French nouns
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The noun (French: le nom) is a word that varies in gender and in number. In general, he is used along with a determinant that tells us about its gender and number.
It can be used as:
- subject
- attribute
- apposition
- complement:
Any element of the French language can become a noun as long as you can add a determinant to it.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.How to use nouns in French
- 2.Gender of French nouns
- 2.1.Masculine of French nouns
- 2.1.1.Examples
- 2.2.Feminine of French nouns
- 2.2.1.Examples
- 3.Number of French nouns
- 3.1.Singular of French nouns
- 3.1.1.Examples
- 3.2.Plural of French nouns
- 3.2.1.Examples
- 4.French compound nouns
- 4.1.Examples
- 5.French proper nouns
- 5.1.Examples
- 6.French common nouns
- 6.1.Examples
- 7.Functions of French nouns
- 8.Exercises
- 8.1.Multiple choice questions about the function of nouns
- 8.2.True or false exercise about the gender and number in French
How to use nouns in French
A noun is a naming word which usually is used to describe living beings, things or ideas. All French nouns, unlike English nouns, either have a masculine or feminine gender.
About 60% of all French words are nouns which refer to:
- persons
- animals
- things
- abstract perceptions
| Persons, Animals | Things | Abstract words |
|---|---|---|
| l'enfant (the child) | la maison (the house) | le temps (the time) |
| la femme (the woman) | la table (the table) | l'exemple (the example) |
| le chien (the dog) | le lit (the bed) | le travail (the job) |
The form of the noun varies depending on:
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Gender of French nouns
The gender (French: le genre) can be said to originate in the notion of sex at least for the nouns of people and animals. But for the largest number of names, the genre is unknown or sometimes comes from a particular origin that does not allow to establish a rule. The use of a dictionary is then indispensable in case of doubt.
Masculine of French nouns
The masculine is generally applied to the names of men and to male animals. As a general rule, a noun is masculine when the use allows the use of th articles "le" or "un"
Examples
| Masculine nouns | Translations |
|---|---|
| Le panier | (A basket) |
| Papa | (Dad) |
| Un étudiant | (A boy student) |
Feminine of French nouns
The feminine is generally applied to the names of women and female animals. As a rule, a noun is feminine when the use allows the use of "la" or "une"
Normally, the feminine is formed by adding an -e to the masculine noun: un ami ----> une amie
Note that there are some exceptions:
- Nouns ending in -e form their feminine in -esse
- Nouns ending in -at form their feminine in -ate
- Nouns ending in -el fom their feminine in -elle
- Nouns ending in -teur form their feminine in -trice or -teuse
- Nouns ending in -er form their feminine in -ère
Examples
| masculine nouns | feminine nouns | Translations |
|---|---|---|
| Un tigre | Une tigresse | (A tiger) |
| Un ouvrier | Une ouvrière | (A worker) |
| Un chanteur | Une chanteuse | (A singer) |
| Un directeur | Une directrice | (A headmaster) |
| Un nouveau | Une nouvelle | (A new) |
Number of French nouns
Singular of French nouns
If we are speaking about a single animal, object or person, the number of the name is singular.
The singular uses theses types of determinants:
- Definite articles (le, la)
- Indefinite articles (un, une)
- Demonstratives adjectives (ce, cette, cet)
- Possessive adjectives (ma, mon, son, sa, ton, ta)
Examples
| Determinants | Singular nouns | Translations |
|---|---|---|
| Definite articles | le panier, la femme | The basket, the woman |
| Indefinite articles | un panier, une femme | A basket, a woman |
| Demonstrative | ce panier, cette femme | This basket, this woman |
| Possessive | mon panier, ma femme son panier, sa femme ton panier, ta femme | My basket, my wife His basket, his wife Your basket, your wife |
The singular can be used to designate a group of individuals, objects or animals like in English.
- Une association (An association)
- Un troupeau (A gaggle)
- Un groupe (A group)
- Une collection (A collection)
Plural of French nouns
If we are speaking about several animals, objects or people, the number of the name is plural.The plural uses these determinants:
- Definite articles: les
- Indefinite articles: des
- Demonstratives adjectives: ces
- Possessive adjectives: mes
Examples
| Determinants | Plural nouns | Translations |
|---|---|---|
| les | les femmes | The women |
| des | des femmes | Women |
| ces | ces femmes | These women |
| mes | mes femmes | My women |
Some nouns are used only in the plural: des annales (record) , des armoiries (armorial bearings), des condoléances (condolences), des fiançailles (an engagement), des honoraires (an honorarium)
French compound nouns
The compound nouns (French: les noms composés) are nouns that are put together to form a meaning. they are sometimes separated by an hyphen. They can be:
- Noun + noun
- Adjective + noun
- Verb + noun
- Verb + verb
Examples
| Compound nouns | Translations |
|---|---|
| Chemin de fer | (Railway) |
| Beau-père | (Father-in-law) |
| Belle-mère | (Mother-in-law) |
French proper nouns
The proper nouns (French: les noms propres) designates a person or object, or a single category of persons or objects. In general, unless otherwise, it has no determinant and starts with a capital letter.
Examples
| Proper nouns | Translations |
|---|---|
| Tour Eiffel | (Eiffel tower) |
| France | (France) |
| Victor | (Victor) |
| Guillaume | (William) |
French common nouns
The common nouns (French: les noms communs) are all persons or objects of the same species. He usually has a determinant and he starts with a lowercase letter
Examples
| Common nouns | Translations |
|---|---|
| une élève | (A schoogirl) |
| un policier | (A policeman) |
| la voiture | (The car) |
Functions of French nouns
Nouns and nominal groups may have different functions in the sentence:
- Subject
- Direct object
- Indirect object
- Second object
- Circumstancial complement
- Agent complement
- Attribute
- Epithet
- Apposition and appostrophe
Exercises
- Multiple choice questions about the function of nouns
- True or false exercise about the gender and number in French
Multiple choice questions about the function of nouns
True or false exercise about the gender and number in French
Exercises
- Multiple choice questions about the function of nouns
- True or false exercise about the gender and number in French
Multiple choice questions about the function of nouns
True or false exercise about the gender and number in French
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My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
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My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
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I am a multilingual teacher with experience in teaching French to German, Japanese, English, Bulgarian and Italian-speaking students, etc. (levels A1 to C1).
I have been teaching French for 8 years in Luxemburg and now in Bulgaria for 4 years, to teenagers, housewives, businessmen, employees, doctors, etc. I can also help you with DELF and DALF preparation. I give lessons via Skype, Zoom and Microsoft Teams in several countries.
My teaching method for each class : a grammar point together with listening, a lot of speaking with conversation questions or games. While you speak, I write all the new words you need to express yourself, illustrated by pictures or translated in your language.
I do my best to make you feel comfortable to speak and for you to have a pleasant time. According to me, using humour will help you learn more easily.
Whether you need to learn French for business, integration in a French-speaking country or studying, I will be happy to help you. Do not hesitate to contact me for a free trial lesson.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Katia
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