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Class 9 French Chapter 10 Les Vêtements, les Couleurs et le Shopping — Formulas & Key Points

Chapter 10 of CBSE Class 9 French equips students with practical vocabulary for clothes, colors, and shopping — essential for everyday conversations in French-speaking environments. This formula sheet organizes all key vocabulary, verb conjugations, color agreement rules, and shopping phrases into tables for rapid revision. Whether preparing for a unit test or practicing oral skills, students will find every critical formula and phrase here, with worked examples showing real market and boutique scenarios.

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Key takeaways

✓Every French clothing noun is masculine or feminine; memorize gender with each word (un pantalon, une robe) to correctly apply adjectives and articles.
✓Color adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe — 'bleu' becomes 'bleue' for feminine, 'bleus' for masculine plural, 'bleues' for feminine plural.
✓Porter (to wear), acheter (to buy), and coûter (to cost) are -ER verbs; acheter has a stem change (j'achète) and coûter is almost always third-person only.
✓Essential shopping phrases include 'Je voudrais…' (I would like), 'Combien coûte…?' (How much does… cost?), 'C'est trop cher' (It's too expensive), and 'Je le prends' (I'll take it).
✓French prices use the euro (€); read them aloud as 'quinze euros cinquante' for €15,50 and understand comma as decimal separator, space or period for thousands.
✓Irregular colors like orange, marron, and rose stay the same for all genders and numbers — no agreement changes needed for these exceptions.

Clothing Vocabulary — Gender & Articles Table

Every French noun has a gender — masculine (un) or feminine (une) — which determines the articles, adjectives, and pronouns you use with it. Clothing vocabulary is no exception. Memorizing each noun with its correct gender is non-negotiable because saying 'une pantalon' or 'un robe' is grammatically wrong and confuses native speakers. Indian CBSE students often struggle with gender assignment because Hindi and most Indian languages do not have the same masculine/feminine noun system. The best strategy is to learn each clothing item as a pair — article + noun — so you internalize 'un pantalon' as one unit, not 'pantalon' in isolation. The table below lists the most commonly tested clothing items in NCERT Class 9 French, grouped by gender. Use flashcards or the CBSETUTOR.ai photo-upload feature to practice: take a photo of your wardrobe or a clothing magazine ad, upload it, and ask the AI tutor to quiz you on the French names and genders. At ₹999/month for all subjects and classes 6-12, it is a flat-rate investment that replaces multiple coaching fees — especially valuable in cities where French coaching is scarce or expensive.

Masculine nouns use 'un' (singular) and 'des' (plural): un pantalon, des pantalons.
Feminine nouns use 'une' (singular) and 'des' (plural): une robe, des robes.
Plural forms usually add 's', but pronunciation may not change; context and article signal number.
Some nouns like 'chaussures' (shoes) are almost always used in plural form even when referring to one pair.
When describing, adjectives must match gender and number: 'un pantalon noir' (black trousers), 'une robe noire' (black dress).

Color Adjective Agreement — Rules & Examples

Colors in French are adjectives, and like all French adjectives, they must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify. This agreement is a core grammar rule tested heavily in CBSE Class 9 French exams. The base form of most color adjectives is masculine singular; to form the feminine, add 'e'; to form the masculine plural, add 's'; to form the feminine plural, add 'es'. However, some colors are invariable — they never change form regardless of gender or number. These include orange, marron (brown), and rose (pink in its invariable form, though 'rose' can agree when used as a true adjective). Students often forget to make color adjectives agree, especially when speaking quickly or under exam pressure. A common error is writing 'une chemise bleu' instead of 'une chemise bleue'. The table below shows the four forms (masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural) for common colors, plus the invariable exceptions. Practice by describing objects around your room in French, making sure every color agrees with every noun. CBSETUTOR.ai users can upload a photo of their bookshelf or wardrobe and ask the AI to generate five sentences describing the items with correct color agreement — instant, personalized practice at ₹999/month flat for all classes 6-12, with a 3-day free trial to test it first.

