Jour versus Nuit
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Jour versus Nuit
Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
An vs année, matin vs matinée, jour vs journée, soir vs soirée to express a time unit or a duration in French
Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard , HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Je prends le train le matin . I take the train in the morning.
J'ai eu plein de cadeaux le jour de mon anniversaire. I had a lot of presents on the day of my birthday.
Le soir , je bois un verre avec mes amis. In the evening, I have a drink with my friends
J'ai passé un an en Espagne quand j'avais dix-neuf ans. I spent a year in Spain when I was nineteen.
J'ai travaillé toute la matinée . I worked the whole morning.
Cette soirée s'est très bien passée. That evening went very well.
Les chauve-souris dorment pendant la journée . Bats sleep during the day / daytime.
Pendant son année sabbatique, il a voyagé autour du monde. During his sabbatical year, he travelled around the world.
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Pendant son année sabbatique, il a voyagé autour du monde. During his sabbatical year, he travelled around the world.
J'ai passé un an en Espagne quand j'avais dix-neuf ans. I spent a year in Spain when I was nineteen.
J'ai travaillé toute la matinée . I worked the whole morning.
Cette soirée s'est très bien passée. That evening went very well.
Les chauve-souris dorment pendant la journée . Bats sleep during the day / daytime.
J'ai eu plein de cadeaux le jour de mon anniversaire. I had a lot of presents on the day of my birthday.
Je prends le train le matin . I take the train in the morning.
Le soir , je bois un verre avec mes amis. In the evening, I have a drink with my friends
An vs année, matin vs matinée, jour vs journée, soir vs soirée to express a time unit or a duration in French
Henri a passé select ... la matinée le soir la nuit la soirée à boire. (Henri spent the evening drinking.)
Write "I spent the day with Martin.": J'ai passé select ... le jour la journée aujourd'hui avec Martin.
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Maarten C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Nicole A1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Nicole A1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Céline Kwiziq team member Correct answer
Nicole A1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Cécile Kwiziq team member Correct answer
J'ai passé une très bonne matinée = I had a lovely morning
Maarten C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Maarten C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Priti Arora A0 Kwiziq community member
Why is it son année sabbatique and not sa année sabbatique
Priti Arora A0 Kwiziq community member Correct answer
Why is it son année sabbatique and not sa année sabbatique
Cécile Kwiziq team member Correct answer
Jim C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Aurielle A2 Kwiziq community member
I can’t seem to get this. I need this to be better clarified. Can someone do that? I hate to just say I can’t get it,
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Aurielle A2 Kwiziq community member
I can’t seem to get this. I need this to be better clarified. Can someone do that? I hate to just say I can’t get it,
Cécile Kwiziq team member Correct answer
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
"Pendant son année sabbatique, il a voyagé autour du monde." Should that not be "sa"?
Chris C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
Priti Arora A0 Kwiziq community member
"Pendant son année sabbatique, il a voyagé autour du monde." Should that not be "sa"?
Robin B1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I am not understanding this lesson.Someone traveled in Europe for a year (masculine); someone who traveled when they were 19 (feminine). Then also "the evening went well" (masculine) but an evening with friends (feminine)? Requesting additional clarification please, thank you.
I am not understanding this lesson.Someone traveled in Europe for a year (masculine); someone who traveled when they were 19 (feminine). Then also "the evening went well" (masculine) but an evening with friends (feminine)? Requesting additional clarification please, thank you.
Johnny C1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I'm so confused. Why is it "J'ai passé un an en Espagne" but "J'ai passé la journée avec Martin"? Why is one talking about the duration while the other is not?
Laura Kwiziq team member Correct answer
Bonjour Johnny, It has to do with feeling. When you say that you spent the day with someone, you're typically talking about quality time, emphasizing that you spent the whole day together. In contrast, when you spend a year somewhere, that's more of a factual kind of thing - I spent a year in Spain, and then moved to Italy. There's no emphasis on the fact that it was a whole year, every single day. Does that help?
John B2 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thanks, Laura. Does that mean it's subjective? If I say I spent the day at work, nothing special. Would that be le jour? Or spending the day always be la jounée?
Isabelle C1 Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
J'ai passé la journée au travail -
J'ai travaillé toute la journée-
( you probably mean the entire day)
I'm so confused. Why is it "J'ai passé un an en Espagne" but "J'ai passé la journée avec Martin"? Why is one talking about the duration while the other is not?
I'm having trouble with this lesson. Why is 'that evening went very well' not masculine?
Aurélie Kwiziq team member Correct answer
Bonjour Susan ! Thanks for reporting that lesson: there was indeed a mix up in the text of it, that had been inverted ! Words like "matinée", "soirée", "journée" and "année" are feminine, and "matin", "soir", "jour", and "an" are masculine. It's now been fixed, please have a look: An vs année, matin vs matinée, jour vs journée, soir vs soirée to express a time unit or a duration in French Merci et à bientôt !
Thank-you Aurélie, I was beginning to feel really stupid.
I'm having trouble with this lesson. Why is 'that evening went very well' not masculine?
