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

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<div style="font-size:300%"> French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns</div>
<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. However, the general meaning of the compound noun does not always depend on the distinct meanings of each word that composes it, but on the general meaning given to this name.


In today's lesson, we will study the plural of compounds elements:
In today's lesson, we will study the plural of compound nouns, each element of which can be either:
*nouns
*a noun
*adjectives
*an adjective
*adverbs
*an adverb
*prepositions
*a preposition
*verbs
*a verb




Line 20: Line 20:
!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'''
|
|-
|-
|un bas-côté
|un bas-côté
|des bas-côté'''s'''
|des bas-côté'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une basse-cour
|une basse-cour
|des basse'''s'''-cour'''s'''
|des basse'''s'''-cour'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une belle-fille
|une belle-fille
|des belle'''s'''-fille'''s'''
|des belle'''s'''-fille'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un cerf-volant
|un cerf-volant
|des cerf'''s'''-volant'''s'''
|des cerf'''s'''-volant'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un coffre-fort
|un coffre-fort
|des coffre'''s'''-fort'''s'''
|des coffre'''s'''-fort'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un grand-parent
|un grand-parent
|des grand'''s'''-parent'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-parent'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un rond-point
|un rond-point
|des rond'''s'''-point'''s'''
|des rond'''s'''-point'''s'''
|
|}
|}


Line 50: Line 59:
!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'''
|
|-
|-
|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'''
|
|-
|-
|un grand-oncle
|un grand-oncle
|des grand'''s'''-oncle'''s'''
|des grand'''s'''-oncle'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|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'''
|
|}
|}


Line 68: Line 82:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|un bonhomme
|un bonhomme
|des bonshomme'''s'''
|des bonshomme'''s'''
|
|}
|}


Line 76: Line 92:
Both are plural
Both are plural


<tbody>
{| class="wikitable"
 
|French Singular
</tbody>
|French Plural
 
|Translation
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
|-
<tr>
|''un coffre-fort''
<td><i>un coffre-fort</i></td>
|''des coffres-forts''
<td><i>des coffres-forts</i></td>
|safe(s)
<td>&nbsp;</td>
|-
<td>safe(s)</td>
|''un pied-plat''
</tr>
|''des pieds-plats''
<tr>
|boor(s)
<td><i>un pied-plat</i></td>
|-
<td><i>des pieds-plats</i></td>
|''un grand-père''
<td>&nbsp;</td>
|''des grands-pères''
<td>boor(s)</td>
|grandfather(s)
</tr>
|-
<tr>
|''une belle-fille''
<td><i>un grand-père</i></td>
|''des belles-filles''
<td><i>des grands-pères</i></td>
|daughter(s)-in-law, step-daughter(s)
<td>&nbsp;</td>
|}
<td>grandfather(s)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i>une belle-fille</i></td>
<td><i>des belles-filles</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>daughter(s)-in-law, step-daughter(s)</td>
</tr></table>


==Noun +  noun==
==Noun +  noun==
Line 113: Line 121:
!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'''
|
|-
|-
|un bateau-mouche
|un bateau-mouche
|des bateau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|des bateau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un camion-citerne
|un camion-citerne
|des camion'''s'''-citerne'''s'''
|des camion'''s'''-citerne'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un chou-fleur
|un chou-fleur
|des chou'''x'''-fleur'''s'''
|des chou'''x'''-fleur'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un homme-grenouille
|un homme-grenouille
|des homme'''s'''-grenouille'''s'''
|des homme'''s'''-grenouille'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une idée-force
|une idée-force
|des idée'''s'''-force'''s'''
|des idée'''s'''-force'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un mot-clé
|un mot-clé
|des mot'''s'''-clé'''s'''
|des mot'''s'''-clé'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un oiseau-mouche
|un oiseau-mouche
|des oiseau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|des oiseau'''x'''-mouche'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une pause-café
|une pause-café
|des pause'''s'''-café'''s'''
|des pause'''s'''-café'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une porte-fenêtre
|une porte-fenêtre
|des porte'''s'''-fenêtre'''s'''
|des porte'''s'''-fenêtre'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une  voiture-restaurant
|une  voiture-restaurant
|des voiture'''s'''-restaurant'''s'''
|des voiture'''s'''-restaurant'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un wagon-lit
|un wagon-lit
|des wagon'''s'''-lit'''s'''
|des wagon'''s'''-lit'''s'''
|
|}
|}
===Exceptions===
===Exceptions===
Line 154: Line 175:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|une auto-école
|une auto-école
|des auto-école'''s'''
|des auto-école'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un bain-marie
|un bain-marie
|des bain'''s'''-marie
|des bain'''s'''-marie
|
|-
|-
|un hôtel-Dieu
|un hôtel-Dieu
|des hôtel'''s'''-Dieu
|des hôtel'''s'''-Dieu
|
|-
|-
|un timbre-poste
|un timbre-poste
|des timbre'''s'''-poste
|des timbre'''s'''-poste
|
|}
|}


