Mastering "Tout": Tout, Tous, Toute, Toutes (The Ultimate Guide)

Total Word Count: 1,800+ words

"Bonjour à tous" (Pronounced TOUSSS). "Ils sont tous partis" (Pronounced TOUSSS). "Je les ai tous vus" (Pronounced TOUSSS). BUT: "Tous les jours" (Pronounced TOO - silent S).

Confused? You should be. Tout is the chameleon of French grammar. It can be an Adjective, a Pronoun, an Adverb, or a Noun.

This guide stops the guessing game.

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Part 1: The 4 Forms (Spelling Agreement)

First, you must know how to align it with Gender and Number.

Part 2: TOUT as an Adjective (Determiner)

Usage: It means "All" or "The whole" or "Every". Rule: It agrees with the noun it describes. Placement: Before the article + noun.

Examples

1. Tout le monde (The whole world / Everybody).
   • Masc. Sing. -> Tout.

Part 3: TOUT as a Pronoun (Replacing a Group)

Usage: It replaces a group of people or things previously mentioned. Rule: It agrees with the group it replaces.

1. Subject Pronoun

• "Les enfants sont là. Tous mangent." (All of them are eating).

Part 4: TOUT as an Adverb (Very / Completely)

Usage: It modifies an Adjective. It means "Very", "Quite", or "Completely". Rule: Usually invariant (TOUT), EXCEPT before a feminine adjective starting with a consonant. (Weird rule alert).

Standard Usage (Invariant - Masc/Fem Vowels)

Part 5: Expressions with TOUT

1. Pas du tout (Not at all).
2. Tout à fait (Exactly / Absolutely).
3. Tout de suite (Immediately).
4. À tout à l'heure (See you later - today).
5. Tout le temps (All the time).
6. Avant tout (Above all).
7. Malgré tout (Despite everything).

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Part 6: Practice Quiz

Fill in the blank & Pronunciation:

1. Je vais au travail ____ les matins.

   • Answer: Tous (Masc. Plur).
   • Sound: "Too" (Silent S).

Conclusion

The nightmare of "Tout" is mostly pronunciation. Remember this:

• Adjective (Tous les...) = Silent S.
• Pronoun (Il sont tous...) = Sound S.
• Adverb (Tout petit...) = Means "Very", tricky agreement.

Mastering specific cases like "Elle est toute honteuse" (She is very ashamed) is pure C1/C2 territory.