in FRENCH what is the difference between CE and CET?

Question

i know they all mean this/these
masculine: ce and cet
feminine: cette
plural:ces

but why are there two diffrent ways of saying this in the masculine form.
the examples given are ce velo and cet ordinateur but whats the difference?

Answer 1

Ce is for masc nouns beginning with consonants (with the exception of h and y). Cet is for masc nouns beginning with vowels and h and y such as: cet homme. It's just because they like the liason between words, sounds nice too!

Answer 2

Simply because it sounds awkward with 2 vowels (e and another vowel). Ce becomes Cet when the masculine object being pointed to starts with a vowel.

Cet atome
Cet elephant
Cet idiome
Cet ombre
Cet ulcère

But
Ce besoin
Ce choix
Ce denier
etc.

Answer 3

" ce velo" >>> velo starts with a consonant sound
" cet ordinateur" >>> ordinateur starts with a vowel sound
u can't say "ce ordinateur" because there are 2 vowels

it's like "a" and "an" in english
a bike
an apple

Answer 4

Ce before masc. nouns starting with a consonant, cet before masc. nouns starting with a vowel or a 'mute h.'

Where you would use le instead of l' before a word starting with h, you use ce, e.g. le hibou - ce hibou; but l'homme - cet homme.

Your specific example: ve velo because velo starts with a consonant; cet ordinateur because ordinateur starts with a vowel.

Answer 5

Well they are demostrative adjectives: If it is masculine use: ce If it is masculine plural use: ces If the masculine noun starts with vowel or mute h use: cet If it is feminine use: cette If it is feminine plural use: ces Easy, n'est ce pas?

Answer 6

Before 'h' it depends on whether it is mute or aspired.
If you can do a liaison ("h muet"), you use "cet" : "cet homme".
Else ("h aspiré"), you use "ce" : "ce haricot" (this bean).
This works also with "ces" : you will do a liaison in "ces hommes", but not in "ces haricots".

The type of "h" of a noun is precised in dictionaries, but you can also count on your ears which will tell you with practice which one sounds "right" ; "cet haricot*" is weird...

Answer 7

you use cet in front of vowels a e i o u and in french somtimes h. ce in front of constanents every others letter