THIS and THAT - specifics and non-specifics - see also WHICH 02

When you're referring to a *specific* item (eg 'this cat' or 'that cat', not just any old cat) - where the item is actually *mentioned* - you would use the 'ce', 'cet', 'cette', 'ces' series. Note the use of 'cet' before a masculine noun starting with a vowel, or that sounds like it starts with a vowel.

ce chat

this/that cat (m)

cet homme

this/that man

cette chatte

this/that cat (f)

ces chats

these/those cats

ces chattes

these/those cats (f)

[Note that 'ces chats' is used for 'cats (m)' but also for 'cats (m+f)', whereas 'ces chattes' is used only for female cats. Where there's a combination of both (even if one male and say four females), the group-plural is always *male*.]

So how about if you want to be more specific? To say 'this cat' or 'that cat'?

ce chat-ci

this cat (m)

cet homme-ci

this man

cette chatte-ci

this cat (f)

ces chats-ci

these cats

ces chattes-ci

these cats (f)

ce chat-là

that cat (m)

cet homme-là

that man

cette chatte-là

that cat (f)

ces chats-là

those cats

ces chattes-là

those cats (f)