Language/French/Grammar/The-plural-of-compound-nouns

French Grammar - The plural of compound nouns

Adjective + noun compounds

In adjective + noun compounds (see 1.2.11), both elements become plural:

Tab 01

NB:

Tab02

BUT

Tab03

Noun + noun compounds

In noun + noun compounds the norm is for both nouns to become plural:

Tab1

Exceptions

Exceptions:

Tab2

Adverb + noun compounds

In adverb + noun compounds, the noun alone becomes plural, (although some remain invariable):

Tab3

• Exception: un sans-travail, des sans-travail

Noun + prepositional phrase compounds

In noun + prepositional phrase compounds only the first noun becomes plural:

Tab4

• But not all change:

tab5

Verb + noun compounds

In verb + noun compounds, there are three 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-coeurs
• des tire-bouchons
• des couvre-lits

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

• le(s) portemanteau(x) 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!

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