French Demonstrative Pronouns: 'This one' and 'That one' (Celui, Celle)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'celui' or 'celle' to replace a noun and avoid repetition, matching the gender and number of the original noun.
- Use 'celui' for masculine singular nouns: 'Quel livre veux-tu ? Celui-ci.'
- Use 'celle' for feminine singular nouns: 'Quelle voiture ? Celle-là.'
- Add '-ci' (here) or '-là' (there) to specify proximity or distance.
Overview
Demonstrative pronouns in French, specifically celui, celle, ceux, and celles, serve to replace a noun that has already been mentioned or is clearly understood from context. Their primary function is to avoid repetition, much like "the one," "this one," or "that one" in English. However, a crucial distinction in French is that these pronouns never stand alone.
They must always be accompanied by a qualifier that specifies which "one" is being referred to. This qualifier can be a suffix (-ci, -là), a prepositional phrase (de + nom), or a relative clause (qui, que, dont, où).
These pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they replace. Understanding and correctly applying celui, celle, ceux, and celles is fundamental for achieving fluency at the B1 CEFR level, as it allows for more sophisticated sentence structures and avoids the awkwardness of repeating nouns. The dependency on a qualifier reflects a core linguistic principle in French: precision in reference.
You are not just saying "the one"; you are saying "the one here," "the one there," "the one of this person," or "the one that does/is something."
J'ai deux livres. Je préfère celui qui a la couverture rouge.(I have two books. I prefer the one that has the red cover.)Parmi ces voitures, celle-là est trop chère.(Among these cars, that one is too expensive.)
How This Grammar Works
celui, celle, ceux, celles) function as anaphoric devices, meaning they refer back to an antecedent (a previously mentioned noun or concept). This anaphoric nature is why they cannot appear in isolation; their meaning is derived from what precedes them. Their inherent vagueness, if unqualified, would lead to ambiguity, which the French language tends to avoid in such constructions.celui (masculine singular), celle (feminine singular), ceux (masculine plural), celles (feminine plural). This ensures clarity regarding the gender and number of the noun being replaced. When referring to a mixed group of masculine and feminine nouns, the masculine plural form ceux is conventionally used, reflecting the grammatical rule that the masculine plural encompasses mixed genders in French.Cette robe est plus belle que celle que tu as achetée. Here, celle replaces robe (feminine singular), and the relative clause que tu as achetée specifies which dress. Without this clause, celle would be incomplete. This system allows for conciseness while maintaining full referential clarity.Cette robe est plus belle que la robe que tu as achetée.Les films d'action sont souvent plus bruyants que ceux de science-fiction.(Action films are often noisier than those of science fiction.)Ma raquette de tennis est neuve, mais celle de mon frère est ancienne.(My tennis racket is new, but my brother's one is old.)
Formation Pattern
celui | Masculine Singular |
celle | Feminine Singular |
ceux | Masculine Plural |
celles| Feminine Plural |
-ci, -là): These suffixes indicate proximity (-ci, "this one here") or distance (-là, "that one there"). The hyphen is mandatory.
celui-ci, celui-là
celle-ci, celle-là
ceux-ci, ceux-là
celles-ci, celles-là
-là is very frequently used to refer to both near and far objects, often losing its strict sense of distance. Celui-là has become a common default for "that one" or simply "the one."
de + Noun/Pronoun: This construction indicates possession, origin, or a specific characteristic, functioning similarly to an English possessive ('s) or "the one of."
celui de Pierre (Pierre's one)
celle de ma mère (my mother's one)
ceux des voisins (the neighbours' ones)
celles du bureau (the office's ones)
qui, que, dont, où): This is used to introduce a descriptive clause that specifies the noun being replaced. This is particularly useful for complex descriptions.
celui qui chante (the one who sings)
celle que tu as vue (the one you saw)
ceux dont je parle (the ones I'm talking about)
celles où nous sommes allés (the ones where we went)
qui introduces a subject clause (the one who does the action), while que introduces an object clause (the one that receives the action).
celle [sɛl] and celles [sɛl] sound identical, their context in a sentence, particularly in writing, distinguishes them. Ceux [sø] involves a rounded vowel. Liaisons are crucial; for example, ceux followed by a vowel or mute h will often trigger a liaison: ceux amis (incorrect), but ceux-ci ont raison (liaison between x and o in ont).
