Here is the phrase: "Enfin, j'arrive sur la Grand-Place et je retrouve mon frere a cote de la fontaine."
Note: "La Grand-Place" was given as the hint for this sentence, otherwise I might have written, "la Grande-Place", (even though the pronunciation is "grand" and not "grande").
Does anyone know why " la Grand-Place", rather than "la Grande-Place" since "la place" is feminine ?
Merci beaucoup !
La Grand-Place - a compound adjective-noun, retains grammatical gender of the noun. ‘Grand’ is an invariable adjective in compound nouns - as in ‘ma grand-mère’.
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/compound-noun-gender/
Merci Maarten,
I guess I never really thought about "ma grand-mere" but it's a great example of "grand" being an invariable adjective in a compound noun. The lesson you suggest is very helpful, too. There is a reference in that lesson:
"Note that the adjectives demi and grand are invariable in compound nouns – more about this in a future lesson."
I have searched the site, but can't seem to find the lesson. It would be very useful, I am sure.
Help, please ?
Et, comme toujours, Merci beaucoup !
I assume the lesson on compound plurals is what Laura referred to - I know of no other lesson in Laura’s site on the topic. For interest, ‘grand-mères’ seems to still be the officially (Académie) endorsed plural (note though that ‘grands-pères’ is official).
In practice, and according to Robert and a number of other references, “grands-mères” is also used and correct, despite the “official” view (many French people have little time or regard for the Académie) !
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/compound-noun-plurals/
Don't have an account yet? Join today
Test your French to the CEFR standard
Find your French level