Lesson 2 - Grammar 3 - tout, toute, tous, toutes n5v5p
tout, toute, tous, toutes can have different meanings according to their role in the sentence. For that reason, we find it simpler to study them in three steps.
Step 1- 'tout' meaning everything is invariable and can be subject or object.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
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Tout est ici. | Everything is here. |
Je prends tout. | I take everything. |
Step 2- 'tout' (masculine form)/ 'toute' (feminine form) meaning: the whole, the entire amount, all (followed by a noun in the singular) modifies a noun in the singular and agrees in gender with the noun it modifies.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
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J'ai é toute la journée à travailler. | I spent the whole day working. |
J'ai besoin de tout mon temps. | I need all my time. |
Step 3-
a. 'tous' (masculine form)/ 'toutes' (feminine form) meaning all or all of them modifies a plural noun or pronoun.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
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J’ai tous mes bagages. | I have all my bags. |
Toutes mes amies sont ici. | All my friends are here. |
Tous les miens sont là. | All mine are there. |
b. 'tous' (masculine form) / 'toutes' (feminine form) meaning all of them can refer to items mentioned in a preceding sentence.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
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J'en apporte à tous. | I’m bringing some to all. |
Ils sont tous venus | They all came |
Notice that when ‘tous’ precedes a noun-marker the final s is not pronounced.