tout le monde est nouveau? Why not nouvel

Jennifer C.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

tout le monde est nouveau? Why not nouvel

I seem to vaguely remember that there are two ways of talking about new, depending on how new the object is. Here I used nouvel but the correct answer was nouvel? Can anyone enlighten me?
Asked 6 years ago
GruffKwiziq team member

Hi Jennifer, nouvel is used for the masculine form only when it's followed by a vowel or mute h.

More info here:
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/beau-nouveau-vieux-fou-mou-two-masculine-and-one-feminine-form

 

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

As Gruff said, "nouvel" is used for the male form when it starts with a vowel or silent h. When you talk about the two forms of "new" you probably mean nouveau/nouvelle vs. neuf/neuve. 

"Ma nouvelle voiture" is a car that is new to you but not newly made. 

"Ma voiture neuve" is a car hot off the assembly line. 

-- Chris (not a native speaker). 

Becky L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
"Est-ce que l'actrice là est nouvelle? -Tout le monde est ________ cette semaine."

I thought the answer would be nouveax (masc. plural) but it was wrong. The answer was nouveau. I'm confused

tout le monde est nouveau? Why not nouvel

I seem to vaguely remember that there are two ways of talking about new, depending on how new the object is. Here I used nouvel but the correct answer was nouvel? Can anyone enlighten me?

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