A noun phrase is a noun together with the words that identify, describe, or add information about it. In English, expressions such as the book, a small house, and the students in the class are noun phrases.
French noun phrases work in a similar way. They can include articles or other determiners, adjectives, numbers, and complements placed around the noun.
Basic noun phrase structure
The noun is the central word in a noun phrase.
A simple noun phrase can contain only an article and a noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le livre | the book |
| une maison | a house |
| les enfants | the children |
A noun phrase can include other words before or after the noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une petite maison | a small house |
| les trois enfants | the three children |
| un livre intéressant | an interesting book |
The exact order depends on the type of word being added.
Articles and other determiners
A determiner appears with a noun and helps identify which person or thing the noun refers to. English uses determiners in situations like "this book" or "my car."
Articles are one type of determiner. For more information, see Articles.
French articles can show whether a noun is specific or indefinite, and their form can also reflect the noun's gender and number:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le livre | the book |
| un livre | a book |
| des livres | some books |
Other determiners can show possession or point to a particular noun. These include possessive and demonstrative adjectives:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| mon livre | my book |
| cette maison | this house |
| leurs amis | their friends |
A noun phrase normally begins with one determiner rather than combining several in the same position.
Adjectives in noun phrases
Adjectives add information about the noun. Some adjectives appear before the noun:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une petite maison | a small house |
| un bon livre | a good book |
| un vieux bâtiment | an old building |
Others normally appear after it:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une maison moderne | a modern house |
| un livre intéressant | an interesting book |
| une voiture française | a French car |
A noun phrase can include more than one adjective:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| une petite maison blanche | a small white house |
| un vieux livre intéressant | an interesting old book |
Adjective position depends on the adjective and, in some cases, the meaning being expressed. For more information, see Adjective position.
Noun complements
A noun complement adds information about a noun. It often follows the noun and begins with a preposition such as de or à. Common noun complements include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un verre d'eau | a glass of water |
| la porte de la maison | the door of the house |
| une tasse à café | a coffee cup |
| une salle de classe | a classroom |
The complement helps specify the type, content, purpose, possession, or relationship of the noun.
With de, articles can contract:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| la porte du jardin | the garden gate |
| les livres des étudiants | the students' books |
Here, du combines de + le, and des combines de + les.
Expanded noun phrases
A noun phrase can combine several kinds of information around the same noun.
These phrases add details such as number, size, type, or location:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les trois petits chiens | the three small dogs |
| une grande maison moderne | a large modern house |
| le nouveau professeur de français | the new French teacher |
| les deux livres sur la table | the two books on the table |
An expanded noun phrase can include a determiner, number, adjective, noun, and complement.
In les deux petits chiens du voisin, the noun chiens is the central word:
| Part | French |
|---|---|
| determiner | les |
| number | deux |
| adjective | petits |
| noun | chiens |
| complement | du voisin |
Each part adds information while the noun remains the center of the phrase.
From learning to practice
When reading or listening to French, identify the main noun in a phrase and notice the words that appear before and after it. Pay attention to determiners, adjective position, numbers, and complements.
Practice starting with a simple noun phrase such as une maison and adding information one step at a time: une grande maison, une grande maison moderne, and une grande maison moderne près du parc. This will help you recognize and build longer noun phrases more easily.