Unlike English, French nouns are either MASCULINE or FEMININE 2 This is known as the GENDER October 2005 N Marshall Essex Adult Learning Services - Languages

The = la – goes before feminine nouns A/an = une – goes before feminine nouns 3 The = le – goes before masculine nouns A/an = un – goes before masculine nouns BUT: l’ (‘the’ before a vowel or h) & les (‘the’ before plurals) go with either gender!

4 * Le chien * Le sac * Le livre * Un chien * Un sac * Un livre

5 * La fille * La table * La tasse * Une fille * Une table * Une tasse

Here are some pointers…..keep clicking! 6

7 * … 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 Back to exercises

8 * … 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 Back to exercises

9 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….. Back to exercises

Le/Un chien Le/Un fromage 10 TIP! La/Une voiture La/Une dent

11 Try the following exercises by clicking on the links below: * Start from scratch…1 Click here...1 Click here... * Know a little…2 Click here...2 Click here... * Quite confident…3 Click here...3 Click here... Choose your level or start from scratch and do the lot! Use a dictionary if you want – answers are at the bottom of each page! Return to Masculine Return to Feminine Return to Exceptions