Grand or gro

ANDREW G.A2Kwiziq community member

Grand or gro

If one wants to say "a big storm" should it be "une grosse tempête," "une grande tempête" or is either one acceptable?

Asked 3 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Andrew, 

You would normally use the word 'grand' when associated with length or impact and 'gros' for big/ fat/ sizeable, so to describe a storm you could say both -

Il y a eu une grosse tempête hier soir There was a big storm last night 

But to talk of an event like the storm of 1999 we use 'grand' as it was definitely 'impactful'. 

La grande tempête de 1999 = The great storm of 1999

It caused a lot of damage to the 'parc du château de Versailles',  even breaking some windows to the Palace so you would use 'grand' as it was imposing and catastrophic.

Hope this helps!

Grand or gro

If one wants to say "a big storm" should it be "une grosse tempête," "une grande tempête" or is either one acceptable?

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