Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/The-plural-of-compound-nouns"
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| Line 33: | Line 33: | ||
|des ronds-points | |des ronds-points | ||
|} | |} | ||
*NB: | *NB: | ||
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|des grands-tantes or des grand-tantes | |des grands-tantes or des grand-tantes | ||
|} | |} | ||
*BUT | *BUT | ||
| Line 64: | Line 60: | ||
|des bonshommes | |des bonshommes | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Noun + noun compounds== | ==Noun + noun compounds== | ||
In noun + noun compounds the norm is for both nouns to become plural: | In noun + noun compounds the norm is for both nouns to become plural: | ||
| Line 107: | Line 102: | ||
|des wagons-lits | |des wagons-lits | ||
|} | |} | ||
===Exceptions=== | ===Exceptions=== | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
| Line 125: | Line 119: | ||
|des timbres-poste | |des timbres-poste | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Adverb + noun compounds== | ==Adverb + noun compounds== | ||
In adverb + noun compounds, the noun alone becomes plural, (although some remain invariable): | In adverb + noun compounds, the noun alone becomes plural, (although some remain invariable): | ||
| Line 173: | Line 161: | ||
|des non-paiements | |des non-paiements | ||
|} | |} | ||
*Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail | *Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail | ||
==Noun + prepositional phrase compounds== | ==Noun + prepositional phrase compounds== | ||
| Line 230: | Line 216: | ||
|des tête-à-tête | |des tête-à-tête | ||
|} | |} | ||
==Verb + noun compounds== | ==Verb + noun compounds== | ||
In verb + noun compounds, there are three possibilities: | In verb + noun compounds, there are three possibilities: | ||
=== The form remains invariable whether its singular form contains a noun in=== | === The form remains invariable whether its singular form contains a noun in=== | ||
the singular or plural. This is the usual pattern: | the singular or plural. This is the usual pattern: | ||
| Line 254: | Line 235: | ||
*des appuis-tête | *des appuis-tête | ||
*des soutiens-gorge | *des soutiens-gorge | ||
It has to be said that in the area of compound nouns not all 'authorities' agree on the rules and attempts to introduce 'logical' rules appear to have added further confusion to an already confused situation! | It has to be said that in the area of compound nouns not all 'authorities' agree on the rules and attempts to introduce 'logical' rules appear to have added further confusion to an already confused situation! | ||
Revision as of 13:10, 14 October 2021
French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns
Adjective + noun compounds
In adjective + noun compounds (see 1.2.11), both elements become plural:
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un arc-boutant | des arcs-boutants |
| un bas-côté | des bas-côtés |
| une basse-cour | des basses-cours |
| une belle-fille | des belles-filles |
| un cerf-volant | des cerfs-volants |
| un coffre-fort | des coffres-forts |
| un grand-parent | des grands-parents |
| un rond-point | des ronds-points |
- NB:
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un grand-père | des grands-pères |
| un grand-oncle | des grands-oncles |
| une grand-mère | des grands-mères or des grand-mères |
| une grand-tante | des grands-tantes or des grand-tantes |
- BUT
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un bonhomme | des bonshommes |
Noun + noun compounds
In noun + noun compounds the norm is for both nouns to become plural:
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un bateau-citerne | des bateaux-citernes |
| un bateau-mouche | des bateaux-mouches |
| un camion-citerne | des camions-citernes |
| un chou-fleur | des choux-fleurs |
| un homme-grenouille | des hommes-grenouilles |
| une idée-force | des idées-forces |
| un mot-clé | des mots-clés |
| un oiseau-mouche | des oiseaux-mouches |
| une pause-café | des pauses-cafés |
| une porte-fenêtre | des portes-fenêtres |
| une voiture-restaurant | des voitures-restaurants |
| un wagon-lit | des wagons-lits |
Exceptions
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| une auto-école | des auto-écoles |
| un bain-marie | des bains-marie |
| un hôtel-Dieu | des hôtels-Dieu |
| un timbre-poste | des timbres-poste |
Adverb + noun compounds
In adverb + noun compounds, the noun alone becomes plural, (although some remain invariable):
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| une arrière-boutique | des arrière-boutiques |
| une arrière-pensée | des arrière-pensées |
| un arrière-plan | des arrière-plans |
| une contre-offensive | des contre-offensives |
| une contre-offre | des contre-offres |
| une demi-bouteille | des demi-bouteilles |
| un demi-tarif | des demi-tarifs |
| un haut-parleur | des haut-parleurs |
| un hors-bord | des hors-bords |
| une mini-jupe | des mini-jupes |
| un non-lieu | des non-lieux |
| un non-paiement | des non-paiements |
- Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail
Noun + prepositional phrase compounds
In noun + prepositional phrase compounds only the first noun becomes plural:
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un aide-de-camp | des aides-de-camp |
| un arc-en-ciel | des arcs-en-ciel |
| un chef d'oeuvre | des chefs d'oeuvre |
| un coup d'oeil | des coups d'oeil |
| un coup de pied | des coups de pied |
| un croc-en-jambe | des crocs-en-jambe |
| une langue-de-chat | des langues-de-chat |
| la main d'oeuvre | des mains d'oeuvre |
| un mont-de-piété | des monts-de-piété |
| une pomme de terre | des pommes de terre |
| un pot-de-vin | des pots-de-vin |
- But not all change:
| French Singular | French Plural |
|---|---|
| un pot-au-feu | des pot-au-feu |
| un tête-à-queue | des tête-à-queue |
| un tête-à-tête | des tête-à-tête |
Verb + noun compounds
In verb + noun compounds, there are three possibilities:
The form remains invariable whether its singular form contains a noun in
the singular or plural. This is the usual pattern:
- des abat-jour
- des essuie-mains
- des gratte-ciel
- des ouvre-boîtes
- des porte-monnaie
The second word becomes plural, normally -s or -x. This is the case with:
- des accroche-coeurs
- des tire-bouchons
- des couvre-lits
These would appear to have been assimilated to the one-word versions, such as:
- le(s) portemanteau(x) coat peg(s)
- le(s) portefeuille(s) wallet(s)
- des appuis-tête
- des soutiens-gorge
It has to be said that in the area of compound nouns not all 'authorities' agree on the rules and attempts to introduce 'logical' rules appear to have added further confusion to an already confused situation!
Verbal phrase compounds
These do not generally have a different plural form:
- des manque-à-gagner
- des on-dit
- des ouï-dire
- des m'as-tu-vu
- des qu'en dira-t-on
- des laisser-passer
- des savoir-faire