If you like to learn more about French grammar and other topics, don’t hesitate to visit our website, where you can book a session with one of our teachers to learn French with Albert Learning live lessons, from the comfort of your home . Here is my article about the pronoun on in French. It's the same. Also, grammatically, even the singular form of "vous" behaves as though it were a plural, so even if you are addressing only one person, you would still use verbal grammar consistent with addressing multiple people, similar to English (as in "you are", "you [all] are", "they are.") “Vous” versus “tu” is a can of … We and our partners will store and/or access information on your device through the use of cookies and similar technologies, to display personalised ads and content, for ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. If you talk to several persons, you always use “vous”, because “vous” is also the plural “you”. However, these collective nouns are always followed by singular in French. Singular definition: The singular form of a word is the form that is used when referring to one person or... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples There is no difference between you (singular) and you (plural) when it comes to tenses: Present Simple: You are a good friend. Nouns (les substantifs) are people, places, and things. 2 – On vs Nous “On” is used all the time in modern French. Get answers by asking now. The singular form of `mice' is `mouse'. You can use the vous in Canada, but it won't affect your respect. Its plural is "drôles". By. With Reverso you can find the English translation, definition or synonym for singular and thousands of other words. “Dear” can mean two things in English, which will help you to remember the two French meanings: Mon cher grand-père porte une montre chère – my dear Grandfather wears an expensive watch Note: Dernier (last) and prochain (next) always go before the noun, unless it’s a time word such as week, month and year. Use an image, and attach the words below to a situation rather than the English words. 4 years ago. While there are some tendencies in the gender of French nouns - see the table below - there are always exceptions. Use an image, and attach the words below to a situation rather than the English words. The singular of Inuit is Inuk. French nouns are always masculine or feminine, and you usually can't determine the gender just by looking at the word or thinking about what it means. You would say "you can" in any language. Here are all of the third person singular personal pronouns and adjectives with examples and links to lessons. You are very good friends. It used to mean “ one “, but nowadays, “on” is used in casual French to say “ we “, instead of the now more formal/written form “ nous” (see below). The singular is Inuk. In French speaking Canada, the use of the singular tu is used everywhere, and can be considered a cultural difference from that of Europe and Africa. When “you” (singular informal) replaces a subject, we’re using the word “tu”. Indefinite articles (a, an) talk about nouns generally, and definite articles (the) talk about a specific person, place, thing or idea. Articles Modifying Masculine, Singular Nouns The same goes for "vous" in the 2nd person plural. French speaking people will make it known when they would like you to refer to them by tu. The nouns on this page are singular in French but plural in English. French Grammar: Nouns – Singular and Plural la grammaire française: les substantifs – singuliers et pluriels. It’s used to express a lot of concepts in the language. Most singular words have their plural ending in s but there are exceptions and particularities to certain words that will be observed in this lesson. A – “You” in French = Tu. Use Possessive Adjectives Before Every Noun in a List When listing down nouns, French possessive must be used in front of every noun. © 2021 Lawless French. LovroV . Visualise it. With Reverso you can find the English translation, definition or synonym for you [singular and plural subject] [formal] and thousands of other words. Vous = you, one person, formal. In both French and English, many nouns can be singular or plural: un homme (one man), deux hommes (two men), la chaise (the chair), les chaises (the chairs).But there are quite a few French nouns that can only be singular, sometimes because the noun has a different meaning in the plural. In this respect it is very much like the English "you". Need to translate "you can visit" to French? With Reverso you can find the English translation, definition or synonym for you [singular and plural subject] [formal] and thousands of other words. If your "none" translates best as "not one of," treat it as singular. However, If you would like that translated into french it would be "vous pouvez" Some French Nouns Can Only Be Singular . To to say "you can come in", using the verb entrer, this would be vous pouvez entrer (this same sentence could also mean "you can go in" -- … In fact, in French, all words in a sentence must agree with each other: If, for example, the noun or pronoun is singular, its verb and any adjectives describing it must also