A2.2 - Packing your luggage

Pronouns: celui, celle, ceux, celles

Pronoms : celui, celle, ceux, celles

Les pronoms démonstratifs remplacent un nom déjà mentionné: celui, celle, ceux, celles, ou formes proches celui-ci, celui-là.

(Demonstrative pronouns replace a noun that has already been mentioned: celui, celle, ceux, celles, or similar forms celui-ci, celui-là.)

What these words do (celui / celle / ceux / celles)

Celui / celle / ceux / celles are French demonstrative pronouns: they replace a noun you don’t want to repeat.

  • English idea: the one, the ones, this one, those ones
  • They refer to something already known from context: “the suitcase”, “the backpack”, “the headphones”, etc.

Choose the correct form: gender + number (quick decision)

Pick the pronoun that matches the noun you replace (not the person speaking).

Replaced noun Meaning Pronoun
masculine singular (un sac) the one celui
feminine singular (une valise) the one celle
masculine plural (des écouteurs) the ones ceux
feminine plural (des chemises) the ones celles

Add -ci / -là when you need to point or contrast

Use these endings when you want to be precise (especially with two similar items).

  • -ci = this one / these (close, “this one here”)
  • -là = that one / those (farther away, or “the other one”)
French Natural English Typical use
celui-ci this one the closer / the one in your hand
celui-là that one the farther / the other one
ceux-ci these (ones) several close items
celles-là those (ones) several farther items

Practical tip: if you say “this one … and that one …”, French usually needs -ci and -là to make the contrast clear.

How to complete the idea: the pattern you’ll use most

Very often, celui/celle/ceux/celles is followed by extra information to identify it:

  • celui/celle + qui + verb (the one that + verb)
  • celui/celle + de + noun (the one of / from…)
  • celui/celle + adjective (the blue one, the heavy ones…)
  • celui/celle + prepositional phrase (near the door, in the office…)
French Meaning
Je prends celui qui a une poche pour l’ordinateur. I’m taking the one that has a laptop pocket.
Tu prends tes écouteurs ou ceux du bureau ? Your headphones or the ones from the office?
Je garde celle des médicaments. I keep the one with the medicines.

Common traps (and how to avoid them)

  • Trap 1: mixing up gender/number

    Match the noun: une valise → celle, not celui.

  • Trap 2: using “celle” alone when you are contrasting

    When there are two options, prefer: celle-ci vs celle-là.

    Je compare celle et celle. → Je compare celle-ci et celle-là.

  • Trap 3: forgetting agreement after the pronoun

    Adjectives still agree: ceux-là sont lourds / celles-là sont lourdes.

  • Trap 4: confusing with “ce/c’est”

    Ce / c’est introduces an idea (“This is…”). Celui/celle… replaces a specific noun (“the one…”).

Self-check: 3 questions before you answer

  1. What noun am I replacing? (valise? sac? écouteurs?)
  2. Gender + number? (m.sg / f.sg / m.pl / f.pl)
  3. Am I pointing or contrasting? If yes, add -ci / -là.

Goal: avoid repetition and make it clear exactly which item you mean.

  1. Add -ci for something that is near, -là for something that is farther away.
Nombre (Number)Masculin (Masculine)Féminin (Feminine)
Singulier (Singular)CeluiCelle
Pluriel (Plural)CeuxCelles
Pluriel (Plural)Ceux-ciCelles-ci
Pluriel (Plural)Ceux-làCelles-là

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

1. Vous avez deux valises : ___ va en soute et celle-là reste en cabine.

You have two suitcases: ___ goes in the hold and that one stays in the cabin.

2. J'hésite entre deux sacs à dos, mais je prends ___ qui a une poche pour l'ordinateur.

I'm hesitating between two backpacks, but I'm taking ___ that has a pocket for the computer.

3. Je mets mes sous-vêtements dans une pochette et je garde ___ des médicaments dans mon sac.

I put my underwear in a pouch and I keep ___ with the medicines in my bag.

4. Tu prends tes écouteurs ou ___ du bureau pour la visioconférence ?

Are you taking your headphones or ___ from the office for the video conference?

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence by replacing the repeated noun with the correct demonstrative pronoun (celui, celle, ceux, celles, with -ci or -là if necessary).

Fetching your corrections... Please don't close this page yet.

Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Je préfère ce téléphone. Le téléphone est plus simple à utiliser.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Je préfère celui-ci. Il est plus simple à utiliser.
    (I prefer this one. It is easier to use.)
  2. Hint Hint (Laquelle) Tu prends quelle chaise ? La chaise près de la fenêtre ou la chaise près de la porte ?
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Tu prends laquelle ? Celle près de la fenêtre ou celle près de la porte ?
    (Which one are you taking? The one near the window or the one near the door?)
  3. Ces documents sont importants. Les documents sont pour le directeur.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Ces documents sont importants. Ceux-ci sont pour le directeur.
    (These documents are important. These are for the director.)
  4. Je n'aime pas ces chemises. Les chemises sont trop petites.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Je n'aime pas ces chemises. Celles-là sont trop petites.
    (I don't like these shirts. Those are too small.)

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

Profile Picture

Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

University_Logo

Last Updated:

Saturday, 02/05/2026 08:23