Adjectifs indéfinis
Use indefinite adjectives to talk about vague quantities and general categories without needing specific numbers or definite names.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Indefinite adjectives describe nouns in a general, non-specific way.
- Place them directly before the noun they are modifying.
- Most match the noun's gender and number, but some are fixed.
- Use 'chaque' for 'each' and 'plusieurs' for 'several' or 'many'.
Quick Reference
| Adjective | English | Grammar Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaque | Each / Every | Always singular, never changes gender. | Chaque étudiant |
| Plusieurs | Several / Many | Always plural, never changes gender. | Plusieurs amis |
| Quelques | Some / A few | Always plural in common usage. | Quelques minutes |
| Tout / Toute | All / Whole | Matches singular gender, needs article. | Toute la ville |
| Tous / Toutes | All / Every | Matches plural gender, needs article. | Tous les matins |
| Autre | Other / Another | Changes to 'autres' in plural. | Une autre idée |
| Même | Same | Changes to 'mêmes' in plural. | Le même restaurant |
| Certains | Certain / Some | Always plural, has feminine 'certaines'. | Certains jours |
主な例文
3 / 10Je bois un café chaque matin.
I drink a coffee every morning.
Elle parle plusieurs langues couramment.
She speaks several languages fluently.
Il a plu toute la nuit.
It rained all night.
The Singular Rule
Never use 'Chaque' with a plural noun. It is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Keep it simple and singular!
The Article Anchor
Remember that 'Tout' almost always needs an article like 'le' or 'la' after it. 'Tout le monde' is 'everyone,' not just 'tout monde.'
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Indefinite adjectives describe nouns in a general, non-specific way.
- Place them directly before the noun they are modifying.
- Most match the noun's gender and number, but some are fixed.
- Use 'chaque' for 'each' and 'plusieurs' for 'several' or 'many'.
Overview
Imagine you are at a busy French bakery. You want some pastries. You do not know the exact number. Maybe you want every single croissant. This is where indefinite adjectives come in. They are your best friends for being vague. They help you talk about quantities without math. You use them for "some," "all," or "each." Think of it like a soft-focus lens. You see the object. The exact number is just blurry. Yes, even native speakers get these mixed up. Do not worry. You will master them soon. It is like learning a grammar traffic light.
How This Grammar Works
These words always sit right before a noun. They describe that noun in a general way. They do not point to one specific thing. Instead, they talk about a group or a part. Most of them change to match the noun. They look at gender and number. Some are rebels and never change. Chaque is a good example of a rebel. It stays the same for everyone. These adjectives replace articles like le or un. You usually do not need both. It keeps your sentences clean and simple. Think of them as flavor boosters for nouns.
Formation Pattern
- 1Identify your main noun first.
- 2Determine if it is singular or plural.
- 3Check if it is masculine or feminine.
- 4Choose your indefinite adjective based on quantity.
- 5Place the adjective directly before the noun.
- 6Add the article
le,la, orlesif usingtout. - 7Check for agreement for words like
autreormême.
When To Use It
You use these when precision is not necessary. Maybe you are ordering food with friends. You might say plusieurs pizzas. You do not need to say "three pizzas." It sounds more natural in casual talk. Use them in job interviews to sound flexible. You can talk about plusieurs compétences. Use them when giving directions to a stranger. Tell them to take une autre rue. It helps when you are being polite. Use chaque to show you are very organized. It shows you care about every single detail. It makes you sound like a pro.
When Not To Use It
Do not use these with specific numbers. If you know there are exactly five, say "five." Avoid them when referring to a unique object. You cannot say plusieurs soleils for our world. Only one sun exists for us! Do not use them with definite pronouns like il or ce. They only like to hang out with nouns. Avoid using chaque with a plural noun. This is a very common trap for learners. It feels like a grammar speeding ticket. Keep it singular and you will be safe. Do not use tout without an article afterwards.
Common Mistakes
Many people say chaque personnes. This is a big no-no in French. Chaque is a lonely soul. It only likes singular nouns. Use chaque personne instead. Another mistake is forgetting the s on plusieurs. Wait, actually plusieurs always has an s. It is born with it. Do not try to remove it. People also forget to match tout correctly. It has four different forms to learn. Toute la journée is not the same as tous les jours. One is a long day. The other is many different days. Do not let the spelling trip you up.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
Learners often confuse quelques and plusieurs. Think of quelques as a small handful. It is like three or four items. Plusieurs is a larger group. It is like a medium-sized box. Another contrast is chaque versus tout. Chaque looks at items one by one. It is like checking every egg in a carton. Tout looks at the whole group together. It is like buying the entire carton. Autre is for a different choice. Même is for the exact same choice. It is like picking between twins. They look alike but they are different.