When To Use It
- 1To Distinguish Between Two or More Items (with
-ciand-là):
-ci (closer, "this one") and -là (further, "that one") provide a clear contrast.Regardez ces deux tableaux. Celui-ci est abstrait, celui-là est figuratif.(Look at these two paintings. This one is abstract, that one is figurative.)Entre ces deux options, je préfère celle-ci pour le moment.(Between these two options, I prefer this one for the moment.)
celui-là is commonly used as a general demonstrative in spoken French, using both -ci and -là demonstrates precise language. For example, Tu préfères ce chapeau-ci ou ce chapeau-là ? Je préfère celui-ci.- 1To Indicate Possession or Association (with
de+ Noun/Pronoun):
Mon opinion est différente de celle de mes collègues.(My opinion is different from that of my colleagues / my colleagues'.)Les problèmes de l'entreprise sont plus complexes que ceux du marché.(The company's problems are more complex than those of the market.)Sa voiture est plus rapide que celle de son frère.(His car is faster than his brother's.)
que l'opinion de mes collègues or que la voiture de son frère, making sentences more fluid.- 1To Introduce a Qualifying Relative Clause (with
qui,que,dont,où):
Je ne connais pas les personnes qui sont arrivées en premier, seulement celles que j'ai vues après.(I don't know the people who arrived first, only the ones whom I saw afterward.)Parmi les propositions, celle qui me semble la plus pertinente est la tienne.(Among the proposals, the one that seems most relevant to me is yours.)Ceux dont la maison est vendue partiront bientôt.(Those whose house is sold will leave soon.)
Common Mistakes
- 1The "Lonely Pronoun" (Absence of Qualifier): This is arguably the most frequent and significant error. Unlike English "this one" or "that one" which can often stand alone, French
celui,celle,ceux,cellesmust be accompanied by a distinguishing element (-ci,-là,de + nom, or a relative clause). A sentence like*J'aime celui.is grammatically incorrect and sounds unnatural to a native speaker because it lacks specificity.
- Incorrect:
*Je prends celle. - Correct:
Je prends celle-ci.(I'll take this one.) orJe prends celle qui est à droite.(I'll take the one that's on the right.)
- 1Gender and Number Disagreement: Mismatching the demonstrative pronoun's gender or number with its antecedent is another common mistake. If the noun being replaced is
la table(feminine singular), usingcelui(masculine singular) would be incorrect.
- Incorrect:
*J'ai lu deux études. Celui de l'université est plus récent.(Referring toétudes, feminine plural). - Correct:
J'ai lu deux études. Celle de l'université est plus récente.(I read two studies. The one from the university is more recent.)
- 1Confusion with Demonstrative Adjectives (
ce,cet,cette,ces): Demonstrative adjectives precede a noun and agree with it (ce livre,cette idée). Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun entirely. They cannot be used interchangeably.
Ce problème est complexe.(ceis an adjective, modifyingproblème.)Celui que nous avons discuté hier est complexe.(celuiis a pronoun, replacing a noun likeproblèmeand qualified byque nous avons discuté hier.)
- 1Confusion with Indefinite Demonstrative Pronouns (
ceci,cela,ça): These pronouns refer to abstract ideas, situations, or unspecified things. They are neutral and do not agree in gender or number.Celui,celle,ceux,cellesalways refer to specific, identifiable nouns.
Ça, c'est intéressant.(Refers to a general situation or idea.)Celle de ses propositions est intéressante.(Refers to a specific, identifiable proposition.)
celui-là when you mean ça (e.g., *Celui-là est difficile. for an abstract concept) is incorrect.- 1Incorrect Choice of Relative Pronoun (
quivs.que): While not exclusive to demonstrative pronouns, incorrect use ofqui(subject) andque(direct object) is a common error in clauses followingcelui.
- Incorrect:
*Celui que a parlé était mon professeur.(Needsquibecause it's the subject ofa parlé.) - Correct:
Celui qui a parlé était mon professeur.(The one who spoke was my teacher.) - Incorrect:
*Celle qui tu as vu hier est ma sœur.(Needsquebecausetuis the subject ofas vuandcelleis the direct object.) - Correct:
Celle que tu as vue hier est ma sœur.(The one whom you saw yesterday is my sister.)
