Grammar: Number

Section: Singular and Plural Nouns

 In French, nouns can be either singular (un/une) or plural (des). For example, un chat (a cat)
is singular while des chats (some cats) are plural.
 Most French nouns form their plural by adding an -s to the singular. For example, chien (dog)
becomes chiens (dogs).
 However, nouns ending in -s, -x, or -z in the singular do not change in the plural. For
instance, une souris (a mouse) stays as des souris in the plural.
Section: Agreement of Adjectives
 In French, adjectives must agree in number with the noun they modify. This often means
adding an -s to the singular form of the adjective when the noun it describes is plural.
 For example, un grand jardin (a big garden) becomes des grands jardins (big gardens).
 There are some exceptions to the rule where the adjective ends in -s or -x in the singular, in
which case it remains the same in the plural.
Section: Plural of Compound Nouns
 Compound nouns, which consist of two or more words, can have complex plural forms.
 The main rule to keep in mind is that if the two words can function independently, they both
take the plural. For example, un chasse-neige (a snowplow) becomes des chasses-neige.
 If the words function together as a single idea, only the main noun takes the plural. For
instance, une pomme de terre (a potato) becomes des pommes de terre.
Section: Countable and Uncountable Nouns
 Countable nouns are those you can count, like un livre (a book). They can use numerical
quantities and take either a singular or plural form.
 Uncountable nouns are things that you can’t count, like de l’eau (some water), and they
usually only have a singular form. Note that quantities of uncountable nouns are expressed
differently, often using “de” or “d’”.
Remember - understanding and correctly using grammatical number in French is key to ensuring
your writing and speaking is clear and accurate.