Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/The-plural-of-compound-nouns"

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<div class="pg_page_title">French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns</div>
[[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]]
[[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]]
<div style="font-size:300%"> French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns</div>


A compound noun ("un nom composé" in French) is a name made up of several words usually separated by dashes (-) but representing only one word. However, the general meaning of the compound name does not always depend on the distinct meanings of each word that composes it, but on the general meaning given to this name.
A compound noun ("un nom composé" in French) is a name made up of several words usually separated by dashes (-) but representing only one word.


In today's lesson, we will study the plural of those nouns.
In today's lesson, we will study how to form their plural.
__TOC__
* <span link>Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson:</span> [[Language/French/Grammar/Possessive-determiners|Possessive determiners]], [[Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article|Omission of the article]], [[Language/French/Grammar/Polite-Form|Polite Form]] & [[Language/French/Grammar/Dates|Dates]].  


==Adjective + compound noun==
It can be a bit complicated, but there are 2 rules that generally apply:
<code>adjective + compound noun</code>: both elements become plural.
 
{| class="wikitable"
!'''<u>GENERAL RULE</u>'''
----
# Nouns, adjectives and past participles follow the normal pluralization rules.
# Verbs, prepositions, adverbs and pronouns are invariable.
|}
 
Below, we will study the plural of compound nouns, each element of which being either:
* a noun
* an adjective
* an adverb
* a preposition
* a verb
* verb phrase compounds
* past participle
* prepositional phrase
 
==Adjective + noun==
both are plural


=== General Examples ===
=== General Examples ===
Line 13: Line 34:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un arc-boutant
|un arc-boutant
|des arc'''s'''-boutant'''s'''
|des arc'''s'''-boutant'''s'''
|flying buttresses
|-
|-
|un bas-côté
|un bas-côté
|des bas-côté'''s'''
|des bas-côté'''s'''
|aisles
|-
|-
|une basse-cour
|une basse-cour
|des basse'''s'''-cour'''s'''
|des basse'''s'''-cour'''s'''
|backyards
|-
|-
|une belle-fille
|une belle-fille
|des belle'''s'''-fille'''s'''
|des belle'''s'''-fille'''s'''
|daughters-in-law
|-
|-
|un cerf-volant
|un cerf-volant
|des cerf'''s'''-volant'''s'''
|des cerf'''s'''-volant'''s'''
|kites
|-
|-
|un coffre-fort
|un coffre-fort
|des coffre'''s'''-fort'''s'''
|des coffre'''s'''-fort'''s'''
|safes
|-
|-
|un grand-parent
|un grand-parent
|des grand'''s'''-parent'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-parent'''s'''
|grandparents
|-
|-
|un rond-point
|un rond-point
|des rond'''s'''-point'''s'''
|des rond'''s'''-point'''s'''
|roundabouts
|}
|}


Line 43: Line 73:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un grand-père
|un grand-père
|de'''s''' grands-père'''s'''
|de'''s''' grands-père'''s'''
|grandfathers
|-
|-
|une grand-mère
|une grand-mère
|des grand'''s'''-mère'''s''' or des grand-mère'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-mère'''s''' or des grand-mère'''s'''
|grandmothers  or grandmothers
|-
|-
|un grand-oncle
|un grand-oncle
|des grand'''s'''-oncle'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-oncle'''s'''
|great-uncles
|-
|-
|une grand-tante
|une grand-tante
|des grand'''s'''-tante'''s''' or des grand-tante'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-tante'''s''' or des grand-tante'''s'''
|great aunts  or great aunts
|}
|}


Line 61: Line 96:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un bonhomme
|un bonhomme
|des bonshomme'''s'''
|des bonshomme'''s'''
|
|}
==Noun + adjective==
Both are plural
{| class="wikitable"
!French Singular
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|''un coffre-fort''
|''des coffres-forts''
|safe(s)
|-
|''un pied-plat''
|''des pieds-plats''
|boor(s)
|-
|''un grand-père''
|''des grands-pères''
|grandfather(s)
|-
|''une belle-fille''
|''des belles-filles''
|daughter(s)-in-law, step-daughter(s)
|}
|}


==Noun + compound nouns==
==Noun + noun==
<code>noun + compound nouns</code>: both nouns to become plural:
both are plural


=== General Examples ===
=== General Examples ===
Line 73: Line 135:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un bateau-citerne
|un bateau-citerne
|des bateau'''x'''-citerne'''s'''
|des bateau'''x'''-citerne'''s'''
|tankers
|-
|-
|un bateau-mouche
|un bateau-mouche
|des bateau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|des bateau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|river  boats
|-
|-
|un camion-citerne
|un camion-citerne
|des camion'''s'''-citerne'''s'''
|des camion'''s'''-citerne'''s'''
|tank  trucks
|-
|-
|un chou-fleur
|un chou-fleur
|des chou'''x'''-fleur'''s'''
|des chou'''x'''-fleur'''s'''
|cauliflower
|-
|-
|un homme-grenouille
|un homme-grenouille
|des homme'''s'''-grenouille'''s'''
|des homme'''s'''-grenouille'''s'''
|frogmen
|-
|-
|une idée-force
|une idée-force
|des idée'''s'''-force'''s'''
|des idée'''s'''-force'''s'''
|key  ideas
|-
|-
|un mot-clé
|un mot-clé
|des mot'''s'''-clé'''s'''
|des mot'''s'''-clé'''s'''
|keywords
|-
|-
|un oiseau-mouche
|un oiseau-mouche
|des oiseau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|des oiseau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|hummingbirds
|-
|-
|une pause-café
|une pause-café
|des pause'''s'''-café'''s'''
|des pause'''s'''-café'''s'''
|coffee  breaks
|-
|-
|une porte-fenêtre
|une porte-fenêtre
|des porte'''s'''-fenêtre'''s'''
|des porte'''s'''-fenêtre'''s'''
|French  windows
|-
|-
|une  voiture-restaurant
|une  voiture-restaurant
|des voiture'''s'''-restaurant'''s'''
|des voiture'''s'''-restaurant'''s'''
|dining  cars
|-
|-
|un wagon-lit
|un wagon-lit
|des wagon'''s'''-lit'''s'''
|des wagon'''s'''-lit'''s'''
|sleeping  cars
|}
|}
===Exceptions===
===Exceptions===
Line 114: Line 189:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|une auto-école
|une auto-école
|des auto-école'''s'''
|des auto-école'''s'''
|driving schools
|-
|-
|un bain-marie
|un bain-marie
|des bain'''s'''-marie
|des bain'''s'''-marie
|water baths
|-
|-
|un hôtel-Dieu
|un hôtel-Dieu
|des hôtel'''s'''-Dieu
|des hôtel'''s'''-Dieu
|hotels-dieu
|-
|-
|un timbre-poste
|un timbre-poste
|des timbre'''s'''-poste
|des timbre'''s'''-poste
|postage  stamps
|}
|}


==Adverb + noun compounds==
==Adverb + noun==
In adverb + noun compounds, the noun alone becomes plural, (although some remain invariable):
only noun is plural (although some remain invariable):
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|une  arrière-boutique
|une  arrière-boutique
|des arrière-boutiques
|des arrière-boutique'''s'''
|back  rooms
|-
|-
|une arrière-pensée
|une arrière-pensée
|des arrière-pensées
|des arrière-pensée'''s'''
|ulterior motives
|-
|-
|un arrière-plan
|un arrière-plan
|des arrière-plans
|des arrière-plan'''s'''
|backgrounds
|-
|-
|une  contre-offensive
|une  contre-offensive
|des contre-offensives
|des contre-offensive'''s'''
|counter-offensives
|-
|-
|une contre-offre
|une contre-offre
|des contre-offres
|des contre-offre'''s'''
|counter-offers
|-
|-
|une demi-bouteille
|une demi-bouteille
|des demi-bouteilles
|des demi-bouteille'''s'''
|half bottles
|-
|-
|un demi-tarif
|un demi-tarif
|des demi-tarifs
|des demi-tarif'''s'''
|half-fares
|-
|-
|un haut-parleur 
|un haut-parleur 
|des haut-parleurs
|des haut-parleur'''s'''
|speakers
|-
|-
|un hors-bord 
|un hors-bord 
|des hors-bords
|des hors-bord'''s'''
|speedboats
|-
|-
|une mini-jupe 
|une mini-jupe 
|des mini-jupes
|des mini-jupe'''s'''
|mini skirts
|-
|-
|un non-lieu 
|un non-lieu 
|des non-lieux
|des non-lieu'''s'''
|dismissals
|-
|-
|un non-paiement 
|un non-paiement 
|des non-paiements
|des non-paiement'''s'''
|non-payments
|}
|}
*Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail
*Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail
==Noun + prepositional phrase compounds==
==Adjective + adjective==
In noun + prepositional phrase compounds only the first noun becomes plural:
Both are plural.
 
{| class="wikitable"
!French Singular
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|''une douce-amère''
|''des douces-amères''
|woody nightshade
|-
|''un sourd-muet''
|''des sourds-muets''
|deaf-mute(s)
|}
 
==Adverb / adjective + past participle==
Only participle is plural.
 
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|''un nouveau-né''
|''des nouveau-nés''
| newborn(s)
|-
|''un bien-aimé''
|''des bien-aimés''
| beloved(s)
|}
==Noun + prepositional phrase==
only first noun is plural
{| class="wikitable"
!French Singular
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un aide-de-camp 
|un aide-de-camp 
|des aides-de-camp
|des aide'''s'''-de-camp
|
|-
|-
|un arc-en-ciel 
|un arc-en-ciel 
|des arcs-en-ciel
|des arc'''s'''-en-ciel
|
|-
|-
|un chef d'oeuvre 
|un chef d'oeuvre 
|des chefs d'oeuvre
|des chef'''s''' d'œuvre
|
|-
|-
|un coup d'oeil 
|un coup d'oeil 
|des coups d'oeil
|des coup'''s''' d'oeil
|
|-
|-
|un coup de pied 
|un coup de pied 
|des coups de pied
|des coup'''s''' de pied
|
|-
|-
|un croc-en-jambe 
|un croc-en-jambe 
|des crocs-en-jambe
|des croc'''s'''-en-jambe
|
|-
|-
|une langue-de-chat 
|une langue-de-chat 
|des langues-de-chat
|des langue'''s'''-de-chat
|
|-
|-
|la main d'oeuvre 
|la main d'oeuvre 
|des mains d'oeuvre
|des main'''s''' d'œuvre
|
|-
|-
|un mont-de-piété 
|un mont-de-piété 
|des monts-de-piété
|des mont'''s'''-de-piété
|
|-
|-
|une pomme de terre 
|une pomme de terre 
|des pommes de terre
|des pomme'''s''' de terre
|
|-
|-
|un pot-de-vin 
|un pot-de-vin 
|des pots-de-vin
|des pot'''s'''-de-vin
|
|}
|}


Line 215: Line 354:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un pot-au-feu 
|un pot-au-feu 
|des pot-au-feu
|des pot-au-feu
|
|-
|-
|un tête-à-queue 
|un tête-à-queue 
|des tête-à-queue
|des tête-à-queue
|
|-
|-
|un tête-à-tête 
|un tête-à-tête 
|des tête-à-tête
|des tête-à-tête
|
|}
|}
==Verb + noun compounds==
==Verb + noun==
In verb + noun compounds, there are three possibilities:
3 possibilities:
=== The form remains invariable whether its singular form contains a noun in===
===The form is invariable===
the singular or plural. This is the usual pattern:
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 abat-jour
*des essuie-mains
*des essuie-main'''s'''
*des gratte-ciel
*des gratte-ciel
*des ouvre-boîtes
*des ouvre-boîte'''s'''
*des porte-monnaie
*des porte-monnaie
=== The second word becomes plural, normally -s or -x. This is the case with:===
===The second word is plural===
*des accroche-coeurs
The second word becomes plural, normally -s or -x. This is the case with:
*des tire-bouchons
*des accroche-cœur'''s'''
*des couvre-lits
*des tire-bouchon'''s'''
*des couvre-lit'''s'''
 