Add 'e' to the masculine form to make it feminine: bleu → bleue, vert → verte, noir → noire.
Add 's' to the masculine form for masculine plural: bleu → bleus, noir → noirs.
Add 'es' to the masculine form for feminine plural: bleue → bleues, verte → vertes.
Colors ending in silent 'e' in masculine (rouge, jaune) stay the same in feminine singular but add 's' for plural: rouge → rouges.
Invariable colors (orange, marron, rose) never change: 'des robes orange', 'un pantalon marron'.

Verb Conjugations — Porter, Acheter, Coûter

Three verbs dominate Chapter 10: porter (to wear), acheter (to buy), and coûter (to cost). All three are regular -ER verbs, but acheter has a spelling change in certain forms to preserve pronunciation, and coûter is almost exclusively used in third-person forms because the subject is the item, not a person. Mastering these conjugations is essential for forming sentences about shopping and clothing. The NCERT textbook introduces these verbs in present tense; students must memorize each pronoun's form and practice using them in complete sentences. A common mistake is forgetting the accent grave (è) in acheter forms: j'achète, tu achètes, il achète, ils achètent — but nous achetons, vous achetez (no accent). For coûter, remember the subject is 'it' or 'they' (the items being priced), so you will say 'Ça coûte combien?' or 'Ces robes coûtent 50 euros chacune.' The table below presents all three verbs in full present-tense conjugation. Drill these aloud daily, and use CBSETUTOR.ai to record yourself speaking a conjugation, upload the audio, and get instant feedback on pronunciation and accuracy — all part of the ₹999/month subscription covering every CBSE subject and class 6-12, with photo and voice upload for personalized help.

Porter is a regular -ER verb with no stem changes: je porte, tu portes, il porte, nous portons, vous portez, ils portent.
Acheter changes 'e' to 'è' before silent endings (je, tu, il/elle, ils/elles) to keep the 'è' sound: j'achète, il achète, but nous achetons.
Coûter conjugates like porter but is used almost exclusively in third person: il coûte, elle coûte, ça coûte, ils coûtent.
Use 'porter' for wearing clothes, glasses, jewelry, and accessories; it describes what is on the body.
Use 'acheter' for any purchase action; use 'coûter' when stating or asking price.

Essential Shopping Phrases — Quick Reference

Real-world shopping in French requires a set of fixed phrases that students should memorize verbatim. These phrases appear in NCERT dialogues and are tested in oral exams, role-plays, and written comprehension passages. The most important phrase is 'Je voudrais…' (I would like…), which is polite and widely used in shops, markets, and restaurants. 'Combien coûte…?' (How much does… cost?) is the standard question for asking prices. 'C'est trop cher' (It's too expensive) and 'C'est bon marché' (It's cheap / good value) express price opinions. 'Je le prends' or 'Je la prends' (I'll take it — masculine or feminine) closes the transaction. 'Avez-vous…?' (Do you have…?) is used to inquire about stock or availability. The table below lists the top shopping phrases with their English equivalents and usage notes. CBSE exams often present a dialogue with blanks; students must fill in the correct phrase. Practice by role-playing with a classmate or family member, or use CBSETUTOR.ai to simulate a shopping conversation — upload a photo of a price tag or product and ask the AI tutor to act as the shopkeeper, letting you practice asking prices, negotiating, and making purchases in French. At ₹999/month, you get unlimited practice across all subjects, far cheaper than hiring a French tutor in any Indian city.

'Je voudrais…' is more polite than 'Je veux…' (I want); always use 'voudrais' in formal or shop settings.
'Combien coûte…?' is singular; use 'Combien coûtent…?' for plural items (How much do… cost?).
'C'est trop cher' — no need to agree adjective with gender; 'cher' stays as is in this fixed expression.
'Pouvez-vous me montrer…?' (Can you show me…?) is useful when browsing items behind a counter or in a display case.
'Quelle est votre taille?' (What is your size?) or 'Je fais du 38' (I wear size 38) are common in clothing contexts.

Money, Prices & Numbers — The Euro System

Understanding French prices means mastering both the currency (euro, symbol €) and the way prices are written and spoken. France uses the euro, divided into 100 cents (centimes). Prices are written as €X,XX in France (note the comma, not a period, as decimal separator) or XX,XX €. When reading aloud, say the euros first, then the cents: €25,50 is 'vingt-cinq euros cinquante (centimes)'. Large numbers use a space or period for thousands: €1 500 or €1.500 (one thousand five hundred euros), read as 'mille cinq cents euros'. Indian students often confuse this with the Indian numbering system (commas for lakhs and crores). In CBSE exams, questions may present a shopping bill in euros and ask students to write the total in words or vice versa. The table below shows common price formats and their spoken forms. Practice writing prices in words and numerals. On CBSETUTOR.ai, upload a photo of a French online shopping page or restaurant menu (easily found on Google Images), and ask the AI tutor to quiz you on reading each price aloud correctly — personalized, instant feedback at ₹999/month for every CBSE class and subject.

French uses comma (,) as decimal separator: €12,99 not €12.99; the period or space is used for thousands: €1.500 or €1 500.
To say a price, state euros first, then cents: €7,50 = 'sept euros cinquante'.
The word 'centimes' is often dropped in speech; 'cinquante' alone implies 50 cents when following euros.
Round numbers: €20 = 'vingt euros', €100 = 'cent euros', €1 000 = 'mille euros'.
When writing, the euro symbol can appear before or after the number, but after is more common in France: 45,99 €.

Definite & Indefinite Articles with Clothing

Articles in French — le, la, les (definite: the) and un, une, des (indefinite: a, some) — must agree in gender and number with the noun. When talking about clothing, choosing the right article changes meaning. 'Je porte un pantalon' (I am wearing trousers — one pair, indefinite) vs 'Je porte le pantalon' (I am wearing the trousers — specific pair, definite). In shopping contexts, you might say 'Je voudrais une robe' (I would like a dress — any dress) or 'Je voudrais la robe rouge' (I would like the red dress — specific one). Partitive articles (du, de la, des) appear when talking about quantities or unspecified amounts, though less common with clothing. The table below summarizes when to use each article type with clothing vocabulary. This is a high-frequency exam topic: CBSE papers often test whether students can correctly insert 'un', 'une', 'le', or 'la' in a sentence. Mistakes like 'Je porte la pantalon' (wrong gender) or 'Je voudrais le robe' (wrong gender) are common and lose marks. Drill gender and articles together until automatic. Use CBSETUTOR.ai flashcard mode: upload a list of clothing words, and the AI generates fill-in-the-blank sentences testing article choice — targeted practice at ₹999/month across all CBSE subjects and classes.

Definite articles (le, la, les) are used for specific items already mentioned or known to both speaker and listener.
Indefinite articles (un, une, des) introduce new or non-specific items: 'J'ai acheté une veste' (I bought a jacket — not specifying which).
After 'aimer' (to like), use definite article to express general preference: 'J'aime les robes' (I like dresses in general).
After 'porter' or 'acheter', use indefinite or definite depending on whether the item is specific or general.
In negative sentences, 'un, une, des' become 'de' or 'd'': 'Je ne porte pas de chapeau' (I don't wear a hat).

Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

CBSE Class 9 French students make predictable errors in Chapter 10, and recognizing these patterns helps avoid lost marks in exams. The top mistake is gender confusion — using 'un' with a feminine noun or vice versa. Another frequent error is failing to make color adjectives agree: writing 'une robe bleu' instead of 'une robe bleue'. In verb conjugation, students often forget the accent in 'acheter' forms (writing 'j'achete' instead of 'j'achète') or incorrectly conjugate 'coûter' in first or second person when it should be third-person only. In shopping dialogues, students sometimes use 'Je veux' (I want) instead of the polite 'Je voudrais' (I would like), which sounds rude in formal contexts. Price reading errors include using a period for decimals (English habit) instead of a comma, or mispronouncing large numbers. The table below lists the most common mistakes, why they happen, and the correct form. Review this table before every test. On CBSETUTOR.ai, you can upload your own written sentences or homework, and the AI tutor highlights exactly where you went wrong and explains the rule — personalized error correction at ₹999/month for all subjects and classes 6-12, with a 3-day free trial.