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In French, there are two words to talk about the different moments of the day (matin/matinée, soir/soirée) , days (jour/journée) and years (an/année) , and to know which one to use, it depends on the way you consider these periods as whole units of time, or in their durations.
When we talk about this time of the day or the day or the year as a precise moment, a time unit in which an action took place, we use the masculine forms: un an (a year) , le jour (the day) , le matin (the morning) , le soir (the evening) .
When we consider that part of the day or this day or year in its duration , when we emphasise the length of time , we use the feminine forms: une année (a year) , la journée (the day) , la matinée (the morning) , la soirée (the evening) .
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Cette soirée s'est très bien passée.That evening went very well. Isn't "that evening" a precise moment (a particular evening) ?
Even though it is a particular evening, it is ‘that evening in its entirety’ that is being referred to - the evening throughout its duration went well. It can be difficult to grasp, but as these are written by native French speakers, you can be confident that the French distinctions are accurate.
Cette soirée s'est très bien passée.That evening went very well. Isn't "that evening" a precise moment (a particular evening) ?
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Hi can someone tell me if these sentences are correct that I wrote using the duration vs length of time etc
One would most likely say: je fais le ménage toute la journée -- I clean the house all day long.
Nous prenons le métro le matin would usually be interpreted as "every morning". If you want to say "this morning" than you'd use ce matin .
Hi can someone tell me if these sentences are correct that I wrote using the duration vs length of time etc
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Hi, I was wondering for the duration part would it be okay to say
J'ai passe le jour apprendre francais
Je lis en soirée = I read in the evenin g → duration
Je lis le soir = I read in the evening → precise moment
J’ai passé la journée à apprendre le français = I spent the day learning French → duration
Le jour de mon accident , j’ai passé trois heures à l’hôpital = the day I had my accident, I spent three hours at the hospital → precise moment
Thank you I will look over your notes :) I appreciate it
Hi, I was wondering for the duration part would it be okay to say
J'ai passe le jour apprendre francais
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Impossible concept! How bad can it sound to a native speaker if I get this wrong? They always ask if I speak English, anyway, every time I speak French.
What might help you to get them right, is to think of the word 'soirée' used in English to mean an evening function in its duration rather than the time of day.
I believe the word 'matinée' is used for an afternoon cinema/theatre performance ( again highlighting its duration) and oddly in the afternoon in both languages.
But, if you talk about having a lovely morning ( in its duration)
You would be understood if you got them wrong but you would probably be corrected.
It is tough for English speakers. It will sound “wrong” to native French speakers, although that doesn’t mean your meaning won’t be understood. However, eventually you will get to know some standard uses, so you will be able to get it right most of the time.
You might want to be sure about the difference between “bonjour” and “bonne journée” though, as saying ‘hello’ as you leave might be frowned upon !
Impossible concept! How bad can it sound to a native speaker if I get this wrong? They always ask if I speak English, anyway, every time I speak French.
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we use "soirée" in the sentence CETTE soirée s'est très bien passé which translates to "THAT EVENING" , even if we consider it to be a duration and not a point in time ,isn't there a rule that when we use demonstrative adjectives(this, that etc. ) we use quantity words like jour, an, soir etc.
we use "soirée" in the sentence CETTE soirée s'est très bien passé which translates to "THAT EVENING" , even if we consider it to be a duration and not a point in time ,isn't there a rule that when we use demonstrative adjectives(this, that etc. ) we use quantity words like jour, an, soir etc.
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How do you say the following in French?
a) J’ai passé un jour avec Martin. (following the example of "spent a year" indirectly)
b) J’ai passé la journée avec Martin. (following the quiz answer directly)
Am I correct? If so, why are the two different? Can I just remember "a" vs. "the" means one is a unit of time and one is emphasizing the duration? Thank you.
Maarten is correct, of course. Still, when using un as a numeral, un jour is more natural because it is counting days instead of referring to a duration. On the other hand, the definite article more often than not refers to the timespan. Again, this is not a hard and fast rule, just a hint.
I spent one day with Martin. -- J'ai passé un jour avec Martin. (counting) I spent the day with Martin. -- J'ai passé la journée avec Martin. (duration)
No, you can't use the English definite/indefinite article to determine the French vocabulary - French can have un an or une année, le jour or la journée etc (The time units are all masculine, the durations feminine, but that doesn't help choose which to use either). It is necessary (even if difficult) to get your head around the difference being between 'time unit' and duration. Reading a different description of the same concept may help - I have linked one https://www.thoughtco.com/an-annee-jour-journee-matin-matinee-1371085
How do you say the following in French?
a) J’ai passé un jour avec Martin. (following the example of "spent a year" indirectly)
b) J’ai passé la journée avec Martin. (following the quiz answer directly)
Am I correct? If so, why are the two different? Can I just remember "a" vs. "the" means one is a unit of time and one is emphasizing the duration? Thank you.
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I got the answer myself and posting it here
The possessive adjective takes masculine form when followed by word starting with vowel or silent h
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I am trying to find some more examples about the difference between l'an/l'année and I am now confused. For example, I want to find out whether to use l'an/l'année in " I got pregnant the same year I got married. " in French. Google Translates says " Je suis tombée enceinte la même année de mon mariage. " and another translation software called DeepL says " Je suis tombée enceinte l'année de mon mariage. "
Are these sentences correct? If so, why do we use année instead of an ? Because I am very convinced an/ann é e indicates a particular point of time here. Thanks for answering.
