Changing Nouns

Unit 1: Lesson 3

Singular Plural

In English, when we make a singular noun plural, we simply add ‘s’ or ‘es’ to the ending. (ex: horse -> horses)

Sometimes, however, the plural form is entirely different and has to be memorized. (ex: mouse -> mice)

In French, the same rule applies, but with some changes:

ArticlesIn French, not only do we have to make our Nouns

plural, but we have to make plural anything that modifies the noun – ie: the article.

Remember from Lesson 2 that there are 3 Indefinite Articles: un, une, and des – and that “un” and “une” refer to single nouns because they each mean “a”, “an”, or “one” (ex: it is a sheep), but that “des” refers to plural nouns because it means “some” (ex: those are some sheep)

When we make a Noun plural, we not only have to change the ending of the Noun, we have to change its article from “un” or “une” to “des”.

-

If the French noun in question ends in an “s” or an “x” in the singular form, you do NOTHING to the end of it.

Single Form of Noun Plural Form of Noun

Ex: un ours des oursune souris des sourisun agneaux des agneaux

+ X

If the French noun in question ends in “au” or “eau”, you must add “x” to the ending to make the noun plural

Single Form of Noun Plural Form of Noun

Ex: un oiseau des oiseauxun chameau des chameauxun taureau des taureaux

al aux

If the French noun in question ends in “al”, you mush remove the “al” and replace it with “aux”

Single Form of Noun Plural Form of Noun

Ex: un animal des animauxun cheval des chevaux

+ SIf the French noun in question ends in anything

BUT “s”, “x”, “au”, “eau”, or “al”, then simply add “s” to the ending in order to change the noun from singular to plural.

Single Form of Noun Plural Form of Noun

Ex: un canard des canardsun oie des oiesun chat des chatsun loup des loups