Mistake: 'une pantalon' → Correct: 'un pantalon' (pantalon is masculine).
Mistake: 'un robe bleue' → Correct: 'une robe bleue' (robe is feminine).
Mistake: 'j'achete' → Correct: 'j'achète' (always add the accent grave in je/tu/il/ils forms of acheter).
Mistake: 'Je coûte 50 euros' → Correct: 'Ça coûte 50 euros' or 'Il coûte 50 euros' (subject must be the item, not a person).
Mistake: writing '€12.50' in French → Correct: '12,50 €' (comma for decimals, euro sign often after number).

Memory Tricks & Mnemonics

Memorizing vocabulary, genders, and conjugations can feel overwhelming, but smart mnemonics and memory tricks make it manageable. For clothing genders, remember: most items ending in '-on' or '-eau' are masculine (pantalon, manteau, chapeau), and most ending in '-e' are feminine (robe, jupe, veste) — though exceptions exist (chemise is masculine despite ending in '-e'). For color agreement, visualize the noun's gender as a switch that turns on the adjective's ending: feminine switch adds 'e', plural switch adds 's'. For verb conjugations, the 'boot' or 'shoe' rule helps with acheter: the forms that sound different (je, tu, il, ils) form a boot shape on the conjugation chart and all have the accent grave (è), while nous and vous sit outside the boot and keep the regular 'e'. For shopping phrases, create a mini-dialogue script and practice it daily until it becomes automatic. For numbers and prices, practice counting in French every day from 1 to 100, then practice saying prices aloud: pick items around your house, assign them random euro prices, and say the price in French. The table below lists specific memory tricks for high-frequency words and rules. Use these tricks in combination with spaced repetition: review the same vocabulary every 3 days, then every week. On CBSETUTOR.ai, set up custom flashcard decks with these tricks embedded, and the AI will quiz you at optimal intervals — proven to boost long-term retention. All subjects, all classes, ₹999/month flat.

Gender trick: -on / -eau → masculine (pantalon, chapeau); -e → often feminine (robe, jupe) but watch exceptions.
Color agreement: Picture a light switch labeled M/F and S/Pl; flip the switch, change the ending.
Acheter 'boot' rule: Draw a boot around je/tu/il/ils on the conjugation chart — all get 'è'; nous/vous outside boot get 'e'.
Shopping phrase: Create the acronym 'J-V-A-C' → Je Voudrais, Avez-vous, Combien, C'est (cher/bon marché).
Price reading: Say the big number (euros) first, then the small (cents) — never reverse; practice with Indian rupee amounts converted to euros for fun.

Three Solved Mini-Examples

Worked examples show how to apply vocabulary, grammar, and phrases in realistic scenarios. Each example below presents a common exam-style question, walks through the solution step-by-step, and highlights the rules used. Example 1 tests color-adjective agreement in a sentence completion task. Example 2 tests verb conjugation in a dialogue. Example 3 tests price reading and number writing. These mirror the format of CBSE Class 9 French term exams and NCERT exercise questions. Practice by covering the solution, attempting the question yourself, then checking your work. If you get stuck, take a photo of the question and upload it to CBSETUTOR.ai — the AI tutor will guide you through the exact steps, explain the grammar rule, and generate similar practice questions on the spot. This kind of instant, personalized help is why thousands of CBSE families across India trust CBSETUTOR.ai at just ₹999/month for every class and subject, with a 3-day free trial to experience it risk-free. Below are three complete worked examples with detailed explanations.

