toute or toutes

IanC1Kwiziq community member

toute or toutes

In "nos premières vacances toute seules", why is it "toute" and not "toutes", to go with "seules"?

Asked 3 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Ian,

The reason why the adverb 'tout' has some interesting non-agreement rules in the case of feminine adjectives is explained in the following Kwiziq lesson which has just been updated to include this.

https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/tout-tous-and-toute-toutes-all-all-of-them-the-whole-indefinite-pronouns

Also, take a look at the Q&A at the bottom of the lesson as this has been asked already.

Bonne Continuation!

 

 

 

AlanC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

It's interesting that you don't think it should also agree in number in this case. I have a feeling I've seen the rule defined that way somewhere before, although I don't remember where. However, all the references that I can find now say that it should also agree in number. For example:

https://bescherelle.ca/adverbe-tout/

https://www.dictionnaire-academie.fr/article/A8T0911

http://bdl.oqlf.gouv.qc.ca/bdl/gabarit_bdl.asp?id=2907

TomC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I agree with Alan. 'Toute seules' seems weird to me. I would have thought either invariable ('tout seules') or full agreement ('toutes seules').

Ian asked:View original

toute or toutes

In "nos premières vacances toute seules", why is it "toute" and not "toutes", to go with "seules"?

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