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 — 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.