Last-Minute Revision Box — One-Glance Checklist

This one-glance box consolidates the absolute must-know points for Chapter 10 into a checklist format. Read this box the night before your exam or 10 minutes before entering the exam hall. Tick each point mentally to ensure you remember it. Every point is drawn directly from NCERT Class 9 French Chapter 10 and frequently appears in CBSE term exams. If any point feels shaky, revisit the relevant section in this sheet or in your textbook. For ultra-fast last-minute doubt clearing, open CBSETUTOR.ai on your phone, type or speak your question, and get an instant, accurate answer — especially helpful in the 30 minutes before an exam when coaching centers are closed and parents may not know French. At ₹999/month for unlimited questions across all subjects and classes 6-12, it is the most cost-effective exam-prep tool for CBSE families, replacing the need for multiple subject tutors and offering 24×7 access with photo and voice upload. Below is the complete last-minute revision checklist for Chapter 10.

Clothing gender: un pantalon, une robe, un pull, une jupe, un chemise, une veste — memorize article + noun together.
Color agreement: add 'e' for feminine, 's' for plural, 'es' for feminine plural; exceptions: orange, marron, rose (invariable).
Porter conjugation: je porte, tu portes, il porte, nous portons, vous portez, ils portent.
Acheter conjugation: j'achète, tu achètes, il achète, nous achetons, vous achetez, ils achètent (accent in boot forms).
Coûter usage: third-person only — ça coûte, il coûte, elle coûte, ils coûtent; never 'je coûte'.
Shopping phrases: Je voudrais…, Combien coûte…?, C'est trop cher, Je le/la prends, Avez-vous…?
Price format: use comma for decimals (12,50 €), say euros first then cents (douze euros cinquante).
Articles: definite (le/la/les) for specific items, indefinite (un/une/des) for non-specific; 'de' after negation.
Common mistakes: never mix up gender (un robe ✗ → une robe ✓), always agree color adjectives, always use polite 'Je voudrais' not 'Je veux' in shops.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I need to memorize the gender of every clothing word in French?+

Because French grammar requires articles, adjectives, and pronouns to agree in gender with the noun. Saying 'un robe' or 'le jupe' is grammatically incorrect and will lose marks in CBSE exams. Additionally, in real conversations, using the wrong gender confuses native speakers and sounds unnatural. NCERT exercises and term exams heavily test gender agreement, so learning each noun with its correct article (un pantalon, une robe) from the start saves time and prevents errors later.

What is the easiest way to remember which colors change form and which stay the same?+

Most color adjectives follow standard agreement rules: add 'e' for feminine, 's' for plural, 'es' for feminine plural (bleu/bleue/bleus/bleues). The exceptions to memorize are orange, marron, and rose when used invariably — these never change regardless of gender or number. A simple memory trick: think of these three as 'fixed' colors borrowed from nouns (an orange fruit, brown chestnut 'marron', pink rose flower), so they stay frozen in form.

How do I know when to use 'le' or 'un' before a clothing item?+

Use the definite article 'le/la/les' when referring to a specific item already known or mentioned ('Je porte la veste rouge' = I am wearing the red jacket — a particular one). Use the indefinite article 'un/une/des' when introducing a new or non-specific item ('J'achète une veste' = I am buying a jacket — any jacket). After verbs like 'aimer' (to like), use the definite article to express general preference: 'J'aime les robes' (I like dresses in general). CBSE exams often test this distinction in fill-in-the-blank and dialogue questions.

Why does 'acheter' have an accent in some forms but not others?+

Acheter is a spelling-change verb. To keep the 'è' sound before silent endings, French adds an accent grave: j'achète, tu achètes, il/elle achète, ils/elles achètent. But in 'nous achetons' and 'vous achetez', the ending is pronounced, so no accent is needed. This pattern is called the 'boot rule' because the accented forms (je, tu, il, ils) shape a boot on the conjugation table, while nous and vous sit outside. NCERT Class 9 French introduces this as a key conjugation pattern, and CBSE exams test it frequently.

