Grammatical Precedence
When verbs, adjectives, or any other parts of speech are used as nouns, they take masculine gender.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Adjectives > nouns
joindre l’utile à l’agréable (usefull/pleasant) to combine business with pleasure
prendre le large (wide) to head for the open sea
faire le plein (full) to refuel
rester dans le vague (vague) to remain vague
du bon et du mauvais (good/bad) some good and bad
le haut et le bas (high/low) the top and the bottom
le meilleur et le pire the best and the worst
faire du neuf avec du vieux (brand new/old) to make new with old
avoir du nouveau (new) to get some news
du pareil au même (similar/same) all the same
meuble (movable > furniture),
immeuble (immovable > building),
ridicule (ridiculous > ridiculousness),
uniforme(uniform > a uniform),
inverse (opposite > the opposite),
imparfait (imperfect> imperfect tense),
inédit (unpublished > unpublished material),
insolite (unexpected > the unexpected),
ovale (oval > oval shape),
parallèle (parallel > a parallel),
pittoresque (picturesque > the picturesque),
propre (specific to > specificity),
sinistre (sinister > disaster),
trouble (unclear > turmoil),
absurde (absurd > absurdity),
aigre (sour, bitter > bitterness)
-ible:
combustible (combustible > fuel)
impossible (impossible > the impossible)
fusible (fusible > fuse)
submersible (submersible > a submarine)
sensible (perceptible > sensibleness)
(in)visible (invisible > the invisible)
-able:
imperméable (impermeable > raincoat)
dirigeable (dirigible > airship)
gonflable (inflatable > an inflatable)
impensable (unthinkable > the unthinkable)
impondérable (imponderable > an imponderable)
praticable (practicable > a workable)
indispensable (essential > the indispensable)
préalable (preliminary > precondition)
-ide:
liquide (liquid > a liquid)
solide (solid > a solid)
fluide (fluid > a fluid)
rapide (rapid > fast train )
vide (empty > void)
anniversaire (anniversary (date) > birthday, anniversary)
centenaire (100-year-old > centenary)
contraire (opposite > the opposite)
accessoire (of secondary importance > accessory)
cosmétique (cosmetