In my previous note, I mentioned expressions where " plein" is used as an adjective. You
know very well that French adjectives should agree in number and gender with the noun
which they qualify.
Plein jour
Pleine nuit
But in this note, I will discuss the use of " PLEIN " as an adverb.
When " PLEIN " is adverb , it is invariable.
1. To express " a very large quantity "of a substance contained in a container , we use " PLEIN "
as in the following expression .
" avoir du blé plein son grenier " - to have wheat full in the attic
Why is it adverb ? " PLEIN " in this example qualifies the verb " avoir " .
" to have something full"
Have you understood ?
2. Plein de = beaucoup de= full of ( use "plein de" in spoken French .)
Use " beaucoup de" in written French
Avoir plein d'argent - to have loads of money
Elle a plein d'argent - She has loads of money
Avoir plein d'amis - to have plenty of friends.
J'ai plein d'amis à Chennai .
I have plenty of friends in Chennai.
In the last note, I gave an example ,
Cet homme est plein d'idées efficaces
Suppose you replace " homme" with " femme"
Cette femme est pleine d' idées efficaces.
In these cases, the word " PLEIN " is an adjective . For that reason , for " CETTE femmes ",
we use " pleine ".
3. " PLEIN " as adverb can mean " exactly " or " right "
En plein dans l'œil - right in the eye
En plein sur la table - right / exactly on the table
En plein devant - straight ahead
4. " PLEIN " can be utilized in the sense of " to the maximum "
Tourner à plain - to turn fully
Utiliser une machine à plein - To use a machine to its full capacity
5. Informal use
Mignon tout plein -just too cute
Gentil tout plein - just too kind
6. Faire le plein - to fill the tank
Le PLEIN , s'il vous plâit - Fill it up , please
In the next note, I will discuss all other important expressions containing the word
" PLEIN "
Happy Learning
Sayee Jayaraman
10/04/2015
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