Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Proper-Nouns"

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*Nous survolons la Belgique  
*Nous survolons la Belgique  
We're flying over Belgium
We're flying over Belgium
==Related 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]]

Revision as of 13:08, 26 February 2023

French-Language-PolyglotClub.png
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

Related Lessons