Demonstrative pronouns 1 Definitions Demonstratives pronouns are
pronouns
used to point out a particular thing
or things:
Voici deux voitures de sport: celle -ci
est italienne et celle -là
est allemande
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Here are two sports cars: this one is Italian and that one
is German
2 Forms 2.1 Basic forms
Table 45.2.1a: Demonstrative pronouns
sing pl masc celui ceux fem celle celles
David ne fait que penser à sa moto, celle qu’il vient d’acheter.
David thinks only of his motorbike, the one he’s just bought.
Il se trouvait pris entre le désir de partir et celui de rester.
He found himself caught between the desire of staying and that of leaving.
Sa réaction n’était guère celle d’un homme innocent.
His reaction was scarcely one of an innocent man.
Elle a fini par mettre sa jupe mauve, celle qu’elle a achetée pour de son anniversaire.
She ended up putting on her purple dress, the one she bought for her birthday.
Te souviens-tu de ce film de Luc Besson, celui où jouait Jean Réno?
Do you remember that Luc Besson film, the one Jean Réno acted in?
Other demonstrative pronouns are: ceci , cela ,
ce and il .
2.2 Use of celui
and derivatives These are used before describing structures beginning with:
Quel étudiant? Celui qui arrive
toujours en retard
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Which student? The one who always arrives late
Ce n'est pas mon livre, c'est celui
de Pierre
Your browser does not support the audio element.
It's not my book, it's Peter's
2.3 Celui-ci
/ celui-là and derivatives The words -ci and -là
are added to celui , celle ,
ceux and celles where
there is no describing structure. They are often used to express a distinction:
Il y a plusieurs modèles disponibles, mais
celui-ci est le plus populaire
Your browser does not support the audio element.
There are several models available, but this one is the
most popular
Voici deux livres. Celui-ci
est bon marché, celui-là est plus cher
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Here are two books. This one is cheap, that one is more
expensive
Non, pas ce livre. Donne-moi plutôt celui-là avec la couverture rouge.
No, not that book. Give me instead the one with the red cover.
Ceci est un wagon de première classe, avance jusqu’à celui-là.
This is a first-class carriage, move on to that one.
Ce pantalon-là est trop serré. Je prendrai celui-ci.
These trousers is too tight. I’ll take these ones.
Cette voiture-ci est italienne et celle-là est allemande.
This car is Italian and that one is German.
Je n’aime pas la couleur de cette robe-là. Je préfère celle-ci.
I don’t like the colour of that dress. I prefer this one.
Celui-ci , celle-ci etc.
can also mean the latter , and celui-là, celle-là
etc. the former .
Le professeur a regardé le garçon fixement; celui-ci
est resté figé sur place
Your browser does not support the audio element.
The teacher stared at the boy; the latter stood frozen
to the spot
2.4
Tous ceux / toutes celles
Tous ceux / toutes celles
refer to specific people and things, and have the sense of everyone ,
all those etc.:
Toutes celles qui sont intéressées
sont bienvenues à la soirée
Your browser does not support the audio element.
All those who are interested are welcome to attend the evening
De toutes celles que j’ai eues la voiture que je préfère est la Mercedes.
Of all those that I’ve had my favourite car is the Mercedes.
La police a interrogé tous ceux qui étaient présents lors de l’accident.
The police questioned all those who were present at the accident.
Il connaît le nom et la situation familiale de tous ceux qui travaillent dans son entreprise.
He knows the names and family situation of all those who work in his company.
Elle a tellement d’amies elle n’a pas pu inviter toutes celles qu’elle souhaitait voir à sa réception.
She’s got so many friends she couldn’t invite everyone she wanted to her reception.
Ce pommier donne beaucoup de pommes. Tu peux prendre toutes celles que tu veux.
This apple tree gives a lot of apples. You can take all you want.
Tout ce refers to things, ideas etc., and has
the sense of everything or all :
Tout ce qui se trouvait dans
la maison a été confisqué
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Everything that was found in the house was confiscated
Je ferai tout ce que je peux pour vous aider.
I’ll do everything I can to help you.
C’est un artiste peu connu, mais j’aime tout ce qu’il fait.
He’s a little known artist, but I like everything he does.
Elle m’a emmené à la pâtisserie et elle m’a laissé choisir tout ce que je voulais.
She took me to the cake shop and let me choose anything I wanted.
J’ai aimé tout ce que j’ai vu dans cette boutique.
I liked everything I saw in this shop.
Malheureusement je ne me souviens pas de tout ce qu’elle m’a dit.
Unfortunately I can’t remember everything she told me.
2.5
Cela / ça
Cela or ça is used when referring to a statement
or idea rather than to a specific
noun
, or to something, either an object
or an idea, which has not yet been mentioned:
Cela est le plus grand danger
Your browser does not support the audio element.
That's the biggest danger
Ça n'a pas de sens d'arriver deux jours à l'avance
Your browser does not support the audio element.
It doesn't make sense to arrive two days early
Note
Cela is replaced by ça
in spoken or less formal written French.