French Noun Gender Rules and Exceptions

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Questions and Answers

Always learn the gender of a noun with its article: __________ livre, __________ fenêtre.

le, la

Nouns adopted from other languages are usually feminine in French.

False (B)

Which of the following nouns is an exception to the typical gender rule for its ending?

  • la peau (correct)
  • le château
  • la solitude
  • l’idéalisme

Match the noun to its correct gender:

<p>le bureau = Masculine la tragédie = Feminine le tourisme = Masculine la nation = Feminine</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one example of a noun that uses the same form for both male and female in French and is indicated by the article.

<p>le journaliste/la journaliste</p> Signup and view all the answers

The final consonants d, n, s, and t are pronounced in the masculine form of nouns.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following endings typically indicates a masculine noun in French?

<p>-isme (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ending '-ie' typically indicates a __________ noun.

<p>feminine</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an exception to the rule that nouns from other languages are masculine?

<p>la pizza</p> Signup and view all the answers

"La professeure" is a traditional way to refer to a female teacher in historical French.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feminine noun that ends with "-ence"?

<p>la différence (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which noun maintains the same form regardless of the gender of the subject it modifies, requiring the article to indicate gender?

<p>journaliste (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Nouns ending in '-té' are generally __________ , although there are some exceptions.

<p>feminine</p> Signup and view all the answers

All nouns ending in '-age' are masculine without exception.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Considering traditional French grammar, which of these options would be the least likely way to refer to a female doctor?

<p>La doctoresse (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Provide an established exception to the rule that nouns ending in '-eur' are typically masculine.

<p>la fleur</p> Signup and view all the answers

To denote the female gender of professions traditionally held by men, French may use the ______ article before the masculine noun form.

<p>la</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a French noun is compound (made of two or more words), its gender is always determined by the first noun in the compound.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which option can never be reliably used as a sole definitive indicator to determine a French noun's gender?

<p>The first letter of the noun (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Extremely advanced: Besides exceptions based on etymology or traditional usage, briefly explain why predicting the gender of a newly coined French noun (e.g., for a tech product) would still present a challenge.

<p>Arbitrary assignment and influence of marketing</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Gender and Articles

Always learn the gender with the article. E.g., le livre, la fenêtre.

Gender of Loanwords

Nouns adopted from other languages are generally masculine.

Exceptions to Gender Rules

'La peau' is an exception to typical gender rules, being feminine.

Noun-Gender Matching

Nouns can be masculine or feminine; match accordingly.

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Gender-Neutral Forms

Some nouns use the same form for male and female, indicated by the article (e.g., le/la journaliste).

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Pronunciation of Final Consonants

Final consonants d, n, s, and t are generally not pronounced in the masculine form of nouns.

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Masculine Endings (-isme)

The ending '-isme' typically indicates a masculine noun.

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Feminine Endings (-ie)

The ending '-ie' typically indicates a feminine noun.

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Gender of 'l’auteur'

In traditional French, 'l’auteur' is masculine.

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Exceptions: 'la pizza'

'La pizza' is a feminine exception to the rule about foreign nouns.

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'La professeure' Evolution

'La professeure' is a modern way to refer to a female teacher; traditionally, 'le professeur' was used for both.

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Feminine Noun: la différence

'La différence' is a feminine noun that ends with '-ence'.

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Study Notes

  • Always learn the gender of a noun with its article: "le livre, la fenêtre."
  • Nouns adopted from other languages are not usually feminine in French.
  • "La peau" and "le silence" are exceptions to the typical gender rule for their ending.
  • Le bureau and le tourisme are masculine nouns.
  • La tragédie and la nation are feminine nouns.
  • Le journaliste/la journaliste is a noun that uses the same form for both male and female, indicated by the article.
  • The final consonants d, n, s, and t are not pronounced in the masculine form of nouns.
  • The ending "-isme" typically indicates a masculine noun in French.
  • The ending "-ie" typically indicates a feminine noun.
  • The gender of the noun "l’auteur" is masculine in traditional French.
  • La pizza is an exception to the rule that nouns from other languages are masculine.
  • "La professeure" is not a traditional way to refer to a female teacher in historical French.
  • "La différence" is a feminine noun that ends with "-ence".

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