Indefinites 1 Definition An indefinite word is one like autre , quelque
or chacun which indicates identity or quantity in a general or
non-specific way.
2 Autre
- other 2.1 Used as an adjectiveWhen used as an
adjective
, autre is most commonly preceded by
un , l' , mon or ce . Note that un
/ une autre becomes d'autres in the
plural
:
Viens un autre jour
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Come another day
L'autre livre était plus cher
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The other book was more expensive
Avez-vous d'autres pullovers
du même genre?
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Do you have any other jumpers in the same style?
D’autres moyens existent pour lutter contre le problème.
There are other ways of fighting the problem.
Est-ce que vous avez un autre livre du même genre?
Do you have another book of this kind?
Il éprouve le besoin d’explorer d’autres horizons.
He feels the need to explore other horizons.
L’autre solution est moins coûteuse.
The other solution is less costly.
2.2 D'autres
D'autres (and not *des autres ) is also used in the
pronoun
form:
Aucun de ces pullovers n'est à ma taille. Est-ce que vous
en avez d'autres du même genre?
Your browser does not support the audio element.
None of these jumpers fit me. Do you have any others in
the same style?
3 Tel - such Tel is usually preceded by un / une , or de
in the
pronoun
:
Une telle perspicacité est
rare chez les enfants
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Such perceptiveness is rare in children
De telles erreurs sont compréhensibles
chez les débutants
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Mistakes like that are understandable in beginners
Qu’est-ce qu’on peut faire pour éviter que de tels problèmes se reproduisent?
What can we do to prevent such problems from happening again?
Vous ne rencontrerez pas souvent une telle occasion.
You won’t often get an opportunity like that.
De telles mesures s’imposent à cause de la gravité de la situation.
Such measures are necessary because of the seriousness of the situation.
Pourquoi est-ce qu’il y a une telle différence de prix entre ces deux produits?
Why is there such a price difference between these two products?
4 Plusieurs -
several Note that plusieurs , which is always
pronoun
, has no special
feminine
form:
Il y a plusieurs voitures dans
leur allée - ils ont sûrement invité des amis
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There are several cars in their drive - they must have invited
friends over
Il est l’auteur de plusieurs livres sur ce sujet
He’s the author of several books on the subject.
5 Quelque (s )
- some 5.1 Used as an adjectiveWhen used as an
adjective
, quelque can be
singular
or
plural
.
When used with the sense of a few it is plural:
Il me reste encore quelques
pommes
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I still have some apples left
J’ai eu quelque difficulté à le joindre.
I had some difficulty getting hold of him.
5.2 Referring to unknown person / thing
When referring to an unknown person or thing it is singular:
Il nous faudra trouver quelque
autre solution au problème
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We'll have to find some other solution to the problem
Elle sera probablement allée voir quelque amie.
She’s probably gone to see some friend.
5.3 As part of quelqu'un and quelque chose
Quelque also forms part of the compound words quelqu'un
(someone ) and quelque chose (something ). Note
that when these are used with an
adjective
, they are followed by de:
Il faut que nous trouvions quelqu'un
de très expérimenté pour le poste
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We need to find someone very experienced for the job
Il y avait quelque chose de
curieux dans la façon dont il m'a parlé
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There was something strange in the way he spoke to me
Est-ce que tu as pris quelque chose pour ton mal de tête?
Have you taken something for your headache?
J’ai appris quelque chose de nouveau aujourd’hui.
I learned something new today.
Virginie, c’est quelqu’un de très professionnel dans son travail.
Virginie is a very professional person in her work.
J’ai entendu quelque chose de drôle ce matin.
I heard something funny this morning.
Je viens de remarquer quelque chose de très surprenant.
I’ve just noticed something very surprising.
6 Chaque , chacun (e )
- each / every , each
/ every one 6.1 Use
Chaque is a singular
adjective
and has only one form, whilst
chacun(e) is a singular
pronoun
:
Chaque passage de la chanson
à la radio lui rapporte des droits d'auteur
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Each time the song is played on the radio he earns royalities
Chacune de ses chansons lui
rapporte des droits d'auteur
Your browser does not support the audio element.
Each of his songs earns him royalities
Il sait chacune de ses chansons par c?ur.
He knows each one of his songs by heart.
L’auteur traite chacune de ces questions de la même manière.
The author treats each of these questions in the same way.
Chaque étudiant dispose d’une adresse électronique universitaire.
Every student has a university e-mail address.
Les enfants ont chacun leur chambre.
The children each have their own bedroom.
Chaque travailleur a le droit de prendre un congé parental.
Every worker has the right to take parental leave.
6.2 Tous / toutes les When expressing frequency, tous / toutes les is generally
preferred:
Le conseil des ministres se tient tous
les mercredis matin
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The Cabinet meets every Wednesday morning
7 Tout - all , any 7.1 Used as an adjective
When used as an
adjectives
, tout must always agree with the
noun
it is referring to. When used with words like le or mon
it means all :
Tous les articles pris lors
du cambriolage ont été retrouvés
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All the items taken during the burglary were retrieved
Tous nos magasins acceptent les cartes de crédit.
All our shops accept credit cards.
Elle était dans sa chambre pendant tout ce temps.
She was in her bedroom the whole time.
Le gouvernement adoptera toutes les mesures nécessaires pour résoudre ce problème.
The government will adopt all necessary measures to eliminate the problem.
Cette nuit il a neigé sur toute l’Angleterre
Last night it snowed over the whole of England.
Comme il a plu toute la journée, nous avons visité un musée.
As it rained all day, we visited a museum.
7.2 Used used on its ownWhen used on its own it has the more hypothetical sense of any :
Tout Français qui se respecte
sait cela
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Any self-respecting French person knows that
Tout prétexte est bon pour lui pour sécher un cours.
He’ll find any excuse to skip a lesson.
7.3 Tout ceux / celles
The
adjective
tout is often used with ceux and celles :
Il va faire une liste de tous ceux
/ toutes celles qui veulent venir
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He's going to make a list of all those who want to come
Le directeur a remercié tous ceux qui avaient participé au projet.
The Head thanked all those who had been involved in the project.
7.4 Used as a pronoun
When used as a
pronoun
, tout agrees with the
noun
it is replacing.
Note that the final s of tous is pronounced:
Il y a beaucoup de restaurants en ville mais tous
sont fermés le lundi
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There are a lot of restaurants in town, but they're all
closed on Mondays
Les verres ont tous été cassés.
The glasses have all been broken.
Cinq personnes ont été arrêtées, mais toutes furent relâchées le lendemain.
Of the five shortlisted candidates, all were women.
7.5 Tout meaning everything Where the pronoun tout is used without referring to a specific
noun
it has the meaning of everything :
Grâce à lui, tout a été réglé
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Thanks to him, everything has been sorted out
Tout a été détruit dans l’incendie.
Everything was destroyed in the fire.
7.6 Tous / toutes meaning everyone
Where the
pronouns
tous / toutes are used without
referring to a specific
noun
they have the meaning everyone :
C'est un homme qui était aimé de tous
Your browser does not support the audio element.
He was man who was loved by everyone
J’espère que cette date conviendra à tous.
I hope this date will suit everyone.
