l'année où Hitler est né....that would be a precise time an action took place, right? The lesson confirms that such a date would be an, not année.

Ann H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

l'année où Hitler est né....that would be a precise time an action took place, right? The lesson confirms that such a date would be an, not année.

This question relates to:French writing exercise "Going back in time"

Freeform Writing Exercise B1

Asked 5 years ago

Like1Answer3

CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Ann,

There are exceptions to the rule and these are quite frequent when using 'an' .

I would say 'année' is used more frequently than 'an'.

We say -

L' an 0

Le nouvel an

L'an 2000

'Le Nouvel an chinois 2019 est l'année du cochon'

is an example when talking about the same year using both words.

Not easy ....

Like05 years ago

S. B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I am more confused than ever

Like14 years ago

Tom A.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

In Cécile's advice all the 'an' examples mark out one year as opposed to other years, like pins in a calendar. Once you zoom in on the year and say something descriptive about it, like it's a good year, the year of the pig, the year when Hitler was born, then it becomes 'année'.

Like34 years ago

Ann H. asked:

l'année où Hitler est né....that would be a precise time an action took place, right? The lesson confirms that such a date would be an, not année.

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