Quick FAQ
Q. Does plusieurs change for gender?
A. No, it is always the same form.
Q. Can I use un before chaque?
A. No, chaque replaces the article completely.
Q. Is tout always singular?
A. No, it can be plural too.
Q. Does même need an article?
A. Yes, you usually say le même or la même.
Q. Is certains only for people?
A. No, you can use it for things too.
Q. Can I say quelque without an s?
A. Yes, but only in very specific cases.
Q. Should I worry about every exception?
A. No, focus on the big ones first.
Reference Table
| Adjective | English | Grammar Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaque | Each / Every | Always singular, never changes gender. | Chaque étudiant |
| Plusieurs | Several / Many | Always plural, never changes gender. | Plusieurs amis |
| Quelques | Some / A few | Always plural in common usage. | Quelques minutes |
| Tout / Toute | All / Whole | Matches singular gender, needs article. | Toute la ville |
| Tous / Toutes | All / Every | Matches plural gender, needs article. | Tous les matins |
| Autre | Other / Another | Changes to 'autres' in plural. | Une autre idée |
| Même | Same | Changes to 'mêmes' in plural. | Le même restaurant |
| Certains | Certain / Some | Always plural, has feminine 'certaines'. | Certains jours |
The Singular Rule
Never use 'Chaque' with a plural noun. It is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. Keep it simple and singular!
The Article Anchor
Remember that 'Tout' almost always needs an article like 'le' or 'la' after it. 'Tout le monde' is 'everyone,' not just 'tout monde.'
Being Vague is Polite
In French culture, using 'quelques' or 'plusieurs' can sound more polite than demanding a specific number. It feels less aggressive in social settings.
The Twin Analogy
Think of 'Même' as the twin adjective. It always points to something identical. If you have the 'même' bag as your friend, you are twins for the day!
例文
10Je bois un café chaque matin.
Focus: chaque matin
I drink a coffee every morning.
Chaque highlights the repetition of the action daily.
Elle parle plusieurs langues couramment.
Focus: plusieurs langues
She speaks several languages fluently.
Plusieurs indicates more than a few but not all.
Il a plu toute la nuit.
Focus: Toute la nuit
It rained all night.
Toute matches the feminine singular noun 'nuit'.
Certaines personnes préfèrent le thé.
Focus: Certaines personnes
Certain people prefer tea.
Matches feminine plural; used for a specific sub-group.
Avez-vous d'autres questions pour moi ?
Focus: d'autres questions
Do you have other questions for me?
Formal usage often seen in interviews or meetings.
Nous regardons le même film.
Focus: le même film
We are watching the same movie.
Même emphasizes identity or lack of change.
Je fais du sport chaque jour.
Focus: chaque jour
I exercise every day.
Common error: never put an 's' after chaque.
J'ai lu plusieurs livres cet été.
Focus: plusieurs livres
I read several books this summer.
Common error: plusieur(s) must always have plural nouns.
Tous les étudiants ont réussi l'examen.
Focus: Tous les étudiants
All the students passed the exam.
Refers to the totality of a specific group.
Je veux juste quelques biscuits.
Focus: quelques biscuits
I just want a few cookies.
Implies a small, indefinite number.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct adjective for a single, repeated event.
___ soir, je regarde les nouvelles.
Chaque is used with singular nouns to indicate every single instance.
Which word correctly describes 'some' (plural) friends?
J'ai invité ___ amis à ma fête.
Quelques is used with plural nouns to mean a small number of something.
Complete the sentence using the correct form of 'all'.
J'ai mangé ___ la pizza !
Pizza is feminine singular, so you must use 'toute' followed by the article.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Chaque vs. Tout
Choosing the Right Adjective
Is the noun singular?
Do you mean 'every single one'?
Use 'Chaque'!
Common Categories
Singular Fixed
- • Chaque
Plural Fixed
- • Plusieurs
- • Quelques
Variable
- • Tout
- • Autre
- • Même
よくある質問
21 問They are words that describe a noun without being specific about the quantity or identity. Examples include chaque, plusieurs, and quelques.
No, plusieurs is invariable. You use the exact same word for masculine and feminine nouns like plusieurs hommes and plusieurs femmes.
It is always chaque jour. Chaque only works with singular nouns, so never add an 's' to the noun following it.
You use tout for masculine singular nouns like tout le livre. Use toute for feminine singular nouns like toute la nuit.
Usually, no. In basic French, you will almost always see it as quelques with an 's' to mean 'a few'.
Think of quelques as 2 to 5 items. Plusieurs feels like a bigger amount, maybe 6 to 15 items.
Yes, it becomes autres. For example, you say un autre livre but d'autres livres.
Yes, when it means 'same,' it goes before the noun. For example, la même chose means 'the same thing'.
Because tous is the plural masculine form. It literally means 'all the days,' which we translate as 'every day'.
Yes, it can. But as an adjective, it must be followed by a noun like certains étudiants.
No, never. Chaque is strong enough to stand on its own without an article like le or un.
It means 'any.' It is a slightly more advanced indefinite adjective for when you truly do not care which one you get.
Yes, tel means 'such' or 'like.' You might hear une telle histoire which means 'such a story'.
You say l'autre. If you are talking about multiple things, you say les autres.
No, if you want to talk about groups, use tous les groupes. Chaque insists on being singular.
No, plusieurs is for things you can count. Use beaucoup de for things like water or sand.
Yes, but as a pronoun. As an adjective, it needs a noun like tout le gâteau (all the cake).
Use certain or certaine. For example, un certain charme means 'a certain charm'.
The opposite is usually différent or autre. You can say une autre couleur for a different color.
They almost always come before the noun. This is the standard position for indefinite adjectives in French.
Yes, it means 'none' or 'not any.' It is used in negative sentences like je n'ai aucune idée.
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