Agreement – accord
Let's Define It!
What's an *agreement*?
In grammar, an agreement is a way to show that a particular word or phrase is connected to another in gender and/or number.
In French, more specifically,
- adjectives agree with nouns and pronouns --> ["Cette table bleue, elle est vraiment belle"]
- verbs agree with subject pronouns --> ["Nous finissons nos devoirs"]
- pronouns agree with nouns --> ["Ce mec, il est charmant"]
- participles can agree with subject pronouns or nouns--> ["Elles sont arrivées", "Les filles sont arrivées".
- participles will sometimes agree with direct object pronouns --> ["Tu ne les as jamais fait(e)s"]
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Let's Pronounce It!
What does it sound like in French?
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Let's Have an Example or Two!
Can a little reinforcement do the trick?
Let me now provide a few examples where you can see agreements in action.
- "Vous avez un peu de temps?" / You have a moment? {agreement between the subject pronoun vous and the verb avez}
- Cette lettre, tu l'as déjà écrite? / That letter, have you written her yet? {feminine-singular agreement between the direct object pronoun l' (used for cette lettre) and the past participle écrite (also fem. sing.)
- La patiente a été très courageuse. / The (female) patient has been very brave. {agreement between the noun la patiente and the adjective courageuse.
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