What’s the Difference Between Ce, Cette, Cet, and Ces?

Featured article photo: Chelsea, Québec by Gadiel Lazcano

Ces

Let’s start off with the easiest one. Ces means these/those, and you can use it regardless of whether the nouns that follow it are masculin or féminin.

Par exemple:

• Ces tasses (These cups)
• Ces vêtements (These clothes)
• Ces serviettes (These towels)
• Ces bouteilles (These bottles)
• Ces savons (These soaps)

Ce, cette, and cet means this/that.

Essentially, only ces is used with plural nouns; whereas ce, cette, and cet are used with singular nouns.

Now, let’s differentiate between ce, cette, and cet.

Ce and Cette

Both ce and cette are for singular nouns, but ce is masculin and cette is féminin.

Par exemple:

• Ce garçon (This boy)
• Ce coussin (This pillow)
• Ce miroir (This mirror)
• Ce lit (This bed)
• Ce mur (This wall)
• Cette femme (This woman)
• Cette fille (This girl)
• Cette couverture (This blanket)
• Cette porte (This door)
• Cette fenêtre (This window)

Cet

Cet is also used with masculine singular nouns, but only for nouns starting with a vowel.

Par exemple:

• Cet homme (This man)—recall that h is technically a vowel in French!
• Cet armoire (This wardrobe)
• Cet étagère (This bookshelf)
• Cet assiete (This plate)
• Cet hamac (This hammock)

Your Turn

Fill in the blanks with Ce / Cette / Cet / Ces. Feel free to leave your answers as comments below! :)

1. _____ nuit
2. _____ livre
3. _____ télévisions
4. _____ sac
5. _____ avions
6. _____ règles et procédures
7. _____ objectifs
8. _____ question
9. _____ estimation
10. _____ type d'action

Learn More French

As a thank you for visiting this website, here's a special offer we'd like to share with you :)

FrenchPod101 offers audio and video lessons with native speakers to help you learn effectively from Beginner, Upper Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced levels. Practice on listening, vocabulary lists, and grammar pointers to fast track your goal in becoming a pro in French!

If you want to commit to learning more, from July 7 to July 19, 2024, use the coupon code NOWORNEVER2024 using this link and claim 40% OFF Premium PLUS membership to unlock all audio/video lessons and study materials, as well as 1-on-1 access to a teacher and a personalized learning program.