Masculin ou Féminin?: Règles de Grammaire Flashcards
When talking about a woman or a girl, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
b) This is an example of gender by meaning.
“Bureau” and “chapeau” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both masculine, because they end in -eau. (Exceptions: eau and peau, both feminine)
When talking about a river or country not ending (in French) in a silent e, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) Some exceptions are the Danube (le Danube), the Rhone (le Rhône), and Mexico (le Mexique).
Of which gender is the word “place”, and why?
It is feminine, because it ends in -ace. (Exception: espace, masculine)
When talking about a female animal, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
b) A female cat is “la chatte”, but a tomcat (male cat) is “le chat”.
“Cinema” and “café” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both masculine, because they end in a vowel other than a non-accented e.
When talking about languages, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) The word “French” in French (français) is masculine!
“Promenade”, “limonade”, and “salade” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -ade. (Exceptions: grade and stade, both masculine)
When talking about a river or country ending in a silent e, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
b) Some examples are the Seine (la Seine), Russia (la Russie), and Belgium (la Belgique).
“Piano” and “numéro” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both masculine, because they end in a non-accented o. (Exceptions: dynamo, auto, météo, photo, radio, sténo, stéréo, all feminine)
When talking about days of the week, months, or seasons, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) Surprisingly enough, there are no exceptions to this rule!
“Naissance”, “indépendance”, “puissance”, and “danse” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -ance or -anse.
When talking about saint days and festivals, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
b) Pentecôte means Pentecost in the USA, but it means Whitsun or Whit Sunday in the UK. (courtesy of WordReference)
Of which gender is the word “appartement”, and why?
It is masculine, because it ends in -ment.
When talking about common trees or shrubs, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) Some examples are the oak tree (le chêne), the fir tree (le sapain), and the laurel (le laurier).
“Évidence”, “défense”, “différence”, “patience”, and “science” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -ence or -ense. (Exception: silence, masculine)
“Capitalisme”, “communisme”, “enthousiasme”, “féminisme”, and “tourisme” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all masculine, because they end in -isme.
When talking about male animals, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) A male dog is “le chien”, but a female dog is “la chienne”.
“Idée”, “soirée”, and “pensée” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -ée. (Exceptions: musée, lycée, both masculine)
“Auteur” and “bonheur” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both masculine, because they end in -eur.
When talking about a man or a boy, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?
a) Mr. Boucher’s name comes from the (masculine) word for butcher.
Of which gender is the word “lumiére”, and why?
It is feminine, because it ends in -ére. (Exceptions: mystére, caractére, both masculine)
Of which gender is the word “thème”, and why?
It is masculine, because it ends in -ème. (Exception: crème, feminine)
Of which gender is the word “peur”, and why?
It is feminine, because it is an abstract noun that ends in -eur. (Exceptions: bonheur, chœur, cœur, honneur, labeur, malheur, all masculine)
“Piège” and “collège” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both masculine, because they end in -ège.
Of which gender is the word “pluie”, and why?
It is feminine, because it ends in -ie. (Exceptions: génie, incendie, parapluie, all masculine)
“Fromage”, “étage”, and “nuage” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all masculine, because they end in -age. (Exceptions: cage, image, nage, page, plage, rage, all feminine)
Of which gender is the word “bière”, and why?
It is feminine, because it ends in -ière. (Exception: cimitière, masculine)
Of which gender is the word “marché”, and why?
It is masculine, because it ends in é.
“Mémoire”, “victoire”, “poire”, and “gloire” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -oire. (Exceptions: laboratoire, pourboire, both masculine)
Of which gender is the word “spectacle”, and why?
It is masculine, because it ends in -acle. (Exception: débacle, feminine)
“Impression”, “répétition”, “nation”, “condition”, and “fiction” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -sion or -tion.
“Saison”, “raison”, “maison”, and “prison” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -son.
“Liberté”, “fraternité”, “egalité”, and “bonté” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in -té.
“Moitié” and “pitié” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?
They are both feminine, because they end in -tié.
“Botte”, “terre”, “lutte”, “couronne”, and “mass” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it,and why?
They are all feminine, because they end in a silent e after a double consonant. (Exceptions: verre, parterre, tonnerre, intervalle, carosse, all masculine)
