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Using indefinite demonstrative pronouns
I. Ce
A. Ce is used mainly with the verb être, sometimes preceded by pouvoir or devoir, either in the basic expression c'est or in various impersonal expressions:
C'est une bonne idée !That's a good idea!
C'est difficile à faire. It's hard to do.
C'est triste de perdre un ami. It's sad to lose a friend.
Étudier, c'est important. Studying is important.
Ce doit être un bon restaurant. This must be a good restaurant.
B. In a less common and more formal usage (especially in written French), ce can be used without a verb:
J'ai travaillé en Espagne, et ce en tant que bénévole. I worked in Spain (and this) as a volunteer.
Elle l'a tué, et pour ce elle est condamnée. She killed him, and therefore/for this she is condemned.
II. Ceci, Cela
With all other verbs as well as with être preceded by an object pronoun, ceci or cela replaces ce. However, ceci is rare in spoken French. Just as là commonly replaces ici in spoken French (Je suis là - I'm here), speakers tend to use cela to mean either this or that. Ceci only really comes into play when one wants to really distinguish between this and that.
Donnez-lui cela de ma part. Give him this from me
Qui a fait cela ? Who did this?
Cela me fait plaisir. That makes me happy.
Qu'est-ce que c'est que cela ? What is that?
Je ne veux pas ceci, je veux cela. I don't want this, I want that.
III. Ça
In informal French, the informal pronoun ça replaces cela (and ceci).
Donne-lui ça de ma part. Give him this from me
Qui a fait ça ? Who did this?
Ça me fait plaisir. That makes me happy.
Qu'est-ce que c'est que ça ? What is that?
Je ne veux pas ceci (or ça), je veux ça. I don't want this, I want that.
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