Contents

Les Démonstratives

adjectivePronoun (simple: the one)Pronoun (compound: this one or that one)
Masculine singularCe, cetCeluiCelui-ci, celui-lĂ 
Masculine pluralCesCeuxCeux-ci, ceux-lĂ 
Feminine singularCetteCelleCelle-ci, celle-lĂ 
Feminine pluralCesCellesCelles-ci, celles-lĂ 
Indefinite formceCeci, cela, ça
ExamplesLes oranges de Californie coĂ»tent moins cher que celles de Floride. (the ones)Quel est mon livre? Votre livre, c’est celui-ci (this one). OĂč est ma place? C’est celle-lĂ  (that one). Ce roman est trop court, et celui-lĂ  est trop long. (that one)
Indefinite pronouns
Ce (this or it)Ceci, cela (subjects for verbs) (this, that)Ça (informal replacement of cela and ceci)
(usually used with ĂȘtre as an impersonal expression) C’est une bonne idĂ©e. C’est difficile Ă  faire. Étudier, c’est important. (can also be used with devoir or pouvoir) Ce doit ĂȘtre un bon restaurant (this must be a good restaurant). Ce peut ĂȘtre difficile. Elle l’a tuĂ©, et pour ce elle is condamnĂ©e (she killed him, and for this she is condemned). (can also be used without a verb) Nous avons trouvĂ© la solution, et pour ce nous avons Ă©tĂ© rĂ©compensĂ©s (
 for this we were rewarded)Ceci va ĂȘtre facile (this is going to be easy). Cela me fait plaisir (that makes me happy). (used with pouvoir or devoir when they are not followed by ĂȘtre) Ceci peut nous aider (this could help us). Cela doit aller dans la cuisine (that has to go in the kitchen) (can also be direct and indirect objects) Donnes-lui cela de ma part (give him this from me). Qui a fait cela? (who did this?)Donne-lui ça de ma part Qui a fait ça? Ça me fait plaisir. Je ne veux pas ceci (or ça), je veux ça (I don’t want this, I want that)
Ceci is the contraction of ce + ici (this + here). Cela is the contraction of ce + lĂ  (this + there).

Footnotes

-ci = this
-lĂ  = that
Ceci is replaced by cela unless distinction between “this” and “that” is important