Bonjour! Are you interested in expanding your language skills and learning French? Whether it’s for travel, personal growth, or career advancement, learning a new language can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. In this article, we will explore the translations of some commonly used words in French, specifically “this, that, these, and those”.
In French, the translations for “this, that, these, and those” are as follows:
| English | French |
|---|---|
| This | Ceci / Ce |
| That | Cela / Ça |
| These | Ces |
| Those | Ces |
How Do You Pronounce The French Word For “This That These And Those”?
Learning a new language can be challenging, especially when it comes to pronunciation. One of the most basic words in any language is “this, that, these, and those.” In French, this word is pronounced as “ce, cela, ceux, and celles.”
Phonetic Breakdown
Here’s a phonetic breakdown of how to pronounce “ce, cela, ceux, and celles” in French:
| Word | Phonetic Spelling |
|---|---|
| Ce | suh |
| Cela | seh-lah |
| Ceux | suh |
| Celles | sell |
Tips For Pronunciation
Here are some tips to help you properly pronounce “ce, cela, ceux, and celles” in French:
- Practice makes perfect! Repeat the words over and over again until you feel confident in your pronunciation.
- Pay attention to the vowel sounds. French has many different vowel sounds, and it’s important to get them right in order to properly pronounce words.
- Listen to native French speakers. This can help you get a better understanding of how the words should sound.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you’re struggling with pronunciation, ask a French teacher or native speaker to help you out.
Proper Grammatical Use Of The French Word For “This That These And Those”
Understanding proper grammar when using the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” is crucial for effective communication in the language. Incorrect usage can lead to confusion and misinterpretation, which can hinder successful communication.
Placement Of The French Word For “This That These And Those” In Sentences
In French, the words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are demonstrative pronouns that can function as both adjectives and pronouns. They can be placed before the noun they modify or stand alone as a pronoun.
For example:
- Ce livre est intéressant. (This book is interesting.)
- J’aime celui-là. (I like that one.)
It’s important to note that the French language has different words for “this” and “that” depending on the proximity of the object being referred to. “This” is “ce” or “cet” for masculine singular nouns, “cette” for feminine singular nouns, and “ces” for plural nouns. “That” is “ce” or “cet” for masculine singular nouns, “cette” for feminine singular nouns, and “ces” for plural nouns.
Verb Conjugations Or Tenses
The French word for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” does not change depending on the verb conjugation or tense being used. However, the verb being used must agree with the noun it is modifying in terms of gender and number.
For example:
- Ce livre est intéressant. (This book is interesting.)
- Ces livres sont intéressants. (These books are interesting.)
Agreement With Gender And Number
The French language has different forms of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” depending on the gender and number of the noun being modified. For masculine singular nouns, “this” is “ce” or “cet,” and “that” is “ce” or “cet.” For feminine singular nouns, “this” is “cette,” and “that” is “cette.” For plural nouns, “this” is “ces,” and “that” is “ces.”
It’s important to note that the French language has different words for “this” and “that” depending on the proximity of the object being referred to. “This” is “ce” or “cet” for masculine singular nouns, “cette” for feminine singular nouns, and “ces” for plural nouns. “That” is “ce” or “cet” for masculine singular nouns, “cette” for feminine singular nouns, and “ces” for plural nouns.
Common Exceptions
One common exception to note is when “ce” is used as a pronoun to mean “it” or “this.” In this case, “ce” is always masculine singular, regardless of the gender or number of the noun being referred to.
For example:
- Ce livre est intéressant. Je l’aime beaucoup. (This book is interesting. I like it a lot.)
- Cette maison est belle. Je l’aime beaucoup. (This house is beautiful. I like it a lot.)
Examples Of Phrases Using The French Word For “This That These And Those”
When learning a new language, it’s important to familiarize oneself with common phrases that are used in everyday conversation. In French, the words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are essential to know. Here are some examples of how these words are used in sentences:
Examples:
- Ce livre est intéressant. (This book is interesting.)
- Cette robe est jolie. (This dress is pretty.)
- Cet homme est mon ami. (This man is my friend.)
- Ces chaussures sont confortables. (These shoes are comfortable.)
- Cette voiture est rapide. (That car is fast.)
- Cet avion est grand. (That plane is big.)
