Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Proper-Nouns"
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[[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | [[File:French-Language-PolyglotClub.png|thumb]] | ||
<div | <div class="pg_page_title"> Proper Nouns in French</div> | ||
Proper nouns are names like Marie-Paule, Paris, Toulouse, Le Havre, La Seine, La France, Le Canada. | Proper nouns are names like Marie-Paule, Paris, Toulouse, Le Havre, La Seine, La France, Le Canada. | ||
With persons there is usually no article: | With persons there is usually no article: | ||
*Marie-Paule viendra demain | *Marie-Paule viendra demain | ||
Marie-Paule will come tomorrow | Marie-Paule will come tomorrow | ||
In some cases an article is inserted in informal speech: | In some cases an article is inserted in informal speech: | ||
| Line 16: | Line 14: | ||
*T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Jérôme! | *T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Jérôme! | ||
You should have seen Jerome's face! | You should have seen Jerome's face! | ||
This conveys a familiar, affectionate attitude towards the individual concerned. | This conveys a familiar, affectionate attitude towards the individual concerned. | ||
| Line 23: | Line 20: | ||
*J'ai invité les Martin à venir manger dimanche | *J'ai invité les Martin à venir manger dimanche | ||
I have invited the Martins for Sunday lunch | I have invited the Martins for Sunday lunch | ||
When a person's title is used, it is normally accompanied by the definite article: | When a person's title is used, it is normally accompanied by the definite article: | ||
| Line 30: | Line 26: | ||
*chez le Docteur Gleizes | *chez le Docteur Gleizes | ||
c/o Dr Gleizes (on an envelope or package) | c/o Dr Gleizes (on an envelope or package) | ||
When proper nouns are modified by preceding adjectives, they require a definite article: | When proper nouns are modified by preceding adjectives, they require a definite article: | ||
*le petit Jules | *le petit Jules | ||
| Line 39: | Line 33: | ||
*le gros Henri | *le gros Henri | ||
fat Henri | fat Henri | ||
Unlike in English, regions and countries are normally used with a definite article: | Unlike in English, regions and countries are normally used with a definite article: | ||
| Line 48: | Line 41: | ||
*Nous survolons la Belgique | *Nous survolons la Belgique | ||
We're flying over Belgium | We're flying over Belgium | ||
<span link>Consider exploring these related 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/Adjectives-modifying-the-noun|Adjectives modifying the noun]] & [[Language/French/Grammar/encore-VS-toujours|encore VS toujours]]. | |||
==Other Lessons== | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Location-of-adverbs-modifying-verb-phrases|Location of adverbs modifying verb phrases]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Omission-of-the-article-with-nouns-in-apposition|Omission of the article with nouns in apposition]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Constructions-which-do-not-allow-indirect-object-pronouns|Constructions which do not allow indirect object pronouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Absolute-use-of-the-superlative|Absolute use of the superlative]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Position-of-direct-and-indirect-object-pronouns|Position of direct and indirect object pronouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Subject-verb-agreement-when-subject-quantifiers-are-present|Subject verb agreement when subject quantifiers are present]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/on-as-an-equivalent-for-nous|on as an equivalent for nous]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Pronouns-referring-to-groups-of-mixed-gender|Pronouns referring to groups of mixed gender]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Nouns|Nouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Irregular-plurals-for-nouns-ending-in-–ail|Irregular plurals for nouns ending in –ail]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Typical-use-of-demonstrative-determiners|Typical use of demonstrative determiners]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Adjectives-which-normally-occur-before-the-noun|Adjectives which normally occur before the noun]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Changes-in-the-stem-form-of-some-—er-conjugation-verbs|Changes in the stem form of some —er conjugation verbs]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/How-to-Guess-the-Gender-of-French-Nouns|How to Guess the Gender of French Nouns]] | |||
* [[Language/French/Grammar/Common-Mistakes|Common Mistakes]] | |||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 13:52, 27 March 2023
Proper Nouns in French
Proper nouns are names like Marie-Paule, Paris, Toulouse, Le Havre, La Seine, La France, Le Canada.
With persons there is usually no article:
- Marie-Paule viendra demain
Marie-Paule will come tomorrow
In some cases an article is inserted in informal speech:
- Dis donc, elle était pas fière, la Marie-Paule!
So Marie-Paule must have felt a bit of a fool!
- T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Jérôme!
You should have seen Jerome's face!
This conveys a familiar, affectionate attitude towards the individual concerned.
When reference is made to a family, as in 'the Jones family', a plural article is used, but the name itself is not pluralized:
- J'ai invité les Martin à venir manger dimanche
I have invited the Martins for Sunday lunch
When a person's title is used, it is normally accompanied by the definite article:
- Je vous présente le Professeur Bodin
May I introduce Professor Bodin
- chez le Docteur Gleizes
c/o Dr Gleizes (on an envelope or package)
When proper nouns are modified by preceding adjectives, they require a definite article:
- le petit Jules
little Jules
- le gros Henri
fat Henri
Unlike in English, regions and countries are normally used with a definite article:
- J'ai visité la Normandie
I visited Normandy
- la France d'aujourd'hui
today's France
- Nous survolons la Belgique
We're flying over Belgium
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Possessive determiners, Omission of the article, Adjectives modifying the noun & encore VS toujours.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Location of adverbs modifying verb phrases
- Omission of the article with nouns in apposition
- Constructions which do not allow indirect object pronouns
- Absolute use of the superlative
- Position of direct and indirect object pronouns
- Subject verb agreement when subject quantifiers are present
- on as an equivalent for nous
- Pronouns referring to groups of mixed gender
- Nouns
- Irregular plurals for nouns ending in –ail
- Typical use of demonstrative determiners
- Adjectives which normally occur before the noun
- Changes in the stem form of some —er conjugation verbs
- How to Guess the Gender of French Nouns
- Common Mistakes