ces

The French word ces is a plural demonstrative adjective, which translates to both 'these' and 'those' in English. In the French linguistic system, demonstrative adjectives are used to point out specific people, animals, or objects that are either physically present in the environment or have been previously mentioned in a conversation or text. Unlike English, which makes a mandatory distinction between things that are near ('these') and things that are far ('those'), French uses the single word ces to cover both spatial relationships. This makes it a versatile and essential tool for any beginner learner. However, this simplicity comes with a specific grammatical requirement: ces must always precede a plural noun. It acts as a determiner, signaling to the listener that the noun following it is plural and specific.

Grammatical Function

As a demonstrative determiner, 'ces' replaces articles like 'les' or 'des' to provide specific pointing information. It agrees in number with the noun it modifies but, uniquely, it does not change for gender. Whether the noun is masculine plural or feminine plural, 'ces' remains the same.

One of the most important aspects of using ces is understanding its phonetic behavior. In French, the final 's' of ces is generally silent when the following word begins with a consonant. However, when the following word begins with a vowel or a mute 'h', a mandatory liaison occurs. This means the 's' is pronounced as a voiced [z] sound, linking the two words together. For example, in 'ces livres' (these books), the 's' is silent: [se livʁ]. In contrast, in 'ces amis' (these friends), the 's' is pronounced: [se.za.mi]. This phonetic rule is crucial for sounding natural and being understood by native speakers.

In everyday communication, people use ces in a variety of contexts. It is used in shopping to point out items ('Je voudrais ces chaussures'), in storytelling to refer back to characters or events ('Ces hommes étaient courageux'), and in academic or professional settings to refer to data or concepts ('Ces résultats suggèrent que...'). Because French does not naturally distinguish between 'these' and 'those' with ces alone, speakers sometimes add the suffixes '-ci' (here) or '-là' (there) to the noun to clarify distance. For instance, 'ces livres-ci' means 'these books here,' while 'ces livres-là' means 'those books there.' However, in modern spoken French, '-là' is often used for both proximity and distance, or the distinction is simply left to context and gestures.

Spatial Deixis

In linguistics, 'ces' performs what is called 'deixis,' meaning its meaning depends on the physical context of the speaker. It helps anchor the conversation in the physical world.

Furthermore, ces is frequently used in temporal expressions to refer to periods of time. 'Ces derniers jours' translates to 'these last few days,' and 'ces temps-ci' means 'these days' or 'lately.' In these cases, the word helps to define a specific window of time that is relevant to the current moment. Understanding the versatility of ces is a major step toward achieving fluency in French, as it appears in almost every type of discourse, from the most informal chat to the most formal legal document.

Temporal Usage

When used with time-related nouns like 'jours', 'mois', or 'années', 'ces' helps specify a period relative to the present moment.

Using ces correctly in a sentence requires a solid understanding of French noun phrases. The most fundamental rule is that ces is the plural form for all demonstrative adjectives. While the singular forms distinguish between masculine (ce/cet) and feminine (cette), the plural form ces is gender-neutral. This means you do not need to worry about whether the noun is masculine or feminine when you are dealing with more than one item. For example, 'un livre' (masculine) becomes 'ces livres,' and 'une table' (feminine) becomes 'ces tables.' This simplification is a relief for many learners who struggle with French gender agreement.

The Agreement Rule

'Ces' must always match the plural number of the noun it modifies. It acts as a plural marker for the entire noun phrase.

In terms of sentence structure, ces typically occupies the first position in a noun phrase, appearing before any adjectives that might also modify the noun. For instance, if you want to say 'these beautiful red flowers,' you would say 'ces belles fleurs rouges.' Note how 'ces' comes first, followed by the adjective 'belles,' then the noun 'fleurs,' and finally the adjective 'rouges.' This order is standard in French, where demonstrative adjectives take precedence in the hierarchy of determiners. You cannot use 'ces' alongside other determiners like 'les' or 'mes'; it replaces them entirely to provide a specific demonstrative meaning.

