grammar
Les pronoms démonstratifs: Pointing out "this one" or "that one".
Bonjour ! When you want to point to a specific object without repeating its name over and over-saying "this one" or "the ones" instead of "this book" or "those flowers"-you use demonstrative pronouns. Like all French pronouns, they must match the gender and number of the noun they are replacing.
The Four Forms: Celui, Celle, Ceux, Celles
These pronouns rarely stand alone. They are almost always followed by additional information starting with qui (who/which), que (that), or de (of/from) to specify exactly which one you are talking about.
| le tableau (masc. sing.) | celui que je préfère (the one that I prefer) |
| la chaise (fem. sing.) | celle qui est dans le salon (the one which is in the living room) |
| les livres (masc. plur.) | ceux qui sont rouges (the ones which are red) |
| les fleurs (fem. plur.) | celles qui sont sur la table (the ones which are on the table) |
The Shortcut for Colors and Sizes
There is a simpler way to point things out if you are distinguishing them purely by a basic adjective, like their color or size. Instead of using celui/celle, you can simply use the definite article (le, la, les) followed immediately by the adjective. It translates perfectly to "the blue one" or "the big ones".
Au lieu de dire "la voiture rouge" :
➔ la rouge (the red one)
Au lieu de dire "les chaussures noires" :
➔ les noires (the black ones)
Au lieu de dire "les grands arbres" :
➔ les grands (the big ones)
Because these pronouns replace a noun entirely, the person you are talking to needs to know what object you are referring to! You would only use « Je prends la rouge » (I'll take the red one) if you are both already standing in front of the cars or apples you are discussing.