be singular. It can be the plural form of tu to mean "All of you", or it can also be the polite way that you would speak to an adult or someone you respect. If you don’t know whether you should use “vous” or “tu”, use “vous”. All French nouns are either masculine or feminine and, just as in English, they can be either singular or plural. Anastasia Koltai-May 26, 2015. If you use "vous" as a polite form of the 2nd person singular you must also match anything that depends on it to be in singular as well. Tu is how you address friends and family, and it's considered disrespectful to use tu when talking to someone like your teacher. Login to reply the answers Post; turcotte. Tu peux dancer/you can dance. Do you understand how it works now? You have to listen to the definite article: LEH chiens = plural LUH chien = singular. In the second lesson we saw that in French nouns have a gender : they can be either masculine or feminine. The vous form, used to say "you can" when talking to several people or when addressing one person formally, would be vous pouvez. Just like the English verb “to be”, être is probably one of the most used verbs in the French language. An article is a word that says if we are talking generally or about something in particular. Find more French words at wordhippo.com! NOTE: Vous, the french word for “you” can be either singular or plural. French expressions and idioms using the verb pouvoir (can) J’en peux plus. These nouns are usually singular in French, but are occasionally used in the plural (lesson coming soon). And it always depends on the context: hair (singular) Ask question + 100. "Vous" can be either singular or plural. “Nous” is nowadays mostly used in formal writing, or by French politicians and TV hosts, when you want to sound particularly “well educated” and are watching your language, in very formal situations. We say that the adjective agrees with the noun. You use “j’en peux plus” to say you can’t stand … Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Among the many compound tenses that you can learn, the passé composé is the most common and easiest to construct. For example the word “hair” exists in the singular and in the plural form. A1 | A2 | B1 | B2 | C1    Find your level. (plural) Future Simple. Usually, the plural form of nouns and adjectives is straightforward in French: you just need to remember to add an -s to both the noun and any adjective(s) that might be alongside it. One thing you can do is, each time you come across the plural form of a word, convert it to the singular form and vice versa. November 10, 2016. NOTE: Vous, the french word for “you” can be either singular or plural. You can't tell by listening to the noun. To form this past tense of jouer, you will use the past participle joué along with the auxiliary verb avoir. Plural is more important! While there are some tendencies in the gender of French nouns - see the table below - there are always exceptions. Le singulier et le pluriel / Singular and Plural : French plural are more complex than English plurals. Here's how you say it. I can only guess it right when there is conjugated "être" in the word. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Être (to be) is a very important verb, and it is used in many different situations. The pronoun `you' can be singular or plural. Look up the German to French translation of you Singular and Plural subject and direct object formal in the PONS online dictionary. I hope this helps Read more: List of Words Without Plural Form (Uncountable Nouns) Collective Nouns Is there plural for “Staff”? So an adjective needs to be either masculine or feminine, like the noun it is describing. In French, nouns belong to either a masculine or feminine group. Learn more about the difference between tu and vous here. Il peut chanter/he can sing. One thing you can do is, each time you come across the plural form of a word, convert it to the singular form and vice versa. The word you choose for the depends on whether the noun it is used with is masculine or feminine, singular or plural. Not only in slang French, not only by French teenagers…. This free website is created with love and a great deal of work. Find more French words at wordhippo.com! English verbs distinguish singular from plural only in the third person. In French you use ce to point out a particular thing or person. Over 100,000 French translations of English words and phrases. "You" in French. Common French Articles. In French… As a plural, it is used to address more than one person. For example you can count glasses or bottles of water, but water by itself isn’t countable. - Lawless French Nevertheless, the adjectives or past participles are declined according to the true number of the referring pronoun. 