A common challenge for English speakers is the lack of a built-in distinction between 'these' and 'those.' In English, we use 'these' for things close to us and 'those' for things further away. In French, ces covers both. If the distinction is absolutely necessary for clarity, French speakers use the suffixes '-ci' and '-là.' These are attached to the noun with a hyphen. 'Ces pommes-ci' means 'these apples (here),' and 'ces pommes-là' means 'those apples (there).' This is particularly useful when comparing two sets of objects. For example, 'Je préfère ces gâteaux-ci à ces gâteaux-là' (I prefer these cakes to those cakes). Without these suffixes, the listener relies on the speaker's gestures or the context of the conversation to know which objects are being referred to.

Comparison and Contrast

Using '-ci' and '-là' allows for precise comparison between two groups of items, mirroring the English 'this/that' or 'these/those' distinction.

Another important usage of ces is in the construction of relative clauses. It is often used to introduce a group of people or things that will be further described by a 'qui' or 'que' clause. For example, 'Ces étudiants qui travaillent dur réussiront' (Those students who work hard will succeed). In this context, ces helps to isolate a specific group from a larger population. It is also used in exclamatory sentences to express strong emotion or emphasis, such as 'Ces paysages sont incroyables !' (These landscapes are incredible!). In such cases, ces serves to intensify the speaker's admiration or surprise by focusing the listener's attention on the specific subject at hand.

Exclamatory Use

In exclamations, 'ces' adds emphasis to the noun phrase, often conveying the speaker's emotional reaction to the objects being pointed out.

The word ces is omnipresent in the French-speaking world, from the bustling streets of Paris to the quiet villages of Quebec. You will hear it most frequently in situations where people are interacting with their physical environment. For example, if you are at a French market, you will hear customers pointing at produce and saying, 'Je vais prendre ces tomates' (I'll take these tomatoes) or 'Combien coûtent ces melons ?' (How much are these melons?). In this context, ces is often accompanied by a physical gesture, such as pointing or touching the item, which clarifies exactly which objects the speaker is referring to.

In the Marketplace

In commercial settings, 'ces' is the go-to word for identifying specific merchandise. It is essential for shopping and ordering food.

Beyond the physical world, ces is a staple of French media and news. On the radio or television, news anchors frequently use ces to refer to ongoing events or specific groups of people mentioned in a report. You might hear, 'Ces mesures entreront en vigueur demain' (These measures will take effect tomorrow) or 'Ces manifestants demandent des changements' (These protesters are demanding changes). In these instances, ces serves as a cohesive device, linking the current sentence to the broader context of the news story. It assumes that the listener is already aware of the measures or protesters being discussed.

In social gatherings and casual conversations, ces is used to discuss shared experiences or mutual acquaintances. Friends might talk about 'ces vacances incroyables' (those incredible holidays) they took together or 'ces gens que nous avons rencontrés hier' (those people we met yesterday). In these cases, ces evokes a shared memory or a specific reference point that both the speaker and the listener understand. It creates a sense of proximity and shared understanding, making the conversation feel more intimate and connected.

In Literature and Song

French literature and music are filled with 'ces'. It is often used poetically to evoke specific images or feelings, such as in the famous song 'Ces gens-là' by Jacques Brel.

Furthermore, you will encounter ces in many common French idioms and set phrases. For example, 'par ces temps qui courent' (in these times / nowadays) is a very common way to begin a sentence about current social or economic conditions. Similarly, 'en ces termes' (in these terms) is used in formal writing or legal contexts to refer to the specific wording of a statement or contract. These phrases are so common that they are often learned as single units of meaning. Hearing ces in these fixed expressions helps learners recognize the word's role in structuring formal and idiomatic French.

Professional Settings

In business meetings, 'ces' is used to refer to specific data points or strategy elements: 'Ces objectifs sont prioritaires pour le trimestre.'

One of the most frequent and persistent mistakes for learners of French involves the confusion between ces and its homophones. In French, several words sound exactly the same as ces but have completely different meanings and grammatical functions. The most common confusion is with ses, which is the plural possessive adjective meaning 'his,' 'her,' or 'its.' For example, 'ses livres' means 'his/her books,' while 'ces livres' means 'these/those books.' Because they are pronounced identically ([se]), learners often mix them up in writing. To avoid this, always ask yourself: am I pointing at something (ces), or am I talking about something that belongs to someone (ses)?

The 'Ces' vs 'Ses' Trap

'Ces' is demonstrative (pointing). 'Ses' is possessive (ownership). They sound the same, so context and intent are your only guides when listening.

