chapter

2
Naming Things
In this chapter, you will discover the gender of nouns as well as the French
definite and indefinite articles. You will learn the days, months, and seasons and
how to count up to fifty.

CHAPTEROBJECTIVES

D e fin ite Articles

F ren ch N o u n s a n d G e n d e r
Asking Basic Q u e s tio n s
T h e G e n d e r of C o u n trie s
T h e P lural o f N o u n s
In d e f in it e Articles
T h e C a rd in a l N u m b e r s Z e r o to Fifty
O rd in a l N u m b e r s
Days, M o n th s , a n d Seasons
f r e n c h Nam es
 FRENCH D *MYST1FUD

D efinite Articles

AJ1 nouns in French have a gender, eithe^fqasculine òo^çiinirte, whether they

refer to a person, an anifr^l,a thing, or an^ÈStract nòtiohC^^ile English has
only one definite article八成今 French uses le for masculine nouns and la for
feminine nouns.
… ’

Masculine Feminine
le téléphone the telephone la maison the house
le mouton the sheep la tortue the turtle

Le and Ia become V in front of nouns starting with a vowel or a mute h. A.

mute h is silent. The word acts as if it began with a vowel. The plural of le, la,
and I’ is Ies. Liaisons are done as if the h were not there:

les hommes Iay znhm men

Masculine Feminine
i’avion the plane l’Américaine the American woman
Thôtel the hotel Thuile the oil

French Nouns and Gender f' k 、 人 ü j

Although there is no fiMfei to Jeterm ine the gender of a noun, its ending
provides á^gneral _rule of thum b^O f course, once in a while you’ll run into
exceptions. It would be no fun otherwise,
Nouns ending in age, ment, eau tend to be masculine.

le paysage landscape
le gouvernement govemment
le manteau coat

Nouns ending in t, al,ail, eil, isme also tend to be masculine.

Tobjet object
le cristal crystal
le travail work
le sommeil sleep
le journalisme joum alism
 C h ap te r 2 N A M I N G I H I N G S 2S

indine
Nouns ending
f in ure,
ure. enc?, an^e, siort, tion,1
柳 tend to be feminine.

la culture culture 1'exposition exhibition

la différence difference la beauté beauty
la tendance tendency la citrouille pumpkin
la décision décision la merveille marvel

Som*» nr'i thílf to T>COfvlc c rrom TTtllfvrilTmí* feminim、

by adding an e to the masculine form:

l'ami 1'amic friend

rétudiant rétudiante student
1'avocat Vavocate lawyer
lc Français la Française Frenchman/Frenchwoman

Nouns with certain endings form the feminine in other ways:

eur —>euse
chanteur la chanteuse singer
(.)な 一 0 )
le vendeur la vendeuse salesperson

(i)e r^ (i)è r e
le passager la passagère passenger
Vouvrier l’ouvrière worker

te u r— trice
le directeur la directrice director
Tacteur Tactrice actor

ie n ^ ie n n e
le musicien la musicienne m usiaan
Tltalien Tltalienne Italian man/woman

A few nouns have different meanings in the masculine and feminine*

le livre book la livre pound

le tour trip, ride la tour tower
le poste job; television set la poste post office
le moule mold/form la moule mussel
le poêle stove la poêle frying pan

瘺
26 FRENCH D .M Y S T lF ltD

r
in
Now let’s look at the changes from the masculine to the feminine in
words for family members.

le père father la mère mother

’ le fãs son la filie daughter
frère brother la soeur sister
le grafl3-père ffsandfathsr la.giâflii-aière
Toncle uncle la tante aunt
le neveu nephew la nièce niece
le cousin male cousin la cousine female cousin

Asking Basic Questions

.............
Let’s see how to ask about someone 、profession.

Quclle est la profession de What is the profession of Julie's uncle^

1'oncle de Julie?
L dncle de Julie est pharmacien. Julie's uncle is a pharmacist.
Quelle est la profession de What is the profession of Jérôme's
la soeur de Jérôme? sister?
La soeur de Jérôme est avocate. Jérôme’s sister is a lãt^yer.

