Editing French grammar (section)

=== Number ===
As in English, nouns inflect for [[grammatical number|number]]. 

Orthographically, the plural is usually formed from the singular by adding the letter {{lang|fr|-s}} (cf. {{lang|fr|maison > maisons}} 'houses'). Nouns ending in {{lang|fr|-au, -eu,}} and {{lang|fr|-ou}} often take the ending {{lang|fr|-x}} instead (cf. {{lang|fr|jeu > jeux}} 'games'). However, the endings {{lang|fr|-s}} and {{lang|fr|-x}} are in most cases not pronounced, meaning that in speech the plural form of a noun generally has the same pronunciation as the singular. Nouns that end in {{lang|fr|-s, -x}} or {{lang|fr|-z}} in the singular are left unchanged in the plural in both pronunciation and spelling (cf. {{lang|fr|croix > croix}} 'crosses', both pronounced {{IPA|[kʁwa]}}).

[[Liaison (French)|Liaison]] between a plural noun and a following adjective is one case where the plural ending {{lang|fr|-s}} or {{lang|fr|-x}} may be pronounced: {{lang|fr|des fenêtre'''s''' ouvertes}} {{IPA|[dɛ fənɛtʁə'''z'''‿uvɛʁt]}} ("open windows"). However, this form of liaison usually only appears in careful formal speech (for example by newsreaders). In most everyday speech singular and plural forms of most nouns are therefore homophonous in all contexts.

In spoken French, the plurality of most nouns is marked not on the form of the noun itself but by a preceding article or determiner (cf. {{lang|fr|la maison}} [la mɛzɔ̃] 'the house' > {{lang|fr|'''les''' maisons}} [le mɛzɔ̃] 'the houses'; {{lang|fr|mon frère}} [mɔ̃ fʁɛːʁ] 'my brother' > {{lang|fr|'''mes''' frères}} [me fʁɛːʁ] 'my brothers').

French nouns whose spoken plural forms are distinguished from the singular include most of those ending in {{lang|fr|-al}}, whose plural form is {{lang|fr|-aux}} (cf. {{lang|fr|cheval}} {{IPA|[ʃəval]}} > {{lang|fr|chevaux}} {{IPA|[ʃəvo]}} 'horses'), as well as a few nouns ending in {{lang|fr|-ail}} that also follow this pattern (cf. {{lang|fr|travail}} {{IPA|[tʁavaj]}} > {{lang|fr|travaux}} {{IPA|[tʁavo]}} 'works'). Three nouns form completely irregular plurals: {{lang|fr|aïeul}} {{IPA|[ajœl]}} > {{lang|fr|aïeux}} {{IPA|[ajø]}} 'ancestors' (but {{lang|fr|aïeuls}} {{IPA|[ajœl]}} 'grandfathers'); {{lang|fr|ciel}} {{IPA|[sjɛl]}} > {{lang|fr|cieux}} {{IPA|[sjø]}} 'heavens' (but {{lang|fr|des ciels de lit}} 'bed canopies'); and {{lang|fr|œil}} {{IPA|[œj]}} > {{lang|fr|yeux}} {{IPA|[jø]}} 'eyes' (but {{lang|fr|des œils-de-bœuf}} 'oculi' (round windows), {{lang|fr|des œils-de-perdrix}} 'calluses' (on the feet)). Three other nouns have regular plurals in spelling but have irregular pronunciations: {{lang|fr|bœuf}} {{IPA|[bœf]}} > {{lang|fr|bœufs}} {{IPA|[bø]}} 'oxen, cattle'; {{lang|fr|œuf}} {{IPA|[œf]}} > {{lang|fr|œufs}} {{IPA|[ø]}} 'eggs'; and {{lang|fr|os}} {{IPA|[ɔs]}} > {{lang|fr|os}} {{IPA|[o]}} 'bones'.

As with English, most uncountable nouns are grammatically treated as singular, though some are plural, such as {{lang|fr|les mathématiques}} 'mathematics'; some nouns that are uncountable in English are countable in French, such as {{lang|fr|une information}} 'a piece of information'.