1.1.2.1 Nouns, Definition, in L'Huillier, Advanced French Grammar

presentation of L'Huillier's work, by Corry Shores

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Monique L'Huillier

Advanced French Grammar

1. Framework

1.1 Parts of Speech

1.1.2 Nouns

1.1.2.1 Definition

(i) Nouns as substance or abstraction

A nouns denotes a substance, hence we call it a substantive (substantif). The noun is "what is." 

Yet a nouncan also represent such abstract ideas as love (l'amour). Or they may indicate actions, like la natation. 

(ii) Gender and Number

Nouns have both gender and number.

Gender:

1) Masculine: un homme

2) Feminine: une femme

Number

1) Singular: un chat

2) Plural: des chats

(iii) Simple and Compound

1) Simple nouns: un chou, une fleur (une gratte, un ciel)

2) Compound nouns: un chou-fleur, un gratte-ciel

L'Huillier, Monique. Advanced French Grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

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