Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Proper-nouns"
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There is usually no article: | There is usually no article: | ||
* Jean-Paul viendra demain | * Jean-Paul viendra demain | ||
Marie-Paule will come tomorrow | <blockquote>Marie-Paule will come tomorrow</blockquote> | ||
===Informal Speech=== | ===Informal Speech=== | ||
In some cases, an article is added informally, in some French regions: | In some cases, an article is added informally, in some French regions: | ||
*Dis donc, elle était pas fière, la Marie-Jeanne! | *Dis donc, elle était pas fière, la Marie-Jeanne! | ||
Marie-Jeanne must have felt a bit of a fool! (Litteraly: Hey, she wasn't proud, Marie-Jeanne!) | <blockquote>Marie-Jeanne must have felt a bit of a fool! (Litteraly: Hey, she wasn't proud, Marie-Jeanne!)</blockquote> | ||
*T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Rémi! | *T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Rémi! | ||
You should have seen Rémi's face! (Litteraly: You would have seen the face he was making, the Rémi!) | <blockquote>You should have seen Rémi's face! (Litteraly: You would have seen the face he was making, the Rémi!)</blockquote> | ||
===Reference to a family=== | ===Reference to a family=== | ||
This reflects a familiar and affectionate attitude towards the person concerned. When referring to a family, as in "the Durant family", a plural article is used, but the name itself is not plural (unlike in English): | This reflects a familiar and affectionate attitude towards the person concerned. When referring to a family, as in "the Durant family", a plural article is used, but the name itself is not plural (unlike in English): | ||
*J'ai invité les Durant à venir samedi soir | *J'ai invité les Durant à venir samedi soir | ||
I invited the Durants to come on Saturday night | <blockquote>I invited the Durants to come on Saturday night</blockquote> | ||
===Title=== | ===Title=== | ||
When a person's title is used, the definite article is usually added: | When a person's title is used, the definite article is usually added: | ||
*Je vous présente le Professeur Alfred | *Je vous présente le Professeur Alfred | ||
May I introduce Professor Alfred (litteraly: I present to you Professor Alfred) | <blockquote>May I introduce Professor Alfred (litteraly: I present to you Professor Alfred)</blockquote> | ||
*chez le Docteur Charles | *chez le Docteur Charles | ||
c/o Dr Charles (on an envelope or package) | <blockquote>c/o Dr Charles (on an envelope or package)</blockquote> | ||
===Preceding adjectives Modification=== | ===Preceding adjectives Modification=== | ||
Line 43: | Line 39: | ||
*le petit Fred | *le petit Fred | ||
little Fred | <blockquote>little Fred</blockquote> | ||
*le gros Carlos | *le gros Carlos | ||
fat Carlos | <blockquote>fat Carlos</blockquote> | ||
==Regions and countries== | ==Regions and countries== | ||
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: | ||
*J'ai visité la Bretagne | *J'ai visité la Bretagne | ||
I visited Britany | <blockquote>I visited Britany</blockquote> | ||
*la France d'autrefois | *la France d'autrefois | ||
The France of yesteryear | <blockquote>The France of yesteryear</blockquote> | ||
*Nous survolons l'Espagne | *Nous survolons l'Espagne | ||
We fly over Spain | <blockquote>We fly over Spain</blockquote>{{French-Types-of-nouns}} | ||
{{French-Types-of-nouns}} | |||
==Other Chapters== | ==Other Chapters== | ||
{{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} | {{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} |
Revision as of 22:19, 28 November 2021
[CHANGED]
Proper nouns are names like:
- Persons: Jean-Paul, Vincent, Céline, Yann
- Cities: Paris, Marseille, Angers, Aix-en-Provence
- Rivers: La Seine, Le Rhône, La Tamise, Le Rhin
- Regions: La Normandie, L'Alsace
- Countries: La France, Le Congo, les Etats-Unis, Le Royaume-Uni
Persons
There is usually no article:
- Jean-Paul viendra demain
Marie-Paule will come tomorrow
Informal Speech
In some cases, an article is added informally, in some French regions:
- Dis donc, elle était pas fière, la Marie-Jeanne!
Marie-Jeanne must have felt a bit of a fool! (Litteraly: Hey, she wasn't proud, Marie-Jeanne!)
- T'aurais vu la tête qu'il faisait, le Rémi!
You should have seen Rémi's face! (Litteraly: You would have seen the face he was making, the Rémi!)
Reference to a family
This reflects a familiar and affectionate attitude towards the person concerned. When referring to a family, as in "the Durant family", a plural article is used, but the name itself is not plural (unlike in English):
- J'ai invité les Durant à venir samedi soir
I invited the Durants to come on Saturday night
Title
When a person's title is used, the definite article is usually added:
- Je vous présente le Professeur Alfred
May I introduce Professor Alfred (litteraly: I present to you Professor Alfred)
- chez le Docteur Charles
c/o Dr Charles (on an envelope or package)
Preceding adjectives Modification
When proper nouns are modified by preceding adjectives, they require a definite article:
- le petit Fred
little Fred
- le gros Carlos
fat Carlos
Regions and countries
Unlike in English, regions and countries are normally used with a definite article:
- J'ai visité la Bretagne
I visited Britany
- la France d'autrefois
The France of yesteryear
- Nous survolons l'Espagne
We fly over Spain