French grammar
Ce, cette, celle-ci, celle-là
Point out things near and far.
From the scene Celle-ci ou celle-là ? (This one or that one)
In short
This / that: ce (masc.), cette (fem.), ces (plural). This one / that one: celui-ci / celui-là, celle-ci / celle-là.
Your turn
Which one goes with that dress (over there)?
Options: celle-ci / celle-là · cette robe-là · cette robe
Show answer
that dress (over there) → cette robe-là
How it works
Ce (masculine) and cette (feminine) mean both "this" and "that": cette robe.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Et (blank) chemise ?
Clue: chemise is feminine
Options: ce · cet · cette
Show answer
Et cette chemise ?
And this shirt?
Good to know
Before a masculine vowel it's cet (cet ami), and for plurals ces. To point or contrast, add -là (there) or -ci (here): cette robe-là.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) ? Elle est moche.
Clue: she means a dress (robe is feminine)
Options: Celle-là · Celui-là
Show answer
Celle-là ? Elle est moche.
That one? It's ugly.
Good to know
For "this one / that one", use celle-ci / celle-là (feminine) or celui-ci / celui-là (masculine).
this / that dress cette robe
Nuria
Madame Elena, cette robe est jolie ?
Madame Elena, is this dress pretty?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Madame Elena, (blank) est jolie ?
Options: celle-ci · cette robe · cette robe-là
Show answer
Nuria
Madame Elena, cette robe est jolie ?
Madame Elena, is this dress pretty?
that dress (over there) cette robe-là
Nuria
Bof. Et cette robe-là, là-bas ?
Ugh. And that dress, over there?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Bof. Et (blank), là-bas ?
Options: celui-ci · cette robe-là · celle-ci
Show answer
Nuria
Bof. Et cette robe-là, là-bas ?
Ugh. And that dress, over there?
this one / that one (fem.) celle-ci / celle-là
Elena
Celle-ci ? Non, je ne l'aime pas.
This one? No, I don't like it.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) ? Non, je ne l'aime pas.
Options: Celle-ci · Cette robe · Cette robe-là
Show answer
Elena
Celle-ci ? Non, je ne l'aime pas.
This one? No, I don't like it.
this one / that one (masc.) celui-ci / celui-là
Your turn
What goes with celui-ci / celui-là?
Options: this one / that one (masc.) · this / that dress · that dress (over there)
Show answer
celui-ci / celui-là → this one / that one (masc.)
Watch out
Robe and chemise are feminine, so cette robe, never ce robe.
Common mistake
Not ce or cet here. Robe is feminine.
Madame Elena, cette robe est jolie ?
Madame Elena, is this dress pretty?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| this / that dress | cette robe |
|---|---|
| that dress (over there) | cette robe-là |
| this one / that one (fem.) | celle-ci / celle-là |
| this one / that one (masc.) | celui-ci / celui-là |
More lines from the story
- NuriaEt cette chemise ?And this shirt?
- ElenaCelle-là ? Elle est moche.That one? It's ugly.
- ElenaOui, ma chérie. Elle est parfaite... pour moi.Yes, dear. It's perfect... for me.