- Ces fleurs sont belles. (Those flowers are beautiful.)
- Ces livres sont intéressants. (Those books are interesting.)
As you can see, the French word for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” changes depending on the gender and number of the noun it is referring to. It’s important to pay attention to these details when speaking French.
Example Dialogue:
| French | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ce livre est à moi. | This book is mine. |
| Je préfère cette robe-là. | I prefer that dress over there. |
| Cette chaise est confortable. | This chair is comfortable. |
| Ces fleurs sont pour toi. | These flowers are for you. |
In this dialogue, you can see how the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are used in context. It’s important to practice using these words in sentences and conversations to become more comfortable with them.
More Contextual Uses Of The French Word For “This That These And Those”
Understanding the different contexts in which the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are used is crucial to mastering the language. Here are some of the varying contexts:
Formal Usage
Formal usage of the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” is typically straightforward. In formal situations, the words are used in their standard forms:
- ce (masculine singular)
- cette (feminine singular)
- ces (plural)
For example, in a formal setting, you might say:
“Ce livre est intéressant.” (This book is interesting.)
Informal Usage
Informal usage of the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” can vary depending on the region and the social group. Informal usage may involve the use of slang or idiomatic expressions.
For example, in some regions of France, “ce” can be replaced with “ça” in informal situations:
“Ça livre est intéressant.” (This book is interesting.)
Other Contexts
Other contexts in which the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are used include slang, idiomatic expressions, and cultural/historical uses.
For example, the phrase “ce n’est pas mon truc” (literally, “this is not my thing”) is a common French idiom used to express disinterest or dislike for something.
Popular Cultural Usage
One popular cultural usage of the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” is in the title of the classic French novel “Les Misérables” by Victor Hugo. The title translates to “The Miserable Ones” or “The Wretched Ones,” with “les” being the French word for “the” and “misérables” being the plural form of “misérable.”
Regional Variations Of The French Word For “This That These And Those”
French is a language spoken in many countries around the world, including France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and several African countries. As with any language, there are regional variations in how words are used and pronounced. The French word for “this that these and those” is no exception.
Usage In Different French-speaking Countries
In France, the word for “this” is “ce” and the word for “that” is “cette”. In Quebec, Canada, the word for “this” is “ceci” and the word for “that” is “cela”. In Switzerland, the word for “this” is “ce” and the word for “that” is “cette”. In Belgium, the word for “this” is “ceci” and the word for “that” is “cela”. In African countries such as Senegal, the word for “this” is “ci” and the word for “that” is “ça”.
Regional Pronunciations
In addition to variations in usage, there are also regional differences in how the French word for “this that these and those” is pronounced. For example, in Quebec, the word “ceci” is pronounced with a short “e” sound, while in France, it is pronounced with a long “e” sound. Similarly, in some African countries, the word “ci” is pronounced with a soft “s” sound, while in others, it is pronounced with a hard “ch” sound.
| Country/Region | This | That |
|---|---|---|
| France | ce | cette |
| Quebec, Canada | ceci | cela |
| Switzerland | ce | cette |
| Belgium | ceci | cela |
| African countries | ci | ça |
It’s important to keep in mind that these regional variations may not be understood by speakers from other regions. If you’re traveling to a French-speaking country, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the local usage and pronunciation of the word for “this that these and those” to avoid any misunderstandings.
Other Uses Of The French Word For “This That These And Those” In Speaking & Writing
While the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” are commonly used to refer to specific objects or people, they can also have other meanings depending on the context in which they are used. Understanding these different uses is essential for effective communication in French.
Distinguishing Between Uses
One of the most important things to keep in mind when using the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” is that they can function as both pronouns and adjectives. As pronouns, they stand in for a previously mentioned noun, while as adjectives, they modify a noun directly.
Here are some examples of how these words can be used in different contexts:
- As Pronouns: When used as pronouns, these words can refer to an object or person that has already been introduced in the conversation. For example, “Je préfère cette robe” (“I prefer this dress”) would be used if the dress in question had already been mentioned.
- As Adjectives: When used as adjectives, these words directly modify a noun. For example, “Cette robe est belle” (“This dress is beautiful”) would be used to describe a dress that is currently visible.
