Masculin ou Féminin?: Règles de Grammaire

Question 1

When talking about a woman or a girl, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 1

b) This is an example of gender by meaning.

Question 2

“Bureau” and “chapeau” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 2

They are both masculine, because they end in -eau. (Exceptions: eau and peau, both feminine)

Question 3

When talking about a river or country not ending (in French) in a silent e, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 3

a) Some exceptions are the Danube (le Danube), the Rhone (le Rhône), and Mexico (le Mexique).

Question 4

Of which gender is the word “place”, and why?

Answer 4

It is feminine, because it ends in -ace. (Exception: espace, masculine)

Question 5

When talking about a female animal, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 5

b) A female cat is “la chatte”, but a tomcat (male cat) is “le chat”.

Question 6

“Cinema” and “café” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 6

They are both masculine, because they end in a vowel other than a non-accented e.

Question 7

When talking about languages, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 7

a) The word “French” in French (français) is masculine!

Question 8

“Promenade”, “limonade”, and “salade” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 8

They are all feminine, because they end in -ade. (Exceptions: grade and stade, both masculine)

Question 9

When talking about a river or country ending in a silent e, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 9

b) Some examples are the Seine (la Seine), Russia (la Russie), and Belgium (la Belgique).

Question 10

“Piano” and “numéro” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 10

They are both masculine, because they end in a non-accented o. (Exceptions: dynamo, auto, météo, photo, radio, sténo, stéréo, all feminine)

Question 11

When talking about days of the week, months, or seasons, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 11

a) Surprisingly enough, there are no exceptions to this rule!

Question 12

“Naissance”, “indépendance”, “puissance”, and “danse” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 12

They are all feminine, because they end in -ance or -anse.

Question 13

When talking about saint days and festivals, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 13

b) Pentecôte means Pentecost in the USA, but it means Whitsun or Whit Sunday in the UK. (courtesy of WordReference)

Question 14

Of which gender is the word “appartement”, and why?

Answer 14

It is masculine, because it ends in -ment.

Question 15

When talking about common trees or shrubs, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 15

a) Some examples are the oak tree (le chêne), the fir tree (le sapain), and the laurel (le laurier).

Question 16

“Évidence”, “défense”, “différence”, “patience”, and “science” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it and why?

Answer 16

They are all feminine, because they end in -ence or -ense. (Exception: silence, masculine)

Question 17

“Capitalisme”, “communisme”, “enthousiasme”, “féminisme”, and “tourisme” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 17

They are all masculine, because they end in -isme.

Question 18

When talking about male animals, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 18

a) A male dog is “le chien”, but a female dog is “la chienne”.

Question 19

“Idée”, “soirée”, and “pensée” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it and why?

Answer 19

They are all feminine, because they end in -ée. (Exceptions: musée, lycée, both masculine)

Question 20

“Auteur” and “bonheur” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 20

They are both masculine, because they end in -eur.

Question 21

When talking about a man or a boy, is a noun a) masculine, or b) feminine?

Answer 21

a) Mr. Boucher’s name comes from the (masculine) word for butcher.

Question 22

Of which gender is the word “lumiére”, and why?

Answer 22

It is feminine, because it ends in -ére. (Exceptions: mystére, caractére, both masculine)

Question 23

Of which gender is the word “thème”, and why?

Answer 23

It is masculine, because it ends in -ème. (Exception: crème, feminine)

Question 24

Of which gender is the word “peur”, and why?

Answer 24

It is feminine, because it is an abstract noun that ends in -eur. (Exceptions: bonheur, chœur, cœur, honneur, labeur, malheur, all masculine)

Question 25

“Piège” and “collège” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 25

They are both masculine, because they end in -ège.

Question 26

Of which gender is the word “pluie”, and why?

Answer 26

It is feminine, because it ends in -ie. (Exceptions: génie, incendie, parapluie, all masculine)

Question 27

“Fromage”, “étage”, and “nuage” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 27

They are all masculine, because they end in -age. (Exceptions: cage, image, nage, page, plage, rage, all feminine)

Question 28

Of which gender is the word “bière”, and why?

Answer 28

It is feminine, because it ends in -ière. (Exception: cimitière, masculine)

Question 29

Of which gender is the word “marché”, and why?

Answer 29

It is masculine, because it ends in é.

Question 30

“Mémoire”, “victoire”, “poire”, and “gloire” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 30

They are all feminine, because they end in -oire. (Exceptions: laboratoire, pourboire, both masculine)

Question 31

Of which gender is the word “spectacle”, and why?

Answer 31

It is masculine, because it ends in -acle. (Exception: débacle, feminine)

Question 32

“Impression”, “répétition”, “nation”, “condition”, and “fiction” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 32

They are all feminine, because they end in -sion or -tion.

Question 33

“Saison”, “raison”, “maison”, and “prison” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 33

They are all feminine, because they end in -son.

Question 34

“Liberté”, “fraternité”, “egalité”, and “bonté” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 34

They are all feminine, because they end in -té.

Question 35

“Moitié” and “pitié” are both of the same gender. Which gender is it, and why?

Answer 35

They are both feminine, because they end in -tié.

Question 36

“Botte”, “terre”, “lutte”, “couronne”, and “mass” are all of the same gender. Which gender is it,and why?

Answer 36

They are all feminine, because they end in a silent e after a double consonant. (Exceptions: verre, parterre, tonnerre, intervalle, carosse, all masculine)