These would appear to have been assimilated to the one-word versions, such as:
These would appear to have been assimilated to the one-word versions, such as:
*le(s) portemanteau(x) coat peg(s)
*le(s) portemanteau('''s''') coat peg('''s''')
*le(s) portefeuille(s) wallet(s)
*le(s) portefeuille('''s''') wallet('''s''')
=== The first word becomes plural (which is an indication that it is no longer related to any verbal form). This is the case with: ===
=== The first word is plural===
*des appuis-tête
The first word becomes plural (which is an indication that it is no longer related to any verbal form). This is the case with:  
*des soutiens-gorge
*des appui'''s'''-tête
*des soutien'''s'''-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!
==Verb + verb==
Invariable.
<table class="wikitable">
<tr>
<td><i>un laissez-passer</i></td>
<td><i>des laissez-passer</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>pass(es)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i>un va-et-vient</i></td>
<td><i>des va-et-vient</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>comings and goings</td>
</tr></table>
==Verbal phrase compounds==
==Verbal phrase compounds==
These do not generally have a different plural form:
These do not generally have a different plural form:
Line 256: Line 419:
*des savoir-faire
*des savoir-faire


==Other Chapters==
 
== Quiz: The Plural of Compound Nouns in French ==
 
=== Multiple Choice Questions ===
;1. How is the plural of a compound noun with an adjective and a noun generally formed?
:'''A.''' Only the noun is pluralized
:'''B.''' Only the adjective is pluralized
:'''C.''' Both the adjective and the noun are pluralized
:'''D.''' The compound noun remains invariable
 
;2. What is the plural form of "un grand-père" (grandfather)?
:'''A.''' des grands-pères
:'''B.''' des grand-pères
:'''C.''' des grand-pere
:'''D.''' des grand-pères
 
;3. In the case of a noun followed by a prepositional phrase, how is the plural formed?
:'''A.''' Only the first noun is pluralized
:'''B.''' Both elements are pluralized
:'''C.''' The entire phrase remains invariable
:'''D.''' Only the prepositional phrase is pluralized
 
;4. For compound nouns with an adverb and a noun, how is the plural formed?
:'''A.''' Both parts are pluralized
:'''B.''' Only the noun is pluralized
:'''C.''' Only the adverb is pluralized
:'''D.''' The compound noun remains invariable
 
=== Fill in the Blank ===
;5. The plural of "un arc-boutant" (flying buttress) is "_____".
:___
 
;6. "un bateau-mouche" (river boat) becomes "_____" in the plural.
:___
 
;7. For the compound noun "un cerf-volant" (kite), the correct plural form is "_____".
:___
 
;8. The plural of "une arrière-pensée" (ulterior motive) is "_____".
:___
 
;9. "un non-lieu" (dismissal) in plural is "_____".
:___
 
=== True/False ===
;10. The plural of "un bonhomme" (good man) is "des bonshommes".
:'''True''' / '''False'''
 
;11. "un pot-au-feu" (stew) changes to "des pots-au-feu" in the plural.
:'''True''' / '''False'''
 
;12. In compound nouns with two verbs, both verbs are pluralized in the plural form.
:'''True''' / '''False'''
 
;13. The plural form of "un laissez-passer" (pass) is "des laissez-passés".
:'''True''' / '''False'''
 
;14. "un couvre-lit" (bed cover) in plural becomes "des couvres-lits".
:'''True''' / '''False'''
 
=== Answers ===
;1. C
;2. A
;3. A
;4. B
;5. des arcs-boutants
;6. des bateaux-mouches
;7. des cerfs-volants
;8. des arrière-pensées
;9. des non-lieux
;10. True
;11. False
;12. False
;13. False
;14. False
 
 
 
 
{{French-Nouns-Number}}
 
{{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}}
{{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}}
<span links></span>

Latest revision as of 20:41, 14 November 2023

French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns
French-Language-PolyglotClub.png

A compound noun ("un nom composé" in French) is a name made up of several words usually separated by dashes (-) but representing only one word.