Real Conversations
In everyday French, demonstrative pronouns are indispensable for natural, concise communication. Their usage extends across various registers, from casual chat to formal discourse.
1. Casual Dialogue & Shopping:
When discussing options, choosing items, or making comparisons, demonstrative pronouns appear frequently. The suffix -là is dominant in spoken French for both proximity and distance, often used reflexively even when -ci might be grammatically more precise for a closer object.
- At a market:
- Ce pull-là est joli. Et celui-ci? (That sweater is nice. And this one?)
- Je préfère celle-là, la couleur est plus vive. (I prefer that one, the color is more vibrant.)
- Discussing plans:
- Tu viens à la fête de ce soir ou à celle de demain? (Are you coming to tonight's party or tomorrow's one?)
2. Professional & Academic Contexts:
While informal usage often favors -là, formal writing and speech maintain a clearer distinction between -ci and -là for emphasis. They are crucial for analytical discourse, comparative statements, and avoiding ambiguity in complex sentences.
- In a business meeting:
- Notre proposition est plus audacieuse que celle de nos concurrents. (Our proposal is bolder than that of our competitors.)
- Regardons les données de 2024 et comparons-les avec celles de 2023. (Let's look at the 2024 data and compare it with that of 2023.)
- In an academic discussion:
- L'hypothèse A est plus étayée que celle qui a été avancée dans l'étude B. (Hypothesis A is better supported than the one that was put forward in study B.)
3. Social Media & Digital Communication:
Even in informal digital spaces, these pronouns maintain their function, often in succinct forms.
- Ceux qui ont vu le film, qu'en pensez-vous ? (Those who saw the movie, what do you think?)
- J'adore cette photo ! Celle-là, c'est ma préférée. (I love this photo! That one is my favourite.)
These examples illustrate that demonstrative pronouns are not merely textbook constructions but active components of daily French, enabling efficient and precise communication across all registers. The key is always their role in replacing a specific noun that is either explicit or implicit in the discourse.
Quick FAQ
- Can
celui(orcelle,ceux,celles) be used alone without any qualifier?
-ci, -là, a de phrase, or a relative clause (qui, que, dont, où). Without one of these, the pronoun is incomplete and ungrammatical.- Is there a neutral version of these demonstrative pronouns?
ce, ceci, cela, or ça. For example, Ça, c'est génial ! (That's great!).- Do
ceuxandcellesalways refer to people?
Ceux and celles refer to any plural noun, whether it's people, objects, or abstract concepts, provided the noun has been previously established. For example, Mes chaussures sont usées, je dois acheter de nouvelles celles. (My shoes are worn out, I need to buy new ones.) (Note: In this case, celles would be replaced by de nouvelles paires or de nouvelles chaussures for better style, but celles is grammatically possible if contextually clear).- Is
celui-làmore common thancelui-ciin spoken French?
celui-là (and its feminine/plural forms) is often used as a general demonstrative, even when the object is close to the speaker. The distinction between -ci and -là for proximity and distance is typically reserved for instances where a clear contrast is intended.- Can
celuiand its forms refer to people?
Je connais celui qui habite ici. (I know the one who lives here.) or Les étudiants ceux qui travaillent seront récompensés. (The students, those who work, will be rewarded).- How do I say "mine," "yours," etc., using these pronouns?
le mien, la tienne, les siens, etc. While theoretically celui de moi could exist, it is rarely used and sounds awkward; le mien is always preferred.Mon livre est sur la table. Où est le tien? (My book is on the table. Where is yours?)- Do I need a hyphen when using
de(e.g.,celui devs.celui-de)?
-ci and -là. When de introduces a complement, it stands separately: celui de mon père, celle des artistes.- Are these pronouns used in formal writing?
Demonstrative Pronoun Grid
| Gender/Number | Base Form | With -ci (this one) | With -là (that one) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Masc. Sing.
|
celui
|
celui-ci
|
celui-là
|
|
Fem. Sing.
|
celle
|
celle-ci
|
celle-là
|
|
Masc. Plural
|
ceux
|
ceux-ci
|
ceux-là
|
|
Fem. Plural
|
celles
|
celles-ci
|
celles-là
|
Meanings
Demonstrative pronouns replace a previously mentioned noun to avoid repetition, functioning like 'the one' in English.
