Demonstrative pronouns – celui, celle, ceux, celles
The one, the ones
Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun already mentioned: the one, the ones, this one, that one.
Forms
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | celui | ceux |
| feminine | celle | celles |
They can't stand alone. They must be followed by one of these:
1. -ci / -là (this one / that one)
- Quel pull préfères-tu ? – Celui-ci.Which jumper do you prefer? – This one.
- Ces chaussures-ci ou celles-là ?These shoes or those ones?
2. De + noun (possession: X's)
- Ma voiture est rouge, celle de Paul est bleue.My car is red, Paul's is blue.
- Les enfants de Marc et ceux de JulieMarc's children and Julie's
3. A relative pronoun (qui, que, dont, où)
- Prends ceux qui sont sur la table.Take the ones that are on the table.
- Celle que je préfère, c'est la rouge.The one I prefer is the red one.
- C'est celui dont je t'ai parlé.It's the one I told you about.
People
- Ceux qui veulent venir sont les bienvenus.Those who want to come are welcome.
- Celui qui a fait ça…Whoever did that…
For pronouns that don't refer to a specific noun (this, that), use ceci, cela, ça: Demonstrative pronouns.
Practice
- Quelle robe ? _____-ci.Options: Celle · Celui · Cette
Show the answer
Celle
- Mon vélo et _____ de mon frère.Options: celui · celle · ce
Show the answer
celui
- Ces chaussures sont plus belles que _____ que j'ai.Options: celles · ceux · celle
Show the answer
celles
- Les garçons ? _____ qui jouent sont mes fils.Options: Ceux · Celles · Ces
Show the answer
Ceux
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days until you've mastered it.