Demonstrative Pronouns
French: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 8.2.8
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.
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.
Cela continued
- Cela is also used as the thing having the action done to it.
- Qui a fait cela?
- Who did this?
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.
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.
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.
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
- 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.
Test yourself on Demonstrative Pronouns
How do you say 'the one behind my bed' in French?
How do you say 'the one who is sunbathing' in French?
How do you say 'the one that I want' in French?