📘 Snapshot #1

📚🇫🇷 Grammar is Evolving: A Historic Shift in French!

👀 Did you know that masculine no longer always overrides feminine in French grammar?

The Académie française has recently acknowledged the use of proximity agreement (l’accord de proximité) as a valid option in written French!

🔍 What does this mean?

👉 In a list of mixed-gender nouns, adjectives can now agree with the closest noun, instead of defaulting to the masculine.

Example:

• ✅ “Les chaussures et la robe était élégante”
    (instead of the traditional)

• ❌ “Les chaussures et la robe étaient élégantes.”

🧑‍🏫 How to bring this into your classroom:

• Explore how grammar rules are changing 📖

• Debate the topic of inclusive language 🗣️

• Use practical exercises: traditional agreement vs proximity agreement ✍️

✨ Suggested Activity for Students

Have students compare two versions of the same text — one using traditional masculine agreement, the other using proximity agreement.

💬 Discuss:

• Which version feels more natural?

• More fair?

• More logical?

💡 Why it matters:

French grammar is evolving, and so should how we teach it. This update opens the door to inclusive, logic-based grammar choices — a perfect conversation starter for students curious about how language reflects society.

📎 Want matching worksheet and activities? Buy our printable grammar worksheet.🛒 Buy the Full Worksheet – $3.00

📩 Got a classroom idea or comment? Email us at [info@erudits.com]
#EruditsSnapshot #FrenchGrammar #InclusiveLanguage #FLE