Oral Practice
疲 ） Track 4
Ask someone’s statvis or profession and then answer each question, aloud.

Qui est-ce? Whofs that?

C ’est ram i de Caroline. lt’s Caroline 、friend.
Quelle est la profession de Fabien? WhaVs Fabien^ profession?
Fabien est joum aiiste Fabien is a joumcdist.
Lam ie de Marc est indienne Is M arc，s friend Indian or Italian?
oií italienrief^
Lam ie de fvíarc est indienne. M a r c ' s friend is Indian.

Fabrice est danseur ou chanteur? Is Fabrice a dancer or a singer?

Fabrice est chanteur. Fabrice is a sirtger.
Sabine est avocate ou dentiste? Is Sabine a lawyer or a dentist?
Sabine est avocate. ノ Sabine is a lawyer.
C ’est lc fils ou le neveu de Rém i? Is that RémVs son or nephew? ^
C.est le neveu de R^mí
The Gender of Countries

Countries, continents, States, provinces, and regions also have a gender. In this
context, for the most part, an e ending will be feminine. O ther endings tend to
be masculine, with a few exceptions. Here are some examples.

Feminine Masculine
TAfrique Africa le Brésil B razil
TAustralie A ustralia le Canada C an ada
la Califomie Califórnia le Chili C h ile
la Chine China le Colorado C o lo rad o
la France France le Japon Ja p a n
la Normandie Normandy le Languedoc Lan gu edoc
la Provence Provence le N^ali M a li
la Russie Russia le Sénégal Sen egal

N O T E Some countries and States ending in kare masculine:

le Cambodge Cambodia
le Maine M aine
le Mexique Meocico
28 F R E N C H D>MYST1F1«D

Oral Practice
Practice saying the following sentences out loud.

Luc préfère la Suède ou la Does Luc prefer Sweden ' • N o rw a y ?

Norvège?
Luc préfère la Norvège. Luc prefers Norway.
Yan préfère TAfrique ou l’Asie? •• Does Yan prefer Africa orA sia?
Yan préfère rAfrique. Yan prefers Africa.
Inès préfère PÉcosse ou 1'Irlande? / Does Inès prefer Scotland or Irelanã?
Inès préfère 1’Écosse. ^ Inès prefers Scotland.
Marc préfère la Chine ou le JaponT*-* Does M arc prefer China or Japan?
Marc préfère la Chine. Marc prefers China.
Zoé préfère l’Alsace ou la Vendée ? 丨 Does Zoé prefer Alsace or Vendéel
Zoé préfère 1'AJsace. Zoé prefers Alsace.
Léa préfère le Maine ou le Vermont? Does Léa prefer Maine or Vermont?
Léa préfère le Vermont. Léa prefers Vermont.

Written Practice 2
Answer, using the following patter

Texas Texas Le Texas

Tunisie Tunísia La Tunisie
/
1 .Bretagne Brittany
2. Allemagne Germany
3. Virginie Virginia
4. Pologne Poland
5. Venezuela Venezuela

The Plural o f Nouns

To form the plural,add an s to the singular noun. In the plural, le and la

become les.

le carnet notebook les camets notebooks

la bague ring les bagues rings
 C h a p t ô f 2 N A M I N G T H IN G S

If a noun in the plural begins with a vowel or a mute h, you need to mí

liaison with a z sound.

Tidée idea les idées ideas

1'assiette plate les assiettes plates
rhomme man les hommes men
Thôtel hotel les hôtels hotels
TÉtat state • les États-Unis United States

Nouns ending in s, x, or z do not change in the plural.

le pays country les pays countries

la voix voice les voix voices
le nez nose les nez noses

Nouns endlng in eu or eau usually take an x in the plural.

le feu fvce les fetix

le couteau knife les couteaux 仏 ，
le drapeau ftag les drapeaux

Nouns ending in al usually change to aux.

r animal animal les animaux

le cheval horse les chevaux
le journal neivspaper les j o um aux

D o not be surprísed if here and there you run into exceptions. Here are a
few examples:

le festival festival les festivais

roeü eye les yeux
le bijou jewel les bijoux
le pneu tire les pneus

Some nouns have difíerent meanings when singular or plural

vacancy les vacances vacatiort

la vacance
le ciseau chisel les ciseaux scissors

Some nouns are useà oniy in the plural torm.

ies moeurs mores

les arrhes deposit Uò
les fiançailles engagement
30 FRENCH D t M Y S T i F U D

In French, no s is added to a family name used in the plural. You'11 refer to

Monsieur and Madame Chabrol as les Chabrol.