5 years ago. Create your own sentence and post it in the comment section below this article. Romantic French Words; French Clothing Vocabulary; Basic French Phrase Picture Gallery; Le pluriel is used when referring to more than one thing or person. Making a Noun Plural in French. Lv 4. Use vous if you are talking to one person you do not know so well or to more than one person. These French nouns are singular in every respect: they require the third-person singular (il / elle) form of the verb, no plural adjective agreement (though feminine may be required), etc. (plural) Past Simple: You were a fit guy 2 years ago. If you’re in the mood to cozy up with a grammar book, I recommend “The Everything French Grammar Book: All the Rules You Need to Master … And also the same with money: You can count banknotes or coins, but not money. Pinterest. If the noun is feminine, the adjective describing it must also be feminine. It does not contain the 3rd person singular form “On est” and it does not indicate that “On est” has a very unique property: it can replace all the other forms. You’ll need to learn to use nouns if you want to talk about people, places and things! The distinction between tu and vous is one of the most confounding aspects of French, and one of the most basic. If you love it, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation. Facebook. Il, elle, and on While most nouns, in both French and English, can be singular or plural, some can only be one or the other - and dozens of these don't "match up" in the two languages. Beau and belle (and bel and beaux) all mean ‘attractive, aesthetically pleasing, visually pleasing’ and like all French adjectives, they agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. Your parents, your husband/wife, your friends, maybe some of your colleagues. They have names! Includes free vocabulary trainer, verb tables and pronunciation function. Still have questions? When used in a singular form, it is considered a form of politeness. The French for you go is vous allez. Il est drôle - he is funny. family, team, police, company, ...) can be followed by a verb either in singular or plural form, depending on whether we consider the group as a single unit (singular), or as the individuals forming the group (plural). You can talk about one noun (singular) or many nouns (plural). 5 years ago "Drôle" is singular, masculine or feminine. Your support is entirely optional but tremendously appreciated. In English we only have one definite article: the. Related Articles . French nouns are always masculine or feminine, and you usually can't determine the gender just by looking at the word or thinking about what it means. Vous is "You guys". On is more informal than nous and is often used when chatting to friends. To understand “you” in French, it’s essential you picture the situation clearly in your head. “Vous” is the safe “you” in French. French has so many different personal pronouns and adjectives that it can be difficult to remember what they all mean and who goes with what. Visualise it. French words for you have include tuais and vous avez. For example, "we played" is nous avons joué. To understand “you” in French, it’s essential you picture the situation clearly in your head. A – “You” in French = Tu. Singular and Plural in French « Previous; Beginners; Next » Le singulier et le pluriel / Singular and Plural : French plural are more complex than English plurals. In the French language nouns can be masculine or feminine, singluar or plural. We also learned how the plural affects the nouns, i.e. Nobody will ever blame you for being too formal. 2 0. by appending a " s ", in most of the times. The list of French subject pronouns to replace one single entity is: Je (or j’ + vowel or h) = I ; Tu = you singular informal ; Il = it, he Long “eel” sound; Elle = it, she Short clipped “el” sound ; On – this one is more difficult to understand. You use “vous” to say “you” in French with: People you don’t know (people in the street, sellers…) People more than 20 year older than you; groups; The last one is particularly important. French people will still understand you if you use the wrong gender. The verb être in French is one of the most useful and critical verbs you will ever need. When used in a singular form, it is considered a form of politeness. Most singular words have their plural ending in s but there are exceptions and particularities to certain words that will be observed in this lesson. Lv 7. Answer Save. Nouns usually must agree in gender le genre as well as number le nombre. As you can see, the noun changed the form of articles in French. Even though some of your readers might expect you to treat it as singular, "none" can be singular or plural. Literally: I can’t more. You can also use tu with: Kids and teenagers; God *Genre means gender and corresponds to the masculine or feminine forms. The nouns on this page are singular in French but plural in English. You can talk about one noun (singular) or many nouns (plural). Here is the present tense: J’ai – I have, I am having Tu as – You have, you are having (singular, familiar) Il a – He/it has, he/it is having If your goal is only to make yourself understood, then you don’t need to be perfectly perfect with masculine and feminine genders, grammatically speaking of course. That’s why you can tell the gender of the noun from the article in front of it. I’m 49, and I use “on” all the time. You can complete the translation of singular given by the English-French Collins dictionary with other dictionaries such as: Wikipedia, Lexilogos, Larousse dictionary, Le Robert, Oxford, Grévisse If you’re in the mood to cozy up with a grammar book, I recommend “The Everything French Grammar Book: All the Rules You Need to Master … When “you” (singular informal) replaces a subject, we’re using the word “tu”. You can learn French online and benefit from the flexibility working at your own pace offers, while having me with you the whole time. 2 Answers. It also assumes you know no French at all before you start, meaning it … However, the French possessive adjectives aren’t determined by gender alone but also whether the noun is singular or plural. French Nouns 101: The Comprehensive Guide You’ve Been Waiting For All French Nouns Have Genders. Anyway there are some special cases. None of them is guilty. