1 MASCULINE or FEMININE? Unlike English, French nouns are either MASCULINE or FEMININE This is known as the GENDER October 2005 N Marshall Essex Adult Learning Services - Languages

2 Getting the gender right is important in order to avoid confusion and to speak the language correctly. The = le – goes before masculine nouns A/an = un – goes before masculine nouns The = la – goes before feminine nouns A/an = une – goes before feminine nouns BUT: l’ (‘the’ before a vowel or h) & les (‘the’ before plurals) go with either gender!

3 Masculine nouns…. Le chien Le sac Le livre Un chien Un sac Un livre

4 Feminine nouns…. La fille La table La tasse Une fille Une table Une tasse

5 …..but how do you know when nouns are masculine or feminine? Here are some pointers…..keep clicking!

6 MOST masculine nouns are those that… … end in a consonant … end in –ment … end in –on … end in –é … end in –eau … end in -ède, -ème, -ège … end in –age … end in -ou (moment) (fish) (market) (boat) (system) (cheese) (knee) (shop)Le magasin Le moment Le poisson Le marché Le bâteau Le système Le fromage Le genou

7 MOST feminine nouns are those that… … end in -e … end in a vowel + -e … end in –ion … end in –ise … end in -ance, -ence … end in –ière … end in –ude, -ure … end in –ace, -ade (bank) (nation) (church) (chance) (beer) (car) (salade) (table)La table La banque La nation L’ église La chance La bière La voiture La salade

8 BUT there are exceptions… Masculine nouns usually … end in a consonant … end in –on … end in –eau … end in –age Feminine nouns usually … end in –e … end in a vowel + -e … end in –ance, -ence (drink) (skin) (page) (cheese) (museum) (silence) (tooth)La dent La boisson La peau La page Le fromage Le musée Le silence BUT…..

9 In order to get the gender right, learn and visualise all new nouns with the articles… Le/Un chien Le/Un fromage TIP! La/Une voiture La/Une dent