Using Ce or Se in French: What is the difference?

Here’s an easy lesson for beginners explaining the difference between “ce” and “se” in French:

Ce vs Se in French

In French, “ce” and “se” are two words that can cause confusion for beginner students.

However, the difference between the two is simple.

Ce is a pronoun that can be translated as “this,” “these,” or “it.”

It can be used to refer to a specific object, situation or idea, for example:

• Ce livre est intéressant. (This book is interesting.)
• Ce sont mes amis. (These are my friends.)

Se, on the other hand, is a reflexive pronoun meaning “himself,” “herself,” “itself,” “ourselves,” “yourselves,” “themselves.”

It is used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action on itself, for example:

• Il se lave. (He washes himself.)
• Elle se regarde dans le miroir. (She looks at herself in the mirror.)
• Ils se parlent. (They talk to each other.)
• Nous nous amusons. (We have fun.)
• Vous vous promenez. (You take a walk.)

In conclusion, the difference between “ce” and “se” in French is simply a matter of the role they play in a sentence.

“Ce” is a pronoun that can refer to a specific object, situation or idea, while “se” is a reflexive pronoun indicating that the subject of a sentence is performing the action on itself.

Remember to pay attention to the context of a sentence in order to determine which word is appropriate to use.

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