Monique L'Huillier
Advanced French Grammar
1. Framework
1.1 Parts of Speech
1.1.11 Synonyms, homonyms, derivation and word class shifts
We may use proper or improper derivation to derive a part of speech from another one.
(i) Proper derivation
Ex,
noun: courage → adjective: courageux
verb: conserver → noun: conservateur ; adjective: conservateur
verb: aimer → adjective: aimable
adjective: beau → verb: embellir
adjective: jaune → verb: jaunir
The suffixes of such words aid us in distinguishing the different parts of speech.
(ii) Improper derivation
Ex,
verb: effrayer→ adjective: effrayant (from present participle)
verb: passer → noun: un passant (from present participle)
verb: percevoir → adjective: perçu (from past participle)
verb: mourir → noun: un mort (from past participle)
verb: devoir → noun: un devoir (from infinitive)
adjective: rouge → noun: le rouge
A word like this can be a different part of speech, depending on its syntactical context.
Ex,
Elle porte un pantalon bleu [adj].
She’s wearing bleu trousers.
Je n’aime pas le bleu.
I don’t like (the colour) blue.
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