Introduction
In French, nouns have gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural), which affects the form of adjectives and other related words. Proper agreement is crucial for grammatical accuracy.
Gender of Nouns
Masculine Nouns
- Most nouns ending in -eau, -isme, and -ment are masculine.
- Many nouns ending in -eur are masculine (though there are exceptions).
- Examples:
- le livre (the book)
- le bureau (the desk)
- le mouvement (the movement)
Feminine Nouns
- Most nouns ending in -tion, -sion, -té, and -ette are feminine.
- Nouns ending in -e are often feminine (though not always).
- Examples:
- la voiture (the car)
- la liberté (freedom)
- la chaise (the chair)
Plural Forms of Nouns
General Rule
- To form the plural of most nouns, add -s.
- Example: livre → livres (books)
Special Cases
- Nouns ending in -eau, -eu, or -au take -x in the plural.
- Example: bureau → bureaux (desks)
- Nouns ending in -al usually change to -aux in the plural.
- Example: animal → animaux (animals)
Adjective Agreement
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Masculine Singular
- un grand chien (a big dog)
Feminine Singular
- une grande maison (a big house)
Masculine Plural
- des grands chiens (big dogs)
Feminine Plural
- des grandes maisons (big houses)
Examples in Sentences
- Le bureau est grand. (The desk is big.)
- La voiture est rouge. (The car is red.)
- Les bureaux sont grands. (The desks are big.)
- Les voitures sont rouges. (The cars are red.)
Common Noun and Adjective Examples
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| le gâteau délicieux | les gâteaux délicieux |
| la chaise bleue | les chaises bleues |
| le chapeau noir | les chapeaux noirs |
| la fille joyeuse | les filles joyeuses |
| le chien fort | les chiens forts |
| la table ronde | les tables rondes |
Conclusion
Understanding the gender and pluralization of nouns, along with proper adjective agreement, is essential in mastering French grammar. By recognizing these patterns, you can ensure that your sentences are both accurate and fluent.