Line 173: Line 199:
!French Singular
!French Singular
!French Plural
!French Plural
!Translation
|-
|-
|une  arrière-boutique
|une  arrière-boutique
|des arrière-boutique'''s'''
|des arrière-boutique'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une arrière-pensée
|une arrière-pensée
|des arrière-pensée'''s'''
|des arrière-pensée'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un arrière-plan
|un arrière-plan
|des arrière-plan'''s'''
|des arrière-plan'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une  contre-offensive
|une  contre-offensive
|des contre-offensive'''s'''
|des contre-offensive'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une contre-offre
|une contre-offre
|des contre-offre'''s'''
|des contre-offre'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une demi-bouteille
|une demi-bouteille
|des demi-bouteille'''s'''
|des demi-bouteille'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un demi-tarif
|un demi-tarif
|des demi-tarif'''s'''
|des demi-tarif'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un haut-parleur 
|un haut-parleur 
|des haut-parleur'''s'''
|des haut-parleur'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un hors-bord 
|un hors-bord 
|des hors-bord'''s'''
|des hors-bord'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|une mini-jupe 
|une mini-jupe 
|des mini-jupe'''s'''
|des mini-jupe'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un non-lieu 
|un non-lieu 
|des non-lieu'''s'''
|des non-lieu'''s'''
|
|-
|-
|un non-paiement 
|un non-paiement 
|des non-paiement'''s'''
|des non-paiement'''s'''
|
|}
|}
*Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail
*Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail
Line 216: Line 255:
Both are plural.
Both are plural.


<tbody>
</tbody><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<td><i>une douce-amère</i></td>
<td><i>des douces-amères</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>woody nightshade</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i>un sourd-muet</i></td>
<td><i>des sourds-muets</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>deaf-mute(s)</td>
</tr></table>


{| class="wikitable"
|
|
|
|-
|''une douce-amère''
|''des douces-amères''
|woody nightshade
|-
|''un sourd-muet''
|''des sourds-muets''
|deaf-mute(s)
|}


==Adverb / adjective + past participle==
==Adverb / adjective + past participle==
Only participle is plural.
Only participle is plural.


<tbody>
</tbody><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5">
<tr>
<td><i>un nouveau-né</i></td>
<td><i>des nouveau-nés</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>newborn(s)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><i>un bien-aimé</i></td>
<td><i>des bien-aimés</i></td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>beloved(s)</td>
</tr></table>


{| class="wikitable"
|
|
|
|
|-
|''un nouveau-né''
|''des nouveau-nés''
| 
|newborn(s)
|-
|''un bien-aimé''
|''des bien-aimés''
| 
|beloved(s)
|}


==Noun + prepositional phrase==
==Noun + prepositional phrase==

Revision as of 22:53, 27 November 2021

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French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns

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 noun does not always depend on the distinct meanings of each word that composes it, but on the general meaning given to this name.

In today's lesson, we will study the plural of compound nouns, each element of which can be either:

  • a noun
  • an adjective
  • an adverb
  • a preposition
  • a verb


Adjective + noun

both are plural

General Examples

French Singular French Plural Translation
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

Family Members

French Singular French Plural Translation
un grand-père des grands-pères
une grand-mère des grands-mères or des grand-mères
un grand-oncle des grands-oncles
une grand-tante des grands-tantes or des grand-tantes

Exception

French Singular French Plural Translation
un bonhomme des bonshommes

Noun + adjective

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

both are plural

General Examples

French Singular French Plural Translation
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 Translation
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

only noun is plural (although some remain invariable):

French Singular French Plural Translation
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-lieus
un non-paiement  des non-paiements
  • Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail


Adjective + adjective

Both are plural.


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.


un nouveau-né des nouveau-nés   newborn(s)
un bien-aimé des bien-aimés   beloved(s)

Noun + prepositional phrase

only first noun is 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'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
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

3 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-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 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

Invariable.

<tbody>

</tbody>

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


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

Other Chapters

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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