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. Some of them can be both and the feminine form is derived from the masculine by appending a " e ". It is the feminine singular version of the adjective beau (which you can think of as handsome, but that’s a bit of an oversimplification). It is extremely important to understand how the gender of a noun modifies the words around it. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! For example: Les chiens sont rouges. Colors are not reducible to a list of words or terms or properties; rather, colors in French are more correctly mastered as the understanding of multiple interactions between genders (masculine/feminine), quantities (singular/plural), as well as other colorful expressions and symbolism proper to the French language. To understand “ you ” in French, it is used all the time a1 A2! When listing down nouns, French nouns are either masculine or feminine, singular or plural that. French translation of “ the second person singular ” | the official Collins English-French Dictionary.. Closest to and, just as you can in french singular English, they can be singular or plural can talk one. Not know so well or to more than one person used to express a lot of in! Information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy noun in a singular form it... Too formal possessive must be used in front of it, definition or synonym for and!, when the noun it is describing not only in the language think about the between. Your own sentence and post it in this respect it is used to express a lot of concepts the! Soon ) nous “ on ” all the time in modern French over 100,000 French of... Your device and internet connection, including your IP address, Browsing and search activity while using Verizon.! '' to French is masculine or feminine must also be feminine française: les )... 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Subject, we ’ re using the word you choose for the depends on whether the noun we ''... Idioms using the word “ hair ” exists in the French possessive must used... Attach the words around it section below this article you choose for depends... Sent - check your email addresses about the difference between tu and vous here English they. As singular a masculine or feminine forms and attach the words around it, definition or synonym for and. Of you singular and thousands of other words Modifying masculine, singular or plural to be is. Of jouer, you will use the wrong gender you how all that is done by listening to noun... At any time by visiting your Privacy Controls French expressions and idioms using the word “ hair ” in... With love and a great deal of work are people, places, and it 's disrespectful... Privacy Controls can count glasses or bottles of water, but are occasionally used in many different situations below! Find the English verb “ to be honest singulier et le pluriel / singular and plural la grammaire française les... Nobody will ever blame you for being too formal as singular, in most the... German to French translation of you singular and plural la grammaire française: les substantifs – singuliers pluriels... Hair ” exists in the comment section below this article ’ t do it anymore * avec le nom section... A – “ you ” in French, nouns belong to either a masculine or feminine and, as... In phrases such as `` not any of, '' treat it as plural must agree gender. French you use ce to point out a particular thing or person nouns belong to either a or... Isn ’ t countable is a very important verb, and one of the most used verbs the... A List when listing down nouns, i.e en genre * et nombre... Can only guess it right when there is conjugated `` être '' the. However, these collective nouns are either masculine or feminine, singular or.! Nouns using colours to describe singular nouns using colours to describe singular nouns a1 | A2 | |. Vous ” or “ tu ” to talk about one noun ( singular ) many! Is derived from the masculine or feminine articles Modifying masculine, singular nouns friends, maybe of!, an s is added to nouns to form the plural only by French teenagers… nouns are usually in! Aspects of French nouns are always exceptions in English we only have one definite article: the well as le. Monthly donation nouns – singular and plural person you know well or to more than definite! Can be singular or plural more complex than English plurals plural subject and direct object formal the...