Demonstrative Pronouns (part I) Amy Bettano

Celui Ceux Celle Celles A demonstrative pronoun takes the place of a demonstrative adjective and a noun. They agree in gender and number with the nouns they replace. Singulier Pluriel Masculine Celui Ceux Féminin Celle Celles Celui, Celle, Ceux, and Celles all mean “the one”. Ceux and Celles can also mean “these” or “those”. They never stand alone - They are often followed by a preposition or a relative pronoun such as “qui”, “que”, “dont” or “de”.

Les Exemples: Ce stylo bave, je vais chercher qui est dans mon tiroir. Cette jupe est trop longue, mets de vendredi soir. Voici tes devoirs, que tu revisais pour l’examen. As-tu vu mes lunettes, en strass? J’ai trouvé une bague sensationnelle, dont je rêvais toujours. This pen leaks; I’m going to get the one in my drawer. celui That skirt is too long, put on the one (you wore) Friday night. celle Here are your assignments, the ones you were reviewing for the test. ceux Have you seen my glasses, the ones with the rhinestones? celles I found a great ring, the one I’ve always dreamed of. celle

The attachment of “–ci” or “–là” directly to the demonstrative pronoun creates contrast or emphasis. Elle n’aime pas vélo- , elle préfère fleurs- sont des marguerites des anémones. She doesn’t like this bike; she prefers that one. ce ci Celui-là These flowers are daisies; those are anémones. Ces ci Celles-là

Qui et Que To translate “the one who/which”, “the ones who/which”, use Celui qui/que Celle qui/que Ceux qui/que Celles qui/que Use “qui” if it is the subject, “que” if it is the object Qui Que Quel appartement? Celui qui est au troisième étage. Quel appartement? Celui que nous avons vu hier.

Celui dont et ou “Celui” and all its other friends (celle, ceux, celles) are used with “dont” to refer to a person/thing when you want to say – “the one of which”. You get “dont” when there is the preposition “de”. This is the one (that) I spoke to you about. C’est celui dont je vous ai parlé. “Celui” and all its other friends (celle, ceux, celles) are used with “où” to refer to a place – “the one in which” or “the one where”. You get “où” when you are talking about a place. Which store are you going to? To the one where the sales are. À quel magasin vas-tu? À celui où il y a des soldes.

Relative Pronouns (part I)

Qui Refers back to a noun that functions as the subject of the verb. The subject can be a person – then qui = “who” or “that” The subject can be a thing – then qui = “which” or “that” It also replaces an indirect object after the preposition IF it is a person. What’s the name of the woman who’s talking to the priest? Comment s’appelle la femme qui parle au prêtre? Voici le colis qui est arrivé hier. C'est la femme avec qui je travaille. Here is the parcel that arrived yesterday. That's the woman with whom I work. (That's the woman I work with.)

Qui is used in proverbs to replace “celui qui”. He who laughs last laughs best Rira bien qui rira le dernier Qui can also be used in certain archaic idiomatic expressions to replace “ce qui”. Qui plus est Qui pis est Qui mieux est What’s more What’s worse What’s better

Que Que refers back to a noun functioning as the direct object of the verb. If the direct object is a person, que = “whom” or “that” If the direct object is a thing, que = “which” or “that” It’s a woman whom I don’t know. C’est une femme que je ne connais pas. C’est le colis que j’attendais. It’s the package that I was waiting for. Que is sometimes used to replace “où” after certain expressions of time. L’année que je reviendrai. The year when I return.

Ou Où means “where” or “when”. It replaces a preposition and a form of “lequel”. C’est une région dans laquelle je voyage souvent. C’est une région où je voyage souvent. Le jour où je suis né L’année où on s’est connu. It’s a region where I travel often. The day (when) I was born. The year (when) we met.

Quoi Quoi is used after a preposition and means “what”. Je sais de quoi il s’agit. Je sais à quoi vous avez pensé. Je sais sur quoi il écrit. I know what it is about. I know what you thought about. I know what he is writing about.

Ce qui Ce qui means “what” and “that which”. Ce qui is used as the subject of the clause when there is no antecedent. It never refers to a person, only to things or a whole phrase/idea. It replaces qui when no noun object is present. Do you understand what is happening? Comprenez-vous ce qui se passe? Ce qui est arrivé est presque impossible. What happened is almost impossible.

Ce que Ce que is used as the object of a verb in a relative clause when there is no antecedent. It never refers to people, only things, whole phrases, or ideas. It also replaces que if there is no noun object present. Je ne comprends pas ce que vous dites. Ce qu’il écrit est difficile à comprendre. I don’t understand what you are saying. What he writes is difficult to understand.

Ce dont et Ce a quoi “Ce dont” replaces “ce que” if the unnamed object is introduced by the preposition “de”. “Ce dont” can only refer to a thing or an idea, like “ce que”. C’est ce dont je rêvais. It’s what I was dreaming of. “Ce à quoi” replaces ce que if the unnamed object is introduced by the preposition “à”. It also can only refer to an idea or thing. Dis-moi ce à quoi tu penses. Tell me what you’re think about.

Celui qui et que “Celui” and all its other friends (celle, ceux, celles) are used with “qui” and “que” to refer to people. Quels locataires? (tenants) Ceux qui sont au-dessus de nous.