French doesn't have separate words for "this" and "that," one word covers both, and it changes form to match the noun's gender and number.
1. The four forms
| ce livre | this/that book (masc. sing., consonant) |
| cet ami | this/that friend (masc. sing., vowel sound) |
| cette maison | this/that house (fem. sing.) |
| ces livres / maisons | these/those books / houses (plural) |
2. Watch out: cet and cette sound identical
Good to know: cet and cette are both pronounced /sɛt/, you can only tell them apart in writing. cet is for a masculine noun starting with a vowel sound or a mute h (cet homme), just like mon ami or l'école. cette is for any feminine noun, vowel or not.
3. This vs. that: -ci and -là
When you need to contrast "this one" with "that one," add -ci (near) or -là (far) to the noun.
| ce livre-ci | this book (here) |
| ce livre-là | that book (there) |
4. Quick reference
| ce | masc. singular, consonant sound |
| cet | masc. singular, vowel sound or mute h |
| cette | fem. singular, any sound |
| ces | plural, any gender |