Yes, both sentences are correct, and you cannot use 'an' in this instance as it means some time during the year you got married which could be for instance 1992.
L'année describes the duration of the year between (say) January and December.
L'an describes a period of 12 months. There are 10 years in a decade for example.
You use an to refer to refer to a year as a whole, undifferentiated and countable item. But if you're going to "look inside" of the year or refer to its duration, its individuality, then you use année.
Il y a dix ans que nous nous sommes mariés. -- Ten years ago we got married. C'était l' année où nous sommes revenus des E.U. -- It was the year when we returned from the US.
I am trying to find some more examples about the difference between l'an/l'année and I am now confused. For example, I want to find out whether to use l'an/l'année in " I got pregnant the same year I got married. " in French. Google Translates says " Je suis tombée enceinte la même année de mon mariage. " and another translation software called DeepL says " Je suis tombée enceinte l'année de mon mariage. "
Are these sentences correct? If so, why do we use année instead of an ? Because I am very convinced an/ann é e indicates a particular point of time here. Thanks for answering.
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These both talk about a specific time periods. "the morning" and "that evening". How do I distinguish them? I am struggling with this distinction.
You're taking the train at a particular point in time, in the morning: hence matin . But the second sentence is about that the evening went well, so it refers to a time span: hence soirée .
These both talk about a specific time periods. "the morning" and "that evening". How do I distinguish them? I am struggling with this distinction.
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When you are more concerned about the span of time, use the -ée form. If you're just counting days, mornings, years, etc., use the normal form.
Je t'attendais toute la journée . -- I was waiting for you all day long. (= duration ) Je l'ai vu il y a deux jours . -- I saw him two days ago. (= counting )
That said, there will still be cases that don't fall easily in one or the other category or get you confused. But the rule above works most of the time.
Chris, I think your suggestion may work... I will give it a try. Thank you!
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Thank you for your response, so if in my head i can say '' the whole'' of the day, year etc, then use the feminine. but what still stumps me is the two examples using years. during his sabbatical he travelled etc, and i spent a year in Spain etc. Both are saying one year, not two or three years, so a precise moment no? Is there a way to differentiate between these two examples ?
'J'ai passé un an en Espagne quand j'avais dix-neuf ans'
It is a unit of time , the person speaking didn't spend weeks, months, two years , probably about a year is implied...
'Pendant son année sabbatique ....'
This is clearly a very definite year long period and 'année' is required here.
There are a few exceptions to the rule , 'chaque année' rather than ' chaque an' springs to mind, because it sounds too much like 'chacun' and is hard to say I presume...
The way I understand and use it, has to do with counting things (male form) and focusing on the duration (female versions).
I spent one year in Spain. -- This is a counting thing, hence un an.
During his sabbatical year... -- Focus on the duration, hence année
Thanks to both Chris and Cécile, very much appreciated. I also have have found articles on Thoughtco.com, that have been helping. I guess it's practice and faith that one day it will be so obvious I will wonder how it ever confused me.
This was super helpful Chris, thank you! I also could not really tell the difference between the two based on the wording of the lesson but you really clarified it!
Thank you for your response, so if in my head i can say '' the whole'' of the day, year etc, then use the feminine. but what still stumps me is the two examples using years. during his sabbatical he travelled etc, and i spent a year in Spain etc. Both are saying one year, not two or three years, so a precise moment no? Is there a way to differentiate between these two examples ?
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I am having trouble with a duration of time vs a precise moment. I thought that the sentence, THAT evening went very well, as a precise moment and therefore masculine. Why is it CETTE soirée s'est très bien passé ?
the example refers to the entire evening not just the evening as a point in time. The evening in its duration went well. Therefor "soirée" and not "soir".
I am having trouble with a duration of time vs a precise moment. I thought that the sentence, THAT evening went very well, as a precise moment and therefore masculine. Why is it CETTE soirée s'est très bien passé ?
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Well, yes and no. You are correct that année is feminine and therefore it ought to be sa . But as it starts with a vowel, it is son nevertheless, for purely phonetic reasons.
Bacause he next word starts with a vowel or silent h then it takes masculine possessive adjective
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Speak French Fluently
Learning to speak French fluently, accurately and idiomatically
French Vocabulary – How To Use “le jour” And “la journée”
Posted on March 22, 2013 by Stanley Aléong February 25, 2014
Posted in Grammar , Vocabulary
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Seedonee Jaychand on April 4, 2013 at 5:48 am said:
March 20th is the La Journée internationale de la Francophonie . I thought it would be a good occasion as ever to have a look at the use of the two words le jour and la journée that both mean “day.” When two words in the second language correspond to one word in the first language, there is always room for confusion.
But first, let’s put things into context. These two words are actually part of a set of similar words:
le jour –
Ces frères sont très proches
Une promenade en bateau et une bonne baise
Dillion Harper obtient un bon bain de sperme chaud