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Demonstrative pronouns refer to a previously-mentioned noun in a sentence. There are two

kinds of demonstrative pronouns:variable demonstrative pronouns(celui,celle,ceux,celles)

which agree with their antecedent, and invariable demonstrative pronouns, which you'll

learn about in this lesson.

Invariable demonstrative pronouns, also called indefinite demonstrative pronouns or neuter

demonstrative pronouns, do not have a specific antecedent and thus do not have different

forms for gender and number. Indefinite demonstrative pronouns can refer to something

abstract, like an idea or a situation, or to something indicated but unnamed.

There are four indefinite demonstrative pronouns:

1.Ceis the impersonal, simple indefinite demonstrative pronoun. It can mean "this" or "it,"

and is used mainly with the verbtre,either in the basic expressionc'estor in

variousimpersonal expressions.

C'est une bonne ide !That's a good idea!

C'est difficile faire.It's hard to do.

C'est triste de perdre un ami.

It's sad to lose a friend.

tudier, c'est important.Studying is important.

Cemay also be followed bydevoirorpouvoir+tre.

Ce doit tre un bon restaurant.This must be a good restaurant.

Ce peut tre difficile.This might be difficult.

In a less common and more formal usage (especially inwritten French),cecan be used

without a verb:

J'ai travaill en Espagne, et ce en tant que bnvole.

I worked in Spain (and this) as a volunteer.

Elle l'a tu, et pour ce elle est condamne.

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She killed him, and therefore/for this she is condemned.

Note thatceis also ademonstrative adjective.

2-3.Ceciandcelaare used as the subject of all other verbs:

Ceci va tre facile.This is going to be easy.

Cela me fait plaisir.That makes me happy.

Ceciandcelaare used withpouvoirordevoirwhen those verbs are not followed bytre.

Ceci peut nous aider.This could help us.

Cela doit aller dans la cuisine.That has to go in the kitchen.

Ceciandcelacan also be direct and indirect objects:

Donnez-lui cela de ma part.

Give him this from me.

Qui a fait cela ?

Who did this?

Notes:

Ceciis the contraction ofce + ici(this + here), whilecelais the contraction ofce + l(this

+ there).

Ceciis rare in spoken French. Just aslcommonly replacesiciin spoken French (Je suisl- I'm here), French speakers tend to usecelato mean either "this" or "that."Cecionlyreally comes into play when one wants to really distinguish betweenthisandthat:

Je ne veux pas ceci, je veux cela.

I don't want this, I want that.

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4.ais theinformalreplacement for bothcelaandceci.

Donne-lui a de ma part.Give him this from me.

Qui a fait a ?Who did this?

a me fait plaisir.That makes me happy.

Qu'est-ce que c'est que a ?

What is that?

Je ne veux pas ceci(ora), je veux a.

I don't want this, I want that.

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