Replacement
Replacing a noun to avoid repetition
“Mon sac est vieux, celui de Marie est neuf.”
“Ces fleurs sont belles, celles-ci sont fanées.”
Proximity
Distinguishing between two items
“Je veux celui-ci, pas celui-là.”
“Regarde ces chaussures, celles-ci sont plus confortables.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + -ci/-là
|
Je prends celui-ci.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + verb + pas + pronoun
|
Je ne veux pas celui-là.
|
|
Question
|
Pronoun + verb + subject
|
Est-ce celui-ci que tu veux ?
|
|
Comparison
|
Pronoun + de + noun
|
Celui de Marie est mieux.
|
|
Relative
|
Pronoun + qui/que
|
Celui qui rit le dernier.
|
|
Short Answer
|
Pronoun
|
Celui-ci.
|
Formality Spectrum
Je souhaiterais acquérir celui-là. (Shopping)
Je veux celui-là. (Shopping)
Je prends celui-là. (Shopping)
Je prends ça. (Shopping)
Demonstrative Pronoun Map
Singular
- celui masc. one
- celle fem. one
Plural
- ceux masc. ones
- celles fem. ones
Examples by Level
Je veux celui-ci.
I want this one.
Celle-là est belle.
That one is beautiful.
Tu aimes celui-ci ?
Do you like this one?
Je prends celle-ci.
I'll take this one.
Mon vélo est rouge, celui de Paul est bleu.
My bike is red, Paul's is blue.
Tu préfères ces pommes ou celles-ci ?
Do you prefer these apples or these ones?
Ce livre est génial, celui-là est ennuyeux.
This book is great, that one is boring.
J'aime ces fleurs, surtout celles-là.
I like these flowers, especially those ones.
Celui qui travaille bien réussit.
The one who works well succeeds.
Je cherche les clés, celles de la voiture.
I'm looking for the keys, the car ones.
Ceux qui sont prêts peuvent partir.
Those who are ready can leave.
Parmi ces options, je choisis celle que tu as proposée.
Among these options, I choose the one you proposed.
Les opinions de cet auteur sont plus intéressantes que celles de son rival.
This author's opinions are more interesting than those of his rival.
Celui dont je t'ai parlé est arrivé.
The one I told you about has arrived.
Ceux-ci sont à vendre, ceux-là sont réservés.
These are for sale, those are reserved.
Celle à qui j'ai écrit ne m'a pas répondu.
The one to whom I wrote hasn't replied.
Il faut distinguer les faits de ceux qui ne sont que des suppositions.
One must distinguish facts from those that are only assumptions.
Celles-ci, bien que plus anciennes, restent d'une grande pertinence.
These, although older, remain highly relevant.
Celui-là même qui nous a aidés nous trahit aujourd'hui.
The very one who helped us is betraying us today.
Nous devons privilégier ceux qui ont le plus besoin d'aide.
We must prioritize those who need help the most.
Celui qui se croit sage est souvent le plus ignorant.
He who thinks himself wise is often the most ignorant.
Celles-là, dont la renommée n'est plus à faire, dominent le marché.
Those, whose reputation is well-established, dominate the market.
Ceux-ci, contrairement à ceux-là, présentent des avantages indéniables.
These, unlike those, present undeniable advantages.
C'est là le dilemme : choisir celui-ci ou celui-là.
That is the dilemma: to choose this one or that one.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'ce' (adjective) and 'celui' (pronoun).
Learners use 'le' instead of 'celui'.
Learners forget to add the pronoun before the relative clause.
Common Mistakes
Je veux ce.
Je veux celui-ci.
Celle livre.
Ce livre.
Celui-ci est la voiture.
Celle-ci est la voiture.
Je veux le.
Je veux celui-ci.
Ceux-ci est bon.
Celui-ci est bon.
Celles-là sont les pommes.
Ce sont celles-là.
Je prends celui de Marie et celui de Paul.
Je prends celui de Marie et celui de Paul (correct, but repetitive).
Celui qui je vois.
Celui que je vois.
Celle à qui je parle.
Celle à qui je parle (correct).
Ceux-là sont les gens que j'aime.