In today's lesson, we will study how to form their plural.

It can be a bit complicated, but there are 2 rules that generally apply:

GENERAL RULE
  1. Nouns, adjectives and past participles follow the normal pluralization rules.
  2. Verbs, prepositions, adverbs and pronouns are invariable.

Below, we will study the plural of compound nouns, each element of which being either:

  • a noun
  • an adjective
  • an adverb
  • a preposition
  • a verb
  • verb phrase compounds
  • past participle
  • prepositional phrase

Adjective + noun[edit | edit source]

both are plural

General Examples[edit | edit source]

French Singular French Plural Translation
un arc-boutant des arcs-boutants flying buttresses
un bas-côté des bas-côtés aisles
une basse-cour des basses-cours backyards
une belle-fille des belles-filles daughters-in-law
un cerf-volant des cerfs-volants kites
un coffre-fort des coffres-forts safes
un grand-parent des grands-parents grandparents
un rond-point des ronds-points roundabouts

Family Members[edit | edit source]

French Singular French Plural Translation
un grand-père des grands-pères grandfathers
une grand-mère des grands-mères or des grand-mères grandmothers or grandmothers
un grand-oncle des grands-oncles great-uncles
une grand-tante des grands-tantes or des grand-tantes great aunts or great aunts

Exception[edit | edit source]

French Singular French Plural Translation
un bonhomme des bonshommes

Noun + adjective[edit | edit source]

Both are plural

French Singular French Plural Translation
un coffre-fort des coffres-forts safe(s)
un pied-plat des pieds-plats boor(s)
un grand-père des grands-pères grandfather(s)
une belle-fille des belles-filles daughter(s)-in-law, step-daughter(s)

Noun + noun[edit | edit source]

both are plural

General Examples[edit | edit source]

French Singular French Plural Translation
un bateau-citerne des bateaux-citernes tankers
un bateau-mouche des bateaux-mouches river boats
un camion-citerne des camions-citernes tank trucks
un chou-fleur des choux-fleurs cauliflower
un homme-grenouille des hommes-grenouilles frogmen
une idée-force des idées-forces key ideas
un mot-clé des mots-clés keywords
un oiseau-mouche des oiseaux-mouches hummingbirds
une pause-café des pauses-cafés coffee breaks
une porte-fenêtre des portes-fenêtres French windows
une voiture-restaurant des voitures-restaurants dining cars
un wagon-lit des wagons-lits sleeping cars

Exceptions[edit | edit source]

French Singular French Plural Translation
une auto-école des auto-écoles driving schools
un bain-marie des bains-marie water baths
un hôtel-Dieu des hôtels-Dieu hotels-dieu
un timbre-poste des timbres-poste postage stamps

Adverb + noun[edit | edit source]

only noun is plural (although some remain invariable):

French Singular French Plural Translation
une arrière-boutique des arrière-boutiques back rooms
une arrière-pensée des arrière-pensées ulterior motives
un arrière-plan des arrière-plans backgrounds
une contre-offensive des contre-offensives counter-offensives
une contre-offre des contre-offres counter-offers
une demi-bouteille des demi-bouteilles half bottles
un demi-tarif des demi-tarifs half-fares
un haut-parleur  des haut-parleurs speakers
un hors-bord  des hors-bords speedboats
une mini-jupe  des mini-jupes mini skirts
un non-lieu  des non-lieus dismissals
un non-paiement  des non-paiements non-payments
  • Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail

Adjective + adjective[edit | edit source]

Both are plural.

