Indentifying the gender of a noun Flashcards
What are the definite and indefinite articles used for the different grammatical genders?
le/un/du/au - masculine
la/une/de la/à la - feminine
l’/une/un/ de l’/ à l’ - h or a vowel.
les/des/aux - pluriel.
When are articles used.
Definite:
- After aimer or détester.
- Talking about things in general
- With school subjects.
Indefinite article:
Used as in English.
How do we know the gender of a word?
- By the gender of the actual animal or person in real life.
- By the ending of the word.
How do we know masculine words?
If it ends with:
- -age
- ment
- il, -ail, -eil, - euil
- -é
- -eau, -eu
- -er
- -oir
- -isme
- ing
- ard
- -am, -um, -em
- -it, -est
- -an, -and, -ant, -ent, -in, -int, -om, -ond, -ont.
- -ème, -ège
Most nouns that end with a consonant will be masculine.
There are exceptions.
- -age: la page, l’image
- -eau: l’eau
- -in: la fin
A lot of English words that are used in French are often masculine as well.
How do we know feminine words?
If they end with:
- -tion, -sion and -son
- -ure
- -ude, -ade
- -ée
- -té
- -ière
- -euse
- -ance, -ence
- consonant + ie
- -ine, -elle,-esse,-ette.
Exceptions:
- -ée
- le musée, le lycée.
Most combinations of a vowel + consonant+ e will be feminine.
How do we know the gender of places?
If a city is place name does not end in -e, then it is most likely masculine. If it ends in -e, then it’s most likely feminine.
Exceptions:
- le Mexique
- le Bélize
- le Cambodge
- le Mozambique
- le Zaïre
- le Zimbabwe
How do we know the gender of derivative nouns?
Nouns that are derived from a verb referring to something or someone carrying out that verb’s action typically use the ending - eur and will be masculine.
Eg. l’aspirateur, l’ordinateur
Nouns that are derived from adjectives and end with -eur are feminine.
Eg. la rougeur, la largeur.
What nouns go both ways?
Animals and Job titles.
How are animals’ gender differentiated?
If the animal is male, then it is masculine, if it is female, then it is feminine.
There are some exceptions which refer to both sexes using the same word.
Eg. la souris, le cheval.
How are the job titles differentiated?
Most jib titles have a masculine and a feminine form.
Un acteur, une actrice (actor) Un boulanger, une boulangère (Baker) Un infirmier, une infirmière (nurse) Un caissier, une caissière (cashier) Un avocat, une avocate (lawyer) Un pharmacien, une pharmacienne (pharmacist) Un étudiant, une étudiante (student) Un serveur, une serveuse (waiter)
Words that change meaning with gender
le/la critique
- critic/ criticism
Le/la guide
- guide/ rein
Le/la livre
- book/pound
Le/la manche
- handle/ sleeve, game, heat.
La Manche - English Channel
Le/la mémoire
- report,treatise/memory.
Le/la mode
- mood, form, method/ fashion, custom
Le/la mort
- dead man/ death
Le/la mousse
- cabin-boy/ moss,foam
Le/la page
- page boy/ page in book.
Le/la pendule
- pendulum/clock
Le/la poêle
- stove, pall/frying-pan
Le/la politique
- politician/politics
Le/la poste
- post,position,employment/post-office
Le/la somme
- nap/ sum of money
Le/la tour
- turn,trick,round,trip/tower
Le/la vague
- vagueness, emptiness,uncertainty/wave
Le/la vapeur
- steamer/steam
Le/la vase
- vase,vessel/slime,mire,mud
Le/la voile
- veil/sail in a ship.
