Unit 29: Nouns - plurals

1 Plural of nouns

As in English, the plural of nouns is generally formed by adding an -s to the end of the word. The following exceptions apply:

 

1.1 Nouns ending -s, -x, or -z

Nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z remain the same:

les fils	les voix	les gaz
the sons	the voices	the gases

 

1.2 Nouns ending -au, -eu

Nouns ending in -au and -eu take -x in the plural:

les châteaux	les cheveux	but	les pneus
the castles	the hair		the tyres

 

1.3 Nouns ending -ou, -x

Certain nouns ending in -ou take -x in the plural:

les bijoux	les cailloux	but	les clous
the jewels	the pebbles		the nails

 

1.4 Nouns ending -ail, -al

Certain words ending in -ail and -al end in -aux in the plural:

un travail	→	des travaux		work
un animal	→	des animaux		animals
un journal	→	des journaux		newspapers

 

but

un carnaval	→	des carnavals		carnivals
un festival	→	des festivals		festivals

 

1.5 Fundamental changes

Certain words change fundamentally in the plural:

un oeil	→	les yeux		the eyes
Monsieur	→	Messieurs		Gentlemen
Madame	→	Mesdames		Ladies

 

1.6 Proper nouns and acronyms

In French proper nouns and acronyms take no -s in the plural, unlike in English:

On est allé voir les Dupont hier soir  

We went to see the Duponts yesterday evening

Ils possèdent deux Peugeot  

They own two Peugeots

En ce qui concerne les ordinateurs, je préfère les Apple aux PC  

As far as computers are concerned, I prefer Apples to PCs

Elle dépense tout son argent en CD  

She spends all her money on CDs

  See three more examples

 

1.7 Singular v plural, uncountable v countable

Some words are singular in one language and plural in the other:

 

 

 

 

  See three more examples

 

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