Questions about tout, toute, tous and toutes
Q: Why is it tous les hommes and NOT tout les hommes?
There are several forms that correspond to the word all in English. These are tout, toute, tous, and toutes. The particular form used depends on the number and gender of the following noun. Since hommes is plural, the masculine plural form tous is used.
Q: Why is it elle a tout compris and NOT elle a toute compris?
When you mean "everything", the word tout isn't used in the feminine. This is always the case before a past participle that begin with a consonant (like compris).
Q: Why is it toutes les femmes and NOT toute les femmes?
French requires number and gender agreement between the word tout and the following noun. The word femmes is both feminine and plural, which is why the correct form is toutes.
Q: Why is it Ma soeur était tout énervée an NOT Ma soeur était toute énervée?
When you mean "very", the only time you use toute is when the next word begins with a consonant sound (or "h aspiré").
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