Another common homophone that causes trouble is c'est, which means 'it is.' While c'est is a contraction of the pronoun 'ce' and the verb 'est,' it sounds exactly like ces. However, c'est is followed by a singular noun or an adjective, whereas ces must be followed by a plural noun. For instance, 'C'est un livre' (It is a book) vs. 'Ces livres' (These books). A slightly more advanced confusion occurs with s'est, which is part of a pronominal verb in the past tense (e.g., 'il s'est lavé' - he washed himself). Again, the pronunciation is the same, but the grammatical context is entirely different. Recognizing these differences is a key part of mastering French orthography.

Learners also frequently forget the mandatory liaison when ces is followed by a vowel. Failing to pronounce the [z] sound in 'ces enfants' ([se.zɑ̃.fɑ̃]) or 'ces idées' ([se.zi.de]) can make your French sound choppy and harder for native speakers to process. Conversely, some learners overcorrect and try to pronounce the 's' as an [s] sound or pronounce it even when a consonant follows. Remember: 'ces' + consonant = [se]; 'ces' + vowel = [se.z]. Practicing these transitions is essential for developing a natural-sounding French accent.

Gender Confusion

While 'ces' is gender-neutral, learners sometimes mistakenly try to create a feminine plural form like 'cettes'. This word does not exist in French. 'Ces' is the only plural demonstrative adjective.

Finally, English speakers often struggle with the lack of distinction between 'these' and 'those.' They may feel the need to always add '-ci' or '-là' to every noun modified by ces. While these suffixes are useful for clarity, they are not always necessary and can make your speech sound overly formal or repetitive if used too much. In most cases, context and gestures are sufficient. Use '-ci' and '-là' primarily when you are contrasting two different groups of things or when the physical distance is a crucial piece of information for the listener.

Overuse of Suffixes

Avoid adding '-ci' or '-là' to every single use of 'ces'. Native speakers only use them when a specific distinction is required for clarity.

While ces is the primary plural demonstrative adjective, there are several other words that perform similar functions or can be used as alternatives depending on the level of specificity or formality required. The most direct relatives are the singular demonstrative adjectives: ce (masculine), cet (masculine before a vowel), and cette (feminine). Understanding the relationship between these singular forms and the plural ces is fundamental for mastering French determiners. While the singular forms require you to know the gender of the noun, ces acts as a unifying plural form that eliminates gender distinction.

Ces vs Les

'Les' is the definite article (the), used for general or previously identified plurals. 'Ces' is more specific, used for pointing out specific items in the immediate context.

Another set of related words are the demonstrative pronouns: ceux (masculine plural) and celles (feminine plural). Unlike ces, which must be followed by a noun, these pronouns replace the noun entirely. For example, instead of saying 'ces livres,' you might say 'ceux que j'ai lus' (the ones I read). These pronouns are often used with '-ci' and '-là' (ceux-ci, ceux-là) to mean 'these ones' and 'those ones.' Using demonstrative pronouns is a more advanced skill that allows for more concise and sophisticated sentence structures, avoiding the repetition of the noun.

In more formal or literary contexts, you might encounter the word lesdits (the said) or lesquels (which ones). These are much more specific and are typically found in legal documents or high-level academic writing. For the average learner, ces remains the most practical and common choice. Additionally, words like certains (some) or plusieurs (several) can sometimes serve as alternatives if you want to be less specific about which items you are pointing out. For example, 'Certains étudiants' (Some students) vs. 'Ces étudiants' (These students). The choice depends on whether you are pointing to a specific, known group or a more general, indefinite one.

Ces vs Des

'Des' is indefinite (some). 'Ces' is definite and demonstrative. 'Je vois des chiens' (I see some dogs) vs 'Je vois ces chiens' (I see these specific dogs).

Finally, it is worth noting the difference between ces and the possessive adjectives like mes (my), tes (your), and nos (our). While they all occupy the same position in the noun phrase, they convey different types of information. Ces is about location and identification, while possessives are about ownership. In some cases, you might use 'ces' to distance yourself from something, as in 'ces problèmes' (those problems), implying they are not yours. Understanding these nuances helps you choose the right word to convey your exact meaning and attitude toward the subject you are discussing.

Nuance of Distance

Using 'ces' instead of 'mes' can sometimes create a psychological distance, suggesting that the objects are external to the speaker's personal sphere.