- As Demonstrative Pronouns: In some cases, these words can also be used as demonstrative pronouns to indicate a particular object or person. For example, “Je veux celui-ci” (“I want this one”) would be used to indicate a specific item.
- As Demonstrative Adjectives: Finally, these words can also function as demonstrative adjectives to indicate the proximity of an object or person. For example, “Je préfère ces chaussures” (“I prefer these shoes”) would be used to indicate shoes that are closer to the speaker than other shoes.
By understanding these different uses of the French words for “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” you can communicate more effectively in French and avoid confusion in your conversations and writing.
Common Words And Phrases Similar To The French Word For “This That These And Those”
Synonyms And Related Terms
When it comes to referring to objects or people in French, there are several words and phrases that can be used interchangeably with “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” Some common synonyms or related terms include:
- Ce
- Cette
- Ceci
- Cela
- Ça
- Ceux-ci
- Celles-ci
- Ceux-là
- Celles-là
The use of these words will depend on the gender and number of the object or person being referred to. For example, “ce” and “cette” are used for singular masculine and feminine nouns, respectively, while “ceux-ci” and “celles-ci” are used for plural masculine and feminine nouns that are close to the speaker.
Usage Differences And Similarities
While these words and phrases are similar to “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” they are not always interchangeable. For example, “ceci” and “cela” are used to refer to something that has just been mentioned or is about to be mentioned, while “ce” and “cette” are used to refer to something that is physically close to the speaker.
Similarly, “çà” is a more informal variation of “cela” and is often used in spoken French, while “ceux-là” and “celles-là” are used for plural masculine and feminine nouns that are far from the speaker.
Antonyms
The antonyms of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” in French are “not this,” “not that,” “not these,” and “not those,” which can be expressed using the words “ce n’est pas,” “ça n’est pas,” “ce ne sont pas,” and “ça ne sont pas.” These phrases are often used to indicate a negative response or to clarify that something is not being referred to.
Mistakes To Avoid When Using The French Word For “This That These And Those”
When learning a new language, it’s common to make mistakes. French is no exception. One area where non-native speakers tend to struggle is the use of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those.” In this section, we’ll highlight some of the most common mistakes and provide tips to help you avoid them.
Common Errors
One of the most common mistakes when using “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” in French is using the wrong gender. In French, every noun has a gender – either masculine or feminine. When using “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” you need to match the gender of the noun you’re referring to. For example:
- To say “this book” in French, you would say “ce livre” if the book is masculine and “cette livre” if the book is feminine.
- To say “that car” in French, you would say “cette voiture” if the car is feminine and “ce voiture” if the car is masculine.
Another common mistake is using the wrong form of the word. In French, the form of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” changes depending on whether the noun is singular or plural. For example:
- To say “these books” in French, you would say “ces livres” if the books are masculine and “ces livres-ci” if the books are feminine.
- To say “those cars” in French, you would say “ces voitures” if the cars are feminine and “ces voitures-là” if the cars are masculine.
Tips To Avoid Mistakes
To avoid these mistakes, it’s important to practice and memorize the gender of nouns. You can also use a French dictionary or language app to check the gender of a noun before using “this,” “that,” “these,” or “those” with it. Additionally, make sure to learn the correct form of “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” for singular and plural nouns.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have explored the French words for this, that, these, and those. We have learned that the French language has different words for each of these pronouns, depending on the gender and number of the noun they refer to. We have also discussed the different contexts in which these pronouns are used, such as in proximity, time, and figurative expressions.
We have seen that the French word for this is ce for masculine singular nouns, cette for feminine singular nouns, and ces for plural nouns. The French word for that is ce or cette when used in a figurative sense, and ce or cela when used in a temporal sense. The French word for these is ces for all plural nouns, while the French word for those is ces or ceux when used in a figurative sense, and ceux-là when used in a temporal sense.
Encouragement To Practice
Learning a new language can be challenging, but with practice and perseverance, it is possible to become fluent. We encourage you to practice using the French words for this, that, these, and those in real-life conversations. Whether you are traveling to France, speaking with a French-speaking friend, or simply practicing on your own, using these words correctly will help you communicate more effectively and confidently in French.
Remember to pay attention to the gender and number of the noun being referred to, and to use the appropriate form of the pronoun. With practice, you will become more comfortable using these words and will be able to incorporate them seamlessly into your French conversations.
