French Grammar Guide for non-francophones

Tout, toute, tous, toutes

On this page: Description, Questions, Exercises

Description

An Overview of Tout, toute, tous, toutes

The words tout, toute, tous and toutes have three main functions:

a) as an adjective meaning "all" (to describe a noun), e.g.:

  • J'ai lu toute l'histoire.

b) as an adverb meaning "very" (to describe an adjective), e.g.: 

  • Il était tout content.

c) as a pronoun meaning "all of it/them" (to replace a noun), e.g.: 

  • Il a tout mangé.
  • Ils sont tous partis.

The form you used usually depends on the number and gender of the corresponding noun (for the adjective and the pronoun function). This is illustrated in the following table:

Functions Forms Example
masc. sing. tout tout le livre
fem. sing. toute toute la journée
masc. pl. tous tous mes frères
fem. pl. toutes toutes mes soeurs

It should be noted that before feminine adjectives that begin with a vowel or "h muet", one should write tout. However, if the following word begins with a consonant or "h aspiré", write toute (to help with pronunciation). For example,

  • Elle est tout émue.
  • Elle est tout heureuse.

However,

  • Elle est toute contente.
  • Elle est toute honteuse.

Questions

Questions about tout, toute, tous and toutes

Q: Why is it tous les hommes and NOT tout les hommes?

There are several forms that correspond to the word all in English. These are tout, toute, tous, and toutes. The particular form used depends on the number and gender of the following noun. Since hommes is plural, the masculine plural form tous is used.

Q: Why is it elle a tout compris and NOT elle a toute compris?

When you mean "everything", the word tout isn't used in the feminine. This is always the case before a past participle that begin with a consonant (like compris).

Q: Why is it toutes les femmes and NOT toute les femmes?

French requires number and gender agreement between the word tout and the following noun. The word femmes is both feminine and plural, which is why the correct form is toutes.

Q: Why is it Ma soeur était tout énervée an NOT Ma soeur était toute énervée?

When you mean "very", the only time you use toute is when the next word begins with a consonant sound (or "h aspiré").

 

Exercises

Choose between tout, toute, tous and toutes:

Il a mangé la tarte.
Ils sont partis à l'heure.
Vous devez faire les exercices.
Je te vois à l'heure.
Ma soeur a mangé!
Je pense que les réponses sont bonnes.

Tags: adjectives nouns h muet adverbs
Verb conjugation:
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