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French grammar Part of Chapter 2

CEFR A1

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Test yourself (30 questions)

ce, cet, cette, ces: French Demonstratives Practice

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 11 October 2026

French folds "this", "that", "these" and "those" into one demonstrative with four written forms. The choice depends on the noun, not on distance: its gender, its number and its first sound. This page is the practice companion to the French demonstrative adjectives reference.

masculinefemininepluraladded tWhat do the colours mean?
The noun is...FormExampleEnglish
masc. + consonant this evening
masc. + vowel/h this man
this woman
plural (any) these children

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Choose the demonstrative that matches the noun's gender and number. Remember cet before a masculine noun starting with a vowel or silent h.

  1. homme (this man)

  2. femme (this woman)

  3. maison (this house)

  • this book this book
  • this man this man
  • this house this house
  • these children these children

The two-question check

Before every demonstrative, ask two questions of the noun.

QuestionIf yesExampleEnglish
1. Is it plural? .These women are here.
2. Is it ? .This house is small.
Neither: .This book is good.

Plural comes first because it ends the question: both genders share .

  • . - These men are eating.
  • . - These things are mine.

The vowel override

One override sits on top: a masculine singular noun that starts with a vowel or silent h takes , never . French will not let the vowel of run into the vowel of , so the word grows a bridging t, just as becomes l'.

cet before a vowel sound
  • . - This man is my father.
  • . - This friend speaks French.
  • . - This child is eating.

Two traps hide in the override. It is masculine only: a feminine noun keeps before a vowel.

  • -. - I don't work at that time.

And and sound the same, so speech never tells you which to write. Only the noun's gender does, which is why the noun gender page insists on learning every noun with its article.

Three slips the drill is built to catch

WrongRightWhy
+ vowel takes
The vowel rule is only
cettes One plural form for both genders

The first slip lasts longest, because is the form you meet first.

What to do next

  1. Clear the drill below until the four forms need no thought.
  2. Add -ci and -là for this and that: demonstrative adjectives.
  3. Then the pronouns , , and celles ("this one", "those ones"): demonstrative pronouns.

Practise: test yourself

Pick the right one

0/8

Choose the demonstrative that matches the noun's gender and number. Remember cet before a masculine noun starting with a vowel or silent h.

  1. homme (this man)

  2. femme (this woman)

  3. maison (this house)

  4. amis (these friends)

  5. jour (this day)

  6. chose (this thing)

  7. temps (this weather)

  8. enfants (these children)

Sort into groups

0/10

Which demonstrative goes in front of each noun?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Spot the mistake

0/4

Tap the mistake.

Pick the right one

0/8

Mixed drill: watch the number as well as the gender, and remember that a feminine noun starting with a vowel still takes cette.

  1. femmes (these women)

  2. vie (this life)

  3. heure (this hour)

  4. hommes (these men)

  5. père (this father)

  6. fille (this girl)

  7. ami (this friend)

  8. fois (this time)

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Practice worksheets and infographics

Practice worksheets with answer keys built in, plus infographic and listicle formats. Open any one to view, print or save.

Infographics

  1. Key points infographic
  2. Table 1
  3. The two-question check
  4. Three slips the drill is built to catch

Other formats

  1. Listicle

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose between , , and ?
Ask two questions of the noun. Is it plural? Then , for both genders ( , ). Is it feminine singular? Then ( ). Otherwise it is masculine singular: before a consonant ( ), before a vowel or silent h ( , ).
Why does French use instead of before some nouns?
For pronunciation. would put two vowel sounds side by side, which French avoids, so the masculine singular adds a t before a vowel or silent h: , , . It is the same instinct that turns into l'. The rule is compulsory: is wrong, not casual.
Is ever shortened before a vowel?
No. The feminine singular is whatever follows: , . Only the masculine changes shape before a vowel. and are pronounced the same, so you cannot hear the difference; you have to know the noun's gender to write it.
Does mean this or that?
Both. is this book or that book, and context decides. When you need to point the contrast, French adds -ci (here) or -là (there) to the noun: -, this book; -, that book. Those suffixes are covered on the demonstrative adjectives page.
Is it or cettes for feminine plural?
. There is no cettes and no cets: the plural has a single form for both genders. (these women) and (these men) use the same word.