Ce, cet, cette, ces — this and that
CEFR A1
Use these to point at something. French does not distinguish "this" from "that" in everyday speech — one word covers both.
| Form | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| masculine | ce | ce livre (this book) |
| masculine before a vowel or silent h | cet | cet homme (this man), cet ami |
| feminine | cette | cette table (this table) |
| plural (both genders) | ces | ces livres, ces tables |
cet exists only so the words do not collide: ce homme is unpronounceable, so the t is there for sound, not grammar.
To insist on the difference, add -ci (here) or -là (there): "Je prends ce gâteau-ci, pas celui-là."
Knowing the rule is not the same as producing it.
This page explains the pattern. The track drills it: the point arrives inside a mini-dialogue, then production marked against a CEFR descriptor, then a module test that returns you to your two weakest sessions if you miss it.