Can I say 'Je coûte 50 euros' to mean 'I cost 50 euros' for a joke or in a game?+

Grammatically, 'Je coûte 50 euros' is incorrect because 'coûter' is used exclusively for objects and items, not people. The subject of 'coûter' must be the thing being priced: 'Ce pull coûte 50 euros' (This sweater costs 50 euros) or 'Ça coûte 50 euros' (It costs 50 euros). In exams, using 'Je coûte' will be marked wrong. Even in casual speech or jokes, native speakers would find it odd and unnatural. Stick to third-person forms for 'coûter'.

What is the difference between 'C'est cher' and 'C'est trop cher'?+

'C'est cher' means 'It is expensive' — a neutral observation. 'C'est trop cher' means 'It is too expensive' — expressing that the price is higher than acceptable or affordable. In shopping dialogues, 'C'est trop cher' often signals you will not buy the item, while 'C'est cher mais je le prends' means 'It is expensive but I will take it.' Both phrases are fixed expressions; 'cher' does not change form here. CBSE exams expect students to use these phrases correctly in role-play and written dialogues.

How do I read and write prices in French correctly on exams?+

In France, prices use a comma (,) as the decimal separator and a space or period for thousands: €12,50 or €1 500. To read aloud, say the euros first, then the cents: €12,50 = 'douze euros cinquante' (centimes is often omitted in speech). When writing in words, spell out the full number: €99,99 = 'quatre-vingt-dix-neuf euros quatre-vingt-dix-neuf'. CBSE exams test this in number-writing and listening comprehension tasks, so practice converting prices between numerals and words daily.

Is 'Je veux une robe' incorrect, or just less polite than 'Je voudrais une robe'?+

'Je veux une robe' is grammatically correct but considered rude or too direct in formal shopping contexts. 'Je voudrais une robe' (I would like a dress) is the polite, standard phrase taught in NCERT and expected in CBSE exams and oral assessments. Using 'Je veux' might lose marks in role-play or dialogue writing because it does not demonstrate proper register. In real French shops, 'Je veux' can sound demanding, so always default to 'Je voudrais' for polite requests.

What happens to articles in negative sentences about clothing?+

In negative sentences, the indefinite articles 'un, une, des' change to 'de' or 'd'' (before a vowel). For example, 'Je porte un chapeau' (I wear a hat) becomes 'Je ne porte pas de chapeau' (I do not wear a hat). The definite articles 'le, la, les' do not change: 'Je n'aime pas la robe rouge' (I do not like the red dress). This rule is tested frequently in CBSE grammar exercises, so practice converting affirmative sentences to negative and vice versa.

How can CBSETUTOR.ai help me master Chapter 10 vocabulary and grammar quickly?+

CBSETUTOR.ai offers 24×7 AI tutoring at ₹999/month (flat rate for all classes 6-12 and subjects) with photo and voice upload. Upload a picture of your NCERT exercise or a clothing catalogue, and the AI will generate French sentences, quiz you on gender and color agreement, correct your pronunciation, and create custom flashcards. For quick doubt clearing before exams, type or speak your question and get instant, accurate answers. The 3-day free trial lets you test all features risk-free — especially valuable in cities where French coaching is expensive or unavailable.

Related resources

Important Questions: CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 10 Les Vêtements, les Couleurs et le Shopping CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 10 Les Vêtements, les Couleurs et le Shopping Worksheet with Answers CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 10 Les Vêtements, les Couleurs et le Shopping — 20 MCQs with Answers CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 10 Les Vêtements, les Couleurs et le Shopping — Notes CBSE Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 1 Number Systems — Notes CBSE Class 9 Mathematics — Number Systems: complete chapter guide Class 9 French Chapter 1 Salut ! Bonjour ! (Greetings & Introductions) — Previous Year Questions with Complete Solutions Class 9 Mathematics Chapter 2 Polynomials — Formulas & Key Points

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