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Demonstrative Pronouns

French: AQA A Level, topic 12.6.5

Ça, Cela

'Ça' and 'cela' are called indefinite demonstrative pronouns. They're used to replace a noun in a sentence. The replaced noun can be an idea or a situation or something unnamed.

Cela

Cela

  • 'Cela' can be used with every verb:
  • 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.
  • 'Cela' is also used as the thing having the action done to it.
  • Qui a fait cela ?
    • Who did this?
Ça

Ça

  • 'Ça' is used in the same way as 'cela', but it's the more informal version.
  • 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?

Celui - This One, That One

'Celui' is used for replacing masculine demonstrative adjectives and the nouns that follow them. 'Celui' cannot be used by itself. The three situations where 'celui' can be used are:

With '-ci-' or '-là' attached to it

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.
Followed by a prepositional phrase

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?
Followed by a relative pronoun

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.
  • Il n'y a de pire sourd que celui qui ne veut entendre.
    • There are none so deaf as those who will not hear.
  • Celui que vous voulez.
    • The one which you want.

Test yourself on Demonstrative Pronouns

  • How do you say 'It/this means' in French?

  • Which of the following is a correct use of 'celui'?

  • How do you say 'that one' in French?

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