Articles and Gender: Le, La, Les, Un, Une
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Lesson overview
How French nouns take gender, and the articles that agree with them.
Go to lesson quiz →Exam guidance · JAMB UTME Speed Lens
Pacing
~40 seconds per MCQ (180 questions in 120 minutes, no negative marking).
How JAMB marks this
Fast dimensional/sign elimination and standard formula shortcuts — skip multi-line algebra when substitution tests options faster.
Watch out for
UTME distractors routinely include the intermediate value (e.g., forgetting to convert cm³ to dm³ or °C to Kelvin).
Lesson content
Introduction to Gender in French Nouns
In French, every noun is assigned a gender, either masculine or feminine. This gender affects the articles and adjectives used with the noun. Understanding how to identify the gender of nouns is essential for proper sentence construction.
Masculine and Feminine Nouns
Masculine nouns typically use the article 'le' (the) or 'un' (a), while feminine nouns use 'la' (the) or 'une' (a). For example, 'le livre' (the book) is masculine, and 'la table' (the table) is feminine.
Identifying Gender
Consider the nouns 'chat' (cat) and 'chienne' (female dog). 'Chat' is masculine, so we say 'le chat' (the cat), while 'chienne' is feminine, so we say 'la chienne' (the female dog).
General Rules for Gender
While there are exceptions, many masculine nouns end in 'eau', 'ment', or 'isme', whereas many feminine nouns often end in 'tion', 'té', or 'ie'. Learning these patterns can help predict the gender of new nouns.
Agreement of Articles
To correctly use articles with nouns, remember: Masculine nouns + le/un, Feminine nouns + la/une. For plural nouns, use 'les' for both genders. Example: 'les chats' (the cats) or 'les chiennes' (the female dogs).
Conclusion
Understanding the gender of French nouns and the corresponding articles is crucial for effective communication. Practice identifying the gender of new nouns and using the correct articles to enhance your French grammar skills.
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