Incorrect gender and number agreements: avoid these common mistakes!

Introduction

Speaking French is good. Speaking correct French is even better! 🇫🇷 But for many learners, gender and number agreements are a frequent source of errors. Who hasn’t hesitated between un livre bleu and une livre bleue? 😵

In this article, we’ll look at the most common mistakes, why they’re a problem and, above all, how to avoid them with simple, effective tips. 🚀

1. Why are agreements so difficult?

French is a language where words change according to gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). Unlike some languages that don’t make this distinction, in French, adjectives, past participles and certain nouns must be granted.

👉 Example: A beautiful house 🏡 vs. A beautiful apartment 🏢

2. Common mistakes and how to correct them

2.1. Agreement of the adjective with the noun

One of the most frequent errors concerns the agreement of adjectives with the noun they qualify.

❌ A red dress → ✅ A red dress

❌ White shirts → ✅ White shirts

💡 Tip: Identify the gender of the noun before agreeing the adjective. If the noun is feminine, the adjective must be too.

2.2. Past participle agreement

Agreement of the past participle with the auxiliary “être” is simple: it agrees with the subject.

👉 They’ve arrived. 👉 He’s gone.

Be careful with “avoir”! The past participle is only granted if the COD is placed before it.

❌ I ate apples. → ✅ I ate apples.

❌ The apples I ate → ✅ The apples I ate.

2.3. Noun agreement in number

In French, a plural noun often takes an -s, but this isn’t always the case!

❌ Horses → ✅ Horses

❌ Les journal → ✅ Newspapers

💡 Tip: Memorize the most common irregularities!

3. How to improve your tuning? 🎯

✅ Practice with targeted exercises: regular practice helps to automate the rules.

✅ Read regularly in French: it helps you visualize chords correctly.

✅ Work with a teacher: at Too French, we support you through private lessons, tutoring and independent exercises.

4. Improve your grammar with Too French 🎯

Having trouble with chords? Don’t panic! 😃 At Too French, we’ve designed programs to help you:

✅ Autonomy: practice at your own pace with interactive exercises.

✅ Tutoring: benefit from the support of a teacher to correct your mistakes.

✅ Private lessons: work with an expert for rapid progress!🔗 Join us and improve your French! 🇫🇷✨