une phrase
In French, "a phrase" is une phrase.
Which one should you use?
If you want to refer to a linguistic 'phrase' (a group of words that does not form a complete sentence), you should use un groupe de mots instead of une phrase.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of une phrase is des phrases.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the French word phrase to mean a short musical or linguistic snippet, but in French, une phrase almost always refers to a complete sentence.
Did you know?
- If a French speaker refers to une phrase toute faite, they are talking about a cliché or a prefabricated expression.
- The English word 'phrase' and the French phrase share a common ancestor in the Greek word φράσις, which originally described a 'manner of expression'.
- While une phrase is a sentence, a 'phrase' in the English musical sense is often called une phrase musicale to avoid confusion.
Examples in context
- Il a oublié une phrase dans son texte.He forgot a phrase in his text.
Example conversation
Two students are studying French together in a library.
- ManonEst-ce que cette phrase est correcte ?Is this phrase correct?
- LucasOui, c'est une phrase parfaite.Yes, it is a perfect phrase.
- ManonMerci, je l'écris dans mon cahier.Thank you, I am writing it in my notebook.
- LucasBon courage pour la suite !Good luck with the rest!
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries phrase, une, CC BY-SA 4.0.