Ce sont ceux-là que j'aime.
Celui-ci, je le veux.
Celui-ci, je le veux (correct).
Celles-là, dont je parlais.
Celles-là, dont je parlais (correct).
Celui-là, il est mon ami.
Celui-là est mon ami.
Sentence Patterns
Je préfère ___.
___ est meilleur que ___.
J'aime ___ qui est sur la table.
___ dont tu parles est très cher.
Real World Usage
Je vais prendre celui-ci.
Je veux celui au chocolat.
Regardez celui-là ! Trop drôle.
Celle-ci est une excellente question.
Est-ce que celui-là va à la gare ?
Tu préfères lequel ? Celui-ci.
Gender Check
No Noun
Relative Clauses
Pointing
Smart Tips
Use -ci for the first/closer and -là for the second/further.
Use 'celui de' to avoid repeating the noun.
Use 'celui qui' for 'the one who'.
Always check the dictionary for the noun's gender first.
Pronunciation
Vowel sounds
Ensure the 'u' in 'celui' is a pure French 'u' (lips rounded, tongue forward).
Contrastive
Celui-CI vs Celui-LÀ
Emphasizing the difference between two objects.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Celui is for the guy (masculine), Celle is for the belle (feminine).
Visual Association
Imagine a store shelf. You point at a blue shirt (masculine) and say 'Celui-ci', then point at a red dress (feminine) and say 'Celle-là'.
Rhyme
Celui for the boy, Celle for the girl, use them to avoid a noun-repeating whirl.
Story
Pierre walked into a shop. He saw a hat (le chapeau). 'Je veux celui-ci,' he said. Then he saw a scarf (l'écharpe). 'Et je prends celle-là.' He left happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Point to 5 objects in your room and say their demonstrative pronoun out loud.
Cultural Notes
In French markets, pointing while saying 'celui-ci' is standard and polite.
Often used with 'là' for emphasis, even when not strictly necessary.
Very precise usage in formal settings.
Derived from Latin 'eccu ille' (look at that one).
Conversation Starters
Tu préfères quel gâteau, celui au chocolat ou celui à la vanille ?
Parmi ces voitures, laquelle est la tienne ?
Ceux qui aiment le sport sont souvent en forme, n'est-ce pas ?
Si tu devais choisir entre celui-ci et celui-là, lequel prendrais-tu ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
J'aime cette chemise, mais je préfère ___.
___ qui travaille bien réussit.
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ce.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
I want that one (masc).
Answer starts with: Je ...
A: Quel livre veux-tu ? B: ___.
Compare two cars (fem).
Which is feminine plural?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJ'aime cette chemise, mais je préfère ___.
___ qui travaille bien réussit.
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ce.
préfère / celui-ci / je / .
I want that one (masc).
A: Quel livre veux-tu ? B: ___.
Compare two cars (fem).
Which is feminine plural?
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesMes dossiers sont ici, mais ___ de Marc sont sur le bureau.
La vidéo est drôle, surtout celui qui commence à 0:10.
préfère / celui / je / qui / bleu / est
I don't like this one (f.s.), I like that one (f.s.).
___ qui souhaitent postuler doivent envoyer un CV.
Match the items:
Ton sac est beau, mais ___ de ma sœur est plus grand.
Tu veux ce livre ? Non, je veux celui.
sont / de / celles / ces / ma / clés / mère
The one I bought yesterday.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Yes, but usually only if followed by 'de' or a relative clause.
Look at the noun it replaces. If the noun is 'la table', use 'celle'.
Yes, 'celui qui' means 'the one who'.
It's the plural form for masculine objects.
Yes, usually 'celui' or 'ceci' depending on context.
'Ceci' is a neutral pronoun for ideas; 'celui-ci' replaces a specific noun.
Yes, they are very common in formal French to avoid repetition.
You must learn the gender of the noun to use these correctly.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
éste/ése/aquél
Spanish has three degrees of distance (este, ese, aquel).
derjenige
German pronouns change based on the grammatical case.
this one/that one
English doesn't have gender agreement.
kore/sore/are
No gender agreement in Japanese.
hadha/dhalika
Arabic demonstratives are often used as adjectives and pronouns.
zhe ge/na ge
No gender or number conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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