French Singular French Plural Translation
une douce-amère des douces-amères woody nightshade
un sourd-muet des sourds-muets deaf-mute(s)

Adverb / adjective + past participle[edit | edit source]

Only participle is plural.

French Singular French Plural Translation
un nouveau-né des nouveau-nés  newborn(s)
un bien-aimé des bien-aimés  beloved(s)

Noun + prepositional phrase[edit | edit source]

only first noun is plural

French Singular French Plural Translation
un aide-de-camp  des aides-de-camp
un arc-en-ciel  des arcs-en-ciel
un chef d'oeuvre  des chefs d'œuvre
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'œuvre
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 Translation
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[edit | edit source]

3 possibilities:

The form is invariable[edit | edit source]

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 is plural[edit | edit source]

The second word becomes plural, normally -s or -x. This is the case with:

  • des accroche-cœurs
  • des tire-bouchons
  • des couvre-lits

These would appear to have been assimilated to the one-word versions, such as:

  • le(s) portemanteau(s) coat peg(s)
  • le(s) portefeuille(s) wallet(s)

The first word is plural[edit | edit source]

The first word becomes plural (which is an indication that it is no longer related to any verbal form). This is the case with:

  • 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!

Verb + verb[edit | edit source]

Invariable.

un laissez-passer des laissez-passer   pass(es)
un va-et-vient des va-et-vient   comings and goings

Verbal phrase compounds[edit | edit source]

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


Quiz: The Plural of Compound Nouns in French[edit | edit source]

Multiple Choice Questions[edit | edit source]

1. How is the plural of a compound noun with an adjective and a noun generally formed?
A. Only the noun is pluralized
B. Only the adjective is pluralized
C. Both the adjective and the noun are pluralized
D. The compound noun remains invariable
2. What is the plural form of "un grand-père" (grandfather)?
A. des grands-pères
B. des grand-pères
C. des grand-pere
D. des grand-pères
3. In the case of a noun followed by a prepositional phrase, how is the plural formed?
A. Only the first noun is pluralized
B. Both elements are pluralized
C. The entire phrase remains invariable
D. Only the prepositional phrase is pluralized
4. For compound nouns with an adverb and a noun, how is the plural formed?
A. Both parts are pluralized
B. Only the noun is pluralized
C. Only the adverb is pluralized
D. The compound noun remains invariable

Fill in the Blank[edit | edit source]

5. The plural of "un arc-boutant" (flying buttress) is "_____".
___
6. "un bateau-mouche" (river boat) becomes "_____" in the plural.
___
7. For the compound noun "un cerf-volant" (kite), the correct plural form is "_____".
___
8. The plural of "une arrière-pensée" (ulterior motive) is "_____".
___
9. "un non-lieu" (dismissal) in plural is "_____".
___

True/False[edit | edit source]

10. The plural of "un bonhomme" (good man) is "des bonshommes".
True / False
11. "un pot-au-feu" (stew) changes to "des pots-au-feu" in the plural.
True / False
12. In compound nouns with two verbs, both verbs are pluralized in the plural form.
True / False
13. The plural form of "un laissez-passer" (pass) is "des laissez-passés".
True / False
14. "un couvre-lit" (bed cover) in plural becomes "des couvres-lits".
True / False

Answers[edit | edit source]

1. C
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. des arcs-boutants
6. des bateaux-mouches
7. des cerfs-volants
8. des arrière-pensées
9. des non-lieux
10. True
11. False
12. False
13. False
14. False



Plural of Nouns (all lessons)[edit source]

Table of Contents



VIDEO SUMMARY: French Plural of Nouns - How To Make A Noun Plural in French - French Grammar Course


Table of Contents

Nouns

Determiners

Personal and impersonal pronouns

Adjectives

Adverbs

Numbers, measurements, time and quantifiers

Verb forms

Verb constructions

Verb and participle agreement

Tense

The subjunctive, modal verbs, exclamatives and imperatives

The infinitive

Prepositions

Question formation

Relative clauses

Negation

Conjunctions and other linking constructions

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