Feminine nouns ending in -é, -ée, -té, -tié
Feminine nouns ending in the [e] sound are generally written -ée (journée, pensée). Exception: nouns in -té and -tié take no final -e (beauté, amitié), unless they express a quantity contained (assiettée, pelletée).
Examples
Une belle journée d'été.
Key word(s): journée
A feminine noun in -ée (the general rule).
La beauté du paysage.
Key word(s): beauté
A noun in -té: no final -e.
Une grande amitié les unit.
Key word(s): amitié
A noun in -tié: no final -e.
Une pelletée de terre.
Key word(s): pelletée
It expresses a quantity contained (what a shovel holds), so -ée.
Une idée géniale.
Key word(s): idée
A feminine noun in -ée (the general rule).
Common mistakes
- Writing "beautée" instead of "beauté"
- Writing "amitiée" instead of "amitié"
- Forgetting the -e in "journée" or "pensée"
Test yourself
La ___ de vivre.
Quelle belle ___ !
La ___ est une vertu.
Tips to remember
- Remember: -té and -tié never take an -e (except for a quantity contained).
- Examples of "quantity contained" with -ée: assiettée, brouettée, pelletée, cuillerée.
- Examples of -té without an -e: beauté, liberté, santé, vérité, bonté, qualité.
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