demonstratives adjectives + nouns and translate to the one or the ones. They must agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace. They can be followed by qui, qui and de.

Compound demonstrative pronouns are used to compared two similar nouns. They’re the demonstrative pronouns (celui, celle etc.) followed by the particle -ci and –là and are used to express this one or that one.

☞ Quels pantalons est-ce que tu préfères, ceux-ci ou ceux-là ? Which pair of pants to you prefer? These ones or those ones?

Ceci, cela and ça on their one can mean this and that when referring to indefinite things or previously spoken ideas. In spoken French ça is short for ceci.

☞ Ça, c’est une très bonne idée ! That’s a good idea!

☞ Prends ça ! Take that!

☞ Mange ceci ! Eat this!