Plurals of Nouns - Magistra et Madame Soban



Plurals of Nouns

A. The plural of most French nouns is formed by adding -s to the singular. (you do not hear the s) Note: the article will always change to its plural form to allow the listener and reader to hear or see that more than one is being discussed. French nouns must have an article unless there is a rule allowing omission. See below.

le garçon (boy) les garçons (boys)

B. Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z remain unchanged in the plural.

le fils (son) les fils (sons)

C. Nouns ending in –eau and –eu add x in the plural.

le neveu (nephew) les neveux (nephews)

D. Nouns ending in –al change –al to –aux in the plural.

le cheval (horse) les chevaux (horses)

E. Some nouns have irregular plurals.

l’oeil (eye) les yeux (eyes)

monsieur messieurs

F. A few nouns are used mainly in the plural.

les maths (math) les vacances (vacation)

G. Family names don NOT add –s in the plural.

les DuVall

Uses and omissions of the definite article (le, la, l’, les)

The definite article is used when one wants to indicate a specific being or thing (le chat), as in English (the cat). It is also used in construction where it can be omitted in English.

Use with:

A. nouns in a general or abstract sense.

La vie continue. Life goes on.

B. names of languages and school subjects, except directly after parler, after en, and in the adjective phrase with de.

Le chinois est facile. (Chinese is easy) Je parle italien. (I speak Italien. Pierre est fort en dessin. Pierre is good at drawing. C’est mon livre de français. (This is my French book)

C. a noun in place of the possessive adjective, with parts of the body when the possessor is Clear.

Tournez la tête! Turn your head.

D. days of the week if you mean every or in a plural sense.

Le dimanche je m’amuse On Sunday(s) I have fun!

E. seasons except after the preposition en

au printemps In the spring but en été In the summer

F. certain expressions

le soir in the evening le mois prochain (next month)

with nouns of weight or measure to mean a, an or per (with time use par)

G. dates

le trois mai May 3rd

H. names of most countries, except after the preposition en. La France est belle. Je vais en France. I am going to France.

Omit articles or determiners

A. after prepositions en, sans or comme AND avec (only if the noun is abstract)

B. when using predicate nouns of religion, nationality or profession (except when the

noun is modified or the subject is ce) Ex. Elle est catholique. but Elle est une bonne

catholique.

C. when using an appositive Ex.; Jules, ami de Charles, est mort.

D. after the word quel when it means What a; ex Quel fille! or What a girl!

E. with the numbers 100, just say cent- 1000 mille, etc.

F. with monarch titles; ex. Henri VIII = Henri Huit (not the eighth)

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