Demonstrative pronoun – pronom démonstratif
Let's Define It!
What's a *demonstrative pronoun*?
A demonstrative pronoun (un pronom démonstratif) is a type of pronoun used to point out / to show a particular thing or things.
A demonstrative pronoun stands in the place of an demonstrative adjective + noun. celui, celle, ceux, celles are pronoms démonstratifs.
In other words...
demonstrative pronoun = demonstrative adjective + noun.
The French demonstrative pronouns are celle, celui, celles, ceux. Their English equivalents are this, that, these, those, the one(s). In French, demonstrative pronouns are often accompanied by -ci (here) or -là (there) to bring clarification while showing a thing or things.
For example, look at these two sentences. They are linked. Sentence a) employs a demonstrative adjective while sentence b) employs a demonstrative pronoun:
"Ces dames sont des touristes" (These ladies are tourists) --> demonstrative adjective.
"Celle-ci est Américaine et celle-là est Française" (This one is American and that one is French).
Like demonstrative adjectives, the French demonstrative pronouns are affected by the gender and number of the noun they are supposed to replace.
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Let's Pronounce It!
What does it sound like in French?
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Let's Have an Example or Two!
Can a little reinforcement do the trick?
Find below some French demonstrative adjectives in a few examples:
- Quel gâteau veux-tu? celui-ci or celui-là? / Which cake do you want? This one or that one?
- Tu vois ces tables? J'aime beaucoup celle qui est en bois. / You see these tables? I like the wooden one very much.
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