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Nouns, gender and articles
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Every French noun is either masculine or feminine. The word for "a" or "the" changes to match it.
Articles
In my pencil case
un stylo (pen), un crayon (pencil), un cahier (exercise book), un livre (book), un sac (bag)
une règle (ruler), une gomme (rubber), une trousse (pencil case), une calculatrice (calculator)
Il y a = there is / there are. Dans ma trousse, il y a un stylo et une règle.
Learn every noun with its un or une.
une règle (ruler), une gomme (rubber), une trousse (pencil case), une calculatrice (calculator)
Il y a = there is / there are. Dans ma trousse, il y a un stylo et une règle.
Learn every noun with its un or une.
Plurals
Most nouns add -s, which you do not pronounce: un stylo, des stylos.
Nouns ending in -eau add -x: un bureau, des bureaux.
Nouns ending in -al usually change to -aux: un animal, des animaux.
The article tells you it is plural: les, des.
Nouns ending in -eau add -x: un bureau, des bureaux.
Nouns ending in -al usually change to -aux: un animal, des animaux.
The article tells you it is plural: les, des.
Translate: In my bag there is a book and two pencils.
- In my bag: dans mon sac.
- there is: il y a.
- a book: un livre. Two pencils: deux crayons (add -s).
Answer: Dans mon sac, il y a un livre et deux crayons.
Masculine nouns take un / le, feminine take une / la, plurals take des / les. Le and la become l' before a vowel. Most plurals add -s; -eau adds -x; -al becomes -aux.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
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