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Demonstrative Adjectives – ce/cet/cette/ces

Point out specific nouns using this/that/these/those with the correct demonstrative adjective form.
Demonstrative adjectives point out specific nouns meaning this/that/these/those. Forms: ce cet cette ces.
French demonstratives: ce cet cette ces.
ce livre / cette maison / ces enfants
Ce is used before masculine singular nouns beginning with a consonant.
Ce + masculine singular noun starting with consonant.
ce livre / ce garçon / ce restaurant
Cet is used before masculine singular nouns beginning with a vowel or silent h.
Cet + masculine singular noun starting with vowel/h.
cet homme / cet ami / cet hôtel
Cette is used before all feminine singular nouns regardless of their starting sound.
Cette + all feminine singular nouns.
cette femme / cette école / cette idée
Ces is used before all plural nouns (masculine and feminine).
Ces + all plural nouns.
ces livres / ces femmes / ces enfants
French does not distinguish between this and that — ce/cet/cette/ces cover both meanings. Context clarifies.
Ce = both this and that (no distinction in French).
ce livre = this book OR that book
To distinguish this from that add -ci (here) or -là (there) after the noun.
Add -ci (this) or -là (that) after noun to distinguish.
-ci = this one here / -là = that one there
Ce livre-ci est intéressant but ce livre-là est ennuyeux. The suffix clarifies near vs far.
Example of -ci vs -là for near/far distinction.
ce livre-ci (this book) / ce livre-là (that book)
Demonstrative pronouns (celui celle ceux celles) replace demonstrative adjective + noun.
Demonstrative pronouns replace ce + noun.
Celui-ci / Celle-là / Ceux-ci / Celles-là
C'est and ce sont are demonstrative expressions meaning this is / that is / these are.
C'est / Ce sont = this is / these are.
C'est mon ami / Ce sont mes livres