8.2.8

Demonstrative Pronouns

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Cela, Ça, Celui

Ça and cela are indefinite demonstrative pronouns. They are used to replace a noun in a sentence, it doesn't matter if the verb is masculine or feminine.

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Cela

  • 'Cela' is used with every verb apart from 'être'.
  • It can be used with 'pouvoir' or 'devoir' when they are NOT followed by 'être'.
    • Cela me fera plaisir de répondre à vos questions.
      • I would be happy to take your questions. (Literally: This will make me happy to answer your questions.)
    • Cela doit rester un secret.
      • This has to remain a secret.
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Cela continued

  • Cela is also used as the thing having the action done to it.
    • Qui a fait cela?
      • Who did this?
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Ça

  • 'Ça' is the more informal version of 'cela', it is used in the same way.
    • Ça me fera plaisir.
      • I would be happy to.
    • Ça devrait aller mieux demain.
      • That will be better tomorrow.
    • Qui a fait ça?
      • Who did that.
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Celui

  • 'Celui' is used for replacing masculine demonstrative adjectives and the noun that follows them.
  • It cannot be used by itself, it can be used on three occasions.
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With '-ci-' or '-là' attached to it

  • With '-ci' added to it, it means 'this one'. With '-là' added to it, it means 'that one'.
    • Quel garçon l'a fait, celui-ci ou celui-là?
      • Which boy did it, this one or that one?
    • Je ne sais pas si je veux celui-ci ou celui-là.
      • I don't know if I want this one or that one.
  • Note that if the noun being described is feminine, this becomes celle-ci and celle-là.
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Followed by a prepositional phrase

  • Usually, these begin with 'de'.
    • Quel film voulez-vous voir? Celui d'Espagne ou celui du Brésil?
      • Which film do you want to watch? The one from Spain or the one from Brazil?
    • Le seul vélo du village, c'était celui de mon frère.
      • The only bike in the village was the one belonging to my brother.
    • Lequel préférez-vous? Celui de droite ou celui de gauche?
      • Which do you prefer? The one on the right or the one on the left?
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Followed by a relative pronoun

  • They are used before 'dont', 'qui' and 'que'.
    • Celui dont c'est l'anniversaire.
      • The one whose birthday it is.
    • Celui que vous voulez.
      • The one which you want.

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1Home & Abroad

2Education & Employment

3Personal Life & Relationships

4The World Around Us

5Social Activities, Fitness & Health

6Common Tenses

7Advanced Tenses

8Extra Grammar

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