nouns

Question 1

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

critique

Answer 1

the critic (le critique) / criticism (la critique)

Question 2

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

livre

Answer 2

the book (le livre) / the pound (la livre)

Question 3

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

manche

Answer 3

the handle (le manche) / sleeve (la manche)

Question 4

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

mode

Answer 4

the mode (le mode) / the fashion (la mode)

Question 5

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

page

Answer 5

the pageboy (le page) / the page (la page)

Question 6

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

poêle

Answer 6

the stove (le poêle) / frying-pan (la poêle)

Question 7

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

poste

Answer 7

job, TV set (le poste) / the post office (la poste)

Question 8

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

somme

Answer 8

nap (le somme) / the sum (la somme)

Question 9

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

tour

Answer 9

round (le tour) / tower (la tour)

Question 10

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

vase

Answer 10

the vase (le vase) / mud (la vase)

Question 11

Some French nouns have 2 meanings, according to their gender. What are the 2 meanings for?

voile

Answer 11

the veil (le voile) / sail (la voile)

Question 12

How do most nouns form their plurals ?

Answer 12

By adding an ‘s’ to the singular.

la lettre … les lettres

Question 13

How are plurals formed for nouns, whose singular form ends in -s, -x or -z ?

Answer 13

The plural form of the noun is the same as the singular form.

la souris … les souris

Question 14

How are plurals formed for nouns, whose singular form ends in -au, -eau and -eu ?

Answer 14

The plural form of the noun is formed by adding an ‘x’ to the singular form.

le jeu … les jeux

Question 15

How are plurals formed for most nouns, whose singular form ends in -al, -ail ?

Answer 15

The plural form of the noun is formed by changing ‘al’ or ‘ail’ to ‘aux’.

le journal … les journaux

Question 16

how are plurals formed for most nouns, whose singular form ends in -ou ?

Answer 16

The plural form of the noun is formed by adding an ‘s’ to the singular form.

un bisou – des bisous (a kiss – kisses)

Question 17

How is the plural formed for bijou ?

Answer 17

The plural of bijou is bijoux.

This is an exception to the rule of forming the plural, by adding an ‘s’ to the singular form for nouns ending in ‘ou’.

Also caillou, chou, genou, hibou, joujou and pou.

All of which take an ‘x’ in the plural.

Question 18

What is the plural of l’oeil ?

Answer 18

les yeux

Question 19

What happens to surnames in the plural form ?

Answer 19

French does not add an ‘s’ to surnames.

Les Massot viendront déjeuner chez nous vendredi

Question 20

What is the plural of Monsieur ?

Answer 20

Messieurs

Question 21

What is meant by apposition ?

Answer 21

A noun is in apposition when it introduces a phrase, often within commas, that acts as a sort of parallel to the noun :

Paris, capitale de la France, contient beaucoup de beau musées.

When a noun is in apposition, it does not require an article.

Question 22

There are 3 occasions on which the indefinite article is used in place of du, de l’, de la and des, what are they ?

Answer 22

• After a negative:-
  
  • Il n’y a plus de vin
• Within a plural noun which is preceded by an adjective:-
  
  • il a de bons rapports avec sa famille
• With expressions of quantity:-
  
  • j’ai acheté un kilo de sucre