French agreement with numbers: when to use plural?
Numbers in French can be tricky when it comes to agreement. Whether to use singular or plural forms depends on several factors. Let's break it down:
General Rule
Generally, nouns following numbers greater than one are plural:
- Deux chats (Two cats)
- Cinq livres (Five books)
Exceptions
Singular with numbers
Some expressions always remain singular, even with numbers greater than one:
- 1,5 kilo (One and a half kilos)
- 2,5 kilomètres (Two and a half kilometers)
Units of measurement
Units of measurement often stay singular after a number:
- Cinq mètre de tissu (Five meters of fabric)
- Dix euro (Ten euros)
However, in everyday speech, you might hear the plural form: "Dix euros"
Compound Numbers
With compound numbers ending in one (21, 31, 41, etc.), use the singular:
- Vingt et un an (Twenty-one years)
- Cinquante et une page (Fifty-one pages)
Hundreds and Thousands
"Cent" and "mille" generally remain invariable:
- Deux cents livres (Two hundred books)
- Trois mille euros (Three thousand euros)
Exception: When used as nouns, they can be pluralized:
- Des centaines de personnes (Hundreds of people)
- Des milliers d'étoiles (Thousands of stars)
Practice Makes Perfect
Remember, while these rules provide a framework, exposure to native French content will help internalize these patterns. Pay attention to number agreements in French texts and conversations to reinforce your understanding.