Language/French/Grammar/Number-differences-between-French-and-English-nouns
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French Grammar - Number differences between French and English nouns
Some nouns in the singular in English are in the plural in French and vice versa.
Here are some examples:
English singular & French plural
English singular | French plural |
---|---|
applause | les applaudissements |
darkness | les ténèbres |
sb's funeral | les funérailles de qn |
hair | les cheveux |
information | des informations, des renseignements |
knowledge | les connaissances |
to make progress | faire des progrès |
to do research/my research | faire des recherches/mes recherches |
English plural & French singular
English plural | French singular |
---|---|
linguistics | la linguistique |
economics | l'économie |
grapes (grape = un grain de raisin) | du raisin |
physics | la physique |
pyjamas | un pyjama |
stairs | l'escalier |
shorts | un short |
trousers | un pantalon |
tights | un collant |
underpants | un slip |
- NB: Some mass nouns in French can also be used as count nouns more freely than their English equivalents:
French | English |
---|---|
un pain | a loaf of bread (NOT *a bread) |
un fruit | a piece of fruit |
un raisin | a type of grape |