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Questions & Answers about Marie a un grand sourire.
What is the role of the verb a in the sentence Marie a un grand sourire?
The verb a is the third person singular form of avoir, which means to have. In this context, it indicates possession—translating to has in English.
Why is the indefinite article un used before grand sourire, and what does it tell you about the noun sourire?
The article un is the masculine singular indefinite article in French. Its use tells you that sourire (smile) is a masculine noun and that it refers to a singular, non-specific instance of a smile.
Why is the adjective grand placed before the noun sourire rather than after it?
In French, certain adjectives—especially those expressing size, beauty, age, or goodness (remembered by the acronym BAGS)—are typically positioned before the noun. Grand falls into this category, so it comes directly before sourire to emphasize the notable quality (i.e., a big or great smile).
How would the form of grand change if it were used with a feminine noun?
French adjectives agree in gender with the noun they describe. If the noun were feminine instead of masculine, grand would change to grande. Since sourire is masculine, the form remains grand.
What is the overall structure of the sentence Marie a un grand sourire in terms of subject, verb, and object?
The sentence follows a standard French order: Marie is the subject, a is the verb, and un grand sourire is the object. Within the object, un is the indefinite article, grand is the adjective describing the noun, and sourire is the noun.
Why is no article used before the proper noun Marie?
In both French and English, proper names like Marie typically stand alone without the need for an article. Therefore, no article is necessary before Marie.