Oral Practice
© Track 5
Practice saying the following list of sentences out loud.

Aimez-vous les cerises? Do you like cherries?

Oui; j ’aime les cerises. Yes, I like cherries.
Aimez-vous les fraises? Do you like strawberries?
Oui, j ’aime les fraises. Yes, I like strawberries.
Aimez-vous les chats? Do you like cats?
〇ui, j ’aime les chats. Yes, I like cats.
Aimez-vous les films italiens? Do you like Italian movies?
Oui, j aime les italiens. Yes,1 like Italian movies.
Aimez-vous les roses? Do you like roses?
〇u i,j aime les roses. Yes, I like roses.
Aimez-vous les épices? Do you like spices?
〇ui, j ’aime les épices. Yes, I like spices. 卞
Um j 難 七
Written Practice 3
d ィ
Answer using the following pattem

la langue language les

1'architecte architect les architectes

1. le plat dish
2 . le château castle 為 へ グ í X'
3 . la clé key 2 i\ 一
4 . le jardin garden
5 . la maison house

In definite Articles

We have just studied the nouns using the definite articles le, la, and les. The
indefinite articles are un [masculine singular), une (feminine singular), and de&
 Chapter2 N A M I N G T H I N G S 31

un tableau a painting des tableaux (some) puintings

un mois a month des mois months
une montre a watch des montres watches
une saison a season des saisons seasons

Oral Practice
Ask someone whether he or she has certain things or acquaintapces, then
V
answer each question, aloud.

Avez-vous un jardin? Do you have a garden?

〇ui, j'ai un jardin. Yes,1 have a garden.
Avez-vous un dictionnaire? Do you have a dictionary?
Oui, j ’ai un dictionnaire. Yes,1 have a dictionary.
Avez-vous un chien? Do you have a dog!
〇ui, j ’ai un chien. Yes, l have a dog.
Avez-vous un manteau no ir? Do you have a hlack coat?
Oui, j'ai un manteau no ir. Yes, I have a black coat.
Avez-vous des amis en France? Do you have friends in France?
Oui, j ’ai des amis en France. Yes, I have friends in France.
Avez-vous des vacances en mai? Do you have a vacation in M ay?
O ai, j ’ai des vacances en mai. Yes, I have a vacation in May.

Written Practice 4
Answer with an indefinite article, using the following pattem:

hotel hotel un kôtel __________

amis friends des am is

1 .avion plane
2. avocate lawyer -W v-
3. maisons houses
4. clé key
5. cháteaux castles
 FRENCH D * M Y S T 1 F U D

The Cardinal Numbers Zero to Fifty

Let’s start counting up to fifty. Although final consonants are generally silent
in French, they are pronounced in the following numbers: cinq, six; sept, huit,
neuf, dix. With sept, the p is silent, but the final t is pronounced. The final x in
six and dix is pronounced like an s.
When the numbers cinq, six, huit, and dix are followed by a word begining
with a consonant. their final consonant is mute.

@ Track 6

zéro zero vingt twenty

un one vingt et un twenty-one
deux two vingt-deux twenty-two
trois three vingt-trois twenty-three
quatre four vingt-quatre twenty-four
cinq five vingt-cinq twenty-five
six six vingt-six twenty-six
sept seven vingt-sept twenty-seven
huit eight vingt-huit twenty-eight
neuf nine vingt-neuf twenty-nine
dix ten trente thirty
onze eleven trente et un thirty-one
douze twelve trente-deux thirty-two
treize thirteen trente-trois thirty-three
quatorze fourteen quarante forty
quinze fifteen quarante et un foriy-one
seize sixteen quarante-deux forty-two
dix-sept seventeen quarante-trois forty-three
dix-huit eighteen cinquante fiÂy
dix-neuf nineteen
 Chapter 2 N A M IN G T H IN G S

rdinal Num bers

Ordinal numbers, for the most part, follow a regular pattem, ending with ième.
Premier Qirsf) and dem ier [last] are exceptions.

premier first vingtième twentieth

deuxième second vingt et unième twenty-jirst
troisième third vingt-deuxième twenty-second
quatrième fourth vingt-troisième twenty-third
cinquième fifth trentième thirúeth
sixième sixth quarantième fortieth
septième seventh cinquantième fíftieth
huitième eighth
neuvième ninth
dixième tenth

N O T E In France. le ore m i-r étatfé correipor^to the American second fíoor. The
éd / • r€z-de-chaussét)
American first floor is call^d m -d e -c h a u s s “ 〉For exampte:

C ’est la première fois que Jim This is the first time Jim has been in
estrà Paris. Paris.
Béatrice habite au deuxième étage Béatrice lives on the second floor.

Oral Practice
Ask the following questions and then repeat the answers, aloud.

À quel étage est 1'appartement On what floor is L éa’s apartment?

de Léa?
Uappartement de Léa est au Lea’s apartment is on the sixth floor.
sixième étage.
À quel étage est le bureau On what floor is Sophia’s office?
de Sophia?
Le bureau de Sophia est au Sophia’s office is on the tenth floor.
dixième étage.
人quel étage est la boutique Dior? On what floor is the Dior boutique?
La boutique Dior est au The Dior boutique is on the first floor.
rez-de-chaussée.
À quel étage est le restaurant On what floor is the Italian restaurant?
italien?
 Chapter 2 N A M I N G T H I N G S 35

Making plans? You need to know the days of the week and the months o f the
year.

Days of the Week

The days of the week are masculine. They are not capitalized. The week starts
with Monday.

lundi Monday vendredi Friday

mardi Tuesday samedi Saturday
mercredi Wednesday dimanche Sunday
jeudi Thursday

The definite article is used with weekdays when an action is repeated on a

particular day of the week. Here are some example sentences:

Laure étudie l’anglais le mercredi. Laure studies English on Wednesdays.

Christian étudie l’italien le samedi. Christian studies Italian on Saturdays.

If an action takes place once on a certain day, the definite article is not used.
For example:

Téléphone à Odile dimanche! C all Odile an Sunday1.

Noémie arrive mardi. Noémie is arriving on Tuesday.
t

Months of the Year •

Like the days, the months o f the year are not capitalized.

janvier January juillet July

février February aoüt August
mars March septembre September
avril April octobre October
mai M ay novembre November
juin June décembre December

l>
FREN C H D fM Y S T i F U D

Seasons
The four seasons of the year are:

le printemps spring Tautomne fali

Tété summer 1’hiver winter

Here are some example sentences:

Vincent voyage en France en juillet. Vincent traveis to France in July.

Éric voyage en Italie en hiver. Éric traveis to Itaiy in winter.

Oral Practice
Ask a question, then answer each questíon, aloud.

L’anniversaire d’Émilie, c’est Is Émilie’s birthday on Tuesday or

mardi ou jeudi? Thursday?
L’anniversaire d’Emilie, c’est jeudi. Émilie;s birthday is on Thursday.
L’anniversaire de Benoit, c’est Is Benoifs birthday on Sunday or on
dimanche ou lundi? M onday?
L’anniversaire de Benoit, c’est Benoít’s birthday is on Sunday.
dimanche.
L’armiversaire cTAmélie, c’est en Is Amélie^ birthday in September or
septembre ou en octobre? in October?
L’armiversaire d ,Amélie, c’est Amélie’s birthday is in October.
en octobre.
L’anniversaire de Fabien, c’est Is Fabiert’s birthday in April or
en avril ou en mai? in M ay?
L’anniversaire de Fabien, c’est Fabien’s birthday is in A pril
en avril.