French nouns

The noun (French: le nom) is a word that varies in gender and in number. In general, he is used along with a determinant that tells us about its gender and number. 

It can be used as: 

• subject
• attribute
• apposition
• complement:

Any element of the French language can become a noun as long as you can add a determinant to it. 

How to use nouns in French

A noun is a naming word which usually is used to describe living beings, things or ideas. All French nouns, unlike English nouns, either have a masculine or feminine gender. 

About 60% of all French words are nouns which refer to:

• persons
• animals
• things
• abstract perceptions

The form of the noun varies depending on:

• The gender
• THe plural form
• The compound nouns 
• The proper nouns
• The commons nouns

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Gender of French nouns

The gender (French: le genre) can be said to originate in the notion of sex at least for the nouns of people and animals. But for the largest number of names, the genre is unknown or sometimes comes from a particular origin that does not allow to establish a rule. The use of a dictionary is then indispensable in case of doubt.

Masculine of French nouns

The masculine is generally applied to the names of men and to male animals. As a general rule, a noun is masculine when the use allows the use of th articles "le" or "un"

Examples

Feminine of French nouns

The feminine is generally applied to the names of women and female animals. As a rule, a noun is feminine when the use allows the use of "la" or "une"

Normally, the feminine is formed by adding an -e to the masculine noun: un ami ----> une amie

Note that there are some exceptions: 

• Nouns ending in -e form their feminine in -esse
• Nouns ending in -at form their feminine in -ate
• Nouns ending in -el fom their feminine in -elle
• Nouns ending in -teur form their feminine in -trice or -teuse
• Nouns ending in -er form their feminine in -ère

Examples

Number of French nouns

Singular of French nouns

If we are speaking about a single animal, object or person, the number of the name is singular.

The singular uses theses types of determinants: 

• Definite articles (le, la)
• Indefinite articles (un, une)
• Demonstratives adjectives (ce, cette, cet)
• Possessive adjectives (ma, mon, son, sa, ton, ta) 

Examples

The singular can be used to designate a group of individuals, objects or animals like in English. 

• Une association (An association)
• Un troupeau (A gaggle)
• Un groupe (A group)
• Une collection (A collection)

Plural of French nouns

If we are speaking about several animals, objects or people, the number of the name is plural.The plural uses these determinants: 

• Definite articles: les
• Indefinite articles: des
• Demonstratives adjectives: ces
• Possessive adjectives: mes

Examples 

Some nouns are used only in the plural: des annales (record) , des armoiries (armorial bearings), des condoléances (condolences), des fiançailles (an engagement), des honoraires (an honorarium)

French compound nouns

The compound nouns (French: les noms composés) are nouns that are put together to form a meaning. they are sometimes separated by an hyphen. They can be: 

• Noun + noun
• Adjective + noun 
• Verb + noun 
• Verb + verb 

Examples 

French proper nouns

The proper nouns (French: les noms propres) designates a person or object, or a single category of persons or objects. In general, unless otherwise, it has no determinant and starts with a capital letter. 

Examples

French common nouns

The common nouns (French: les noms communs) are all persons or objects of the same species. He usually has a determinant and he starts with a lowercase letter

Examples

Functions of French nouns 

Nouns and nominal groups may have different functions in the sentence: 

• Subject
• Direct object
• Indirect object 
• Second object 
• Circumstancial complement
• Agent complement
• Attribute 
• Epithet
• Apposition and appostrophe