Grammaire
1 Nouns and articles Most nouns form the plural by adding an -s. This is not usually
sounded, so the word may sound the same when you hear or
A noun is the name of someone or something or the word for a say it.
thing, e.g. Melanie, Mr James, a book, a pen, work.
The words le, la and I'become les in the plural and this does
The definite article is the word for 'the' (le, la, l', les) used with sound different. The words un and une become des.
a noun, when referring to a particular person or thing.
singular plural
The indefinite article is the word for 'a', 'an', 'some' (un, une,
des) used with a noun. le chat leschats
la maison les maisons
In French, the article indicates whether the noun is masculine
Tami les amis
(le, un), feminine (la, une) or plural (les, des). Articles are often
unlivre des livres
missed out in English, but not in French.
une table destables
1.1 Masculine and feminine A few words have a plural ending in -x. This is not sounded
either.
All nouns in French are either masculine or feminine.
un cadeaп des cadeaux
masculine singular feminine singular
un chou des choux
le garcon la fille
un village une ville Nouns which already end in -s, -x or -z don't change in the
plural.
before a vowel
unrepas desrepas
l'appartement l'épicerie
le prtx les prix
Nouns which refer to people often have a special feminine form,
which usually ends in -е.
1.4 la, la, les (definite article)
The definite article is the word for 'the' which appears before a
masculine feminine feminine
noun. It is often left out in English, but it must not be left out in
un ami uneamie
French (except in a few cases).
un Français une Française
singular plural (all forms)
But sometimes there is no special feminine form.
masculine feminine before a vowel
un touriste une touriste
levillage la ville lécole les touristes
un élève une lève
un enfant une enfant It is used:
to refer toaparticular thing or person, in the same way we
1.2 Is it masculine or feminine? use 'the' in English.
Sometimes the ending of a word can give you a clue as to to make general statements about likes and dislikes (e.g.
whether it's masculine or feminine. Here are some guidelines: j'adore le dessin).
with titles (e.g. la Reine Elizabeth).
endings exceptions endings exceptions
normally normally with days of the week to give the idea of 'every' (e.g. Je joue
masculine feminine au tennis le samedi matin).
-age une imag -ade with different times of day to mean 'in' or 'during' (e.g. Le
-aire -ance matin, je fais...).
-tion with prices, to refer to a specific quantity (e.g. c'est 2 euros
-eau leau(f) -ée unlycée la pièce).
un musée
-eur -ère
1.5 un, une, des (indefinite article)
-ier These are the words for 'a', 'an' or 'some' in French.
-in la fin -erie
ette un squelette
singular plural (all forms)
-ing masculine feminine
-isme -que le plastique
unappartement une maison des appartements
-ment moustique
un des maisons
la météo
un kiosque
Note: if there is an adjective before the noun, des changes to de.
-rice le dentifrice
1.6 'Some' or 'any' (the partitive article)
5se
The word for 'some' or 'any' changes according to the noun it is
-te
used with.
-re
singular plural
1.3 Singular and plural dupain des poires
de la viande
Nouns can be singular (referring to just one thing or person)
de leau
or plural (referring to more than one thing or person):
un chien des chiens
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Grammaire
To say 'isn't a, isn't any' and 'not a, not any' use ne... pas de. 2.2 Irregular adjectives
II n'y a pas de piscine. There isn't a swimming pool. Many common adjectives are irregular, and you need to learn
Je n'ai pas d'argent I haven't any money each one separately. Here are two common ones:
1.7 Ce, cet, cette, ces blanc blanche blancs blanches
long longue longs longues
The different forms of ce are used instead of le, I', la, les when
you want to point out a particular thing or person. A few adjectives do not change at all:
singular plural marron mamon marron marron
masculine before vowel feminine all forms
a
Words like this are known as 'invariable'.
(masculine only)
ce chapeau cetappareil cettejupe ces gants 2.3 Word order
Ce, cet or cette before a singular noun can mean either 'this Adjectives normally follow the noun.
or 'that Je lis un livre très intéressant.
Ce livre n'est pas cher. This (That) book isn't expensive. I'm reading avery interesting book.
Cette carte postale est jolie. This (That) postcard is pretty. All colours, and adjectives describing nationality, follow the noun.
Ces before a plural noun can mean either 'these' or 'those'. Regarde ce pull noir. Look at this black jumper.
J'aime ces gants. I like these gloves. C'est un film français? Is it a French film?
However, some common adjectives go before the noun. The
grand, petit, bon, mauvais, beau,
2 Adjectives most common ones are:
jeune, vieux,joli, gros, premier, autre.
An adjective is a word which tells you more about a noun. In It's a small black cat.
C'est un petit chat noir.
French, adjectives agree with the noun, which means that they
Il prend le premier train. He's taking the first train.
are masculine, feminine, singular or plural to match the noun.
Look at the patterns in the tables below to see how adjectives
2.4 Comparisons
agree.
To compare one person or thing with another, you use plus
2.1 Regular adjectives (more), moins (less) or aussi (as) before the adjective. You need
to make the adjective agree in the usual way.
singular plural
Ilest plus âgé que sa sœur. He is older than his sister.
masculine feminine masculine feminine
Elle est plus âgée que cousin. She is older than her cousin.
son
Many adjectives follow this pattern: Les jumeaux sont plus âgés que The twins are older than us.
nous.
|
grand grande grands grandes
petit petite petits petites There is a special comparative form for bon (good):
meilleur(e) better
Adjectives which end in -u, -i or -é follow this pattern, but
although the spelling changes, they don't sound any different Ce livre est meilleur que This book is better than the
when you say them: l'autre. other one.
bleu bleue bleus bleues
jok jolie jolis jolies 3 Pronouns
Adjectives which already end in -e (with no accent) have no A pronoun (e.g. 'he', 'she', 'it') is used in place of a noun.
different feminine form:
3.1 Subject pronouns
jaune jaune jaunes jaunes
These are used to replace a noun which is the subject of the verb
Adjectives which already end in -s have no different masculine
(the person doing the action).
plural form:
In French the subject pronouns are:
français française français françaises je
Adjectives which end in -er follow this pattern: tu you (to a young person, close friend or relative)
il
| cher chère chers chères
elle
he, it
she, it
Adjectives which end in -eux follow this pattern:
on one, you, we, they, people in general
I délicieux délicieuse délicieux délicieuses
nous we
Some adjectives double the last letter before adding an-e for the vous you (plural; to an adult you don't know well)
feminine form:
ils they (masculine or mixed group)
mignon migronne mignons mignonnes elles they (feminine group)
gros grosse gros grosses
Claire n'est pas à la maison. Claire isn't at home.
bon bonne bons bonnes
Elle est au cinéma. She's at the cinema.
Son père est coiffeur. His father is a hairdresser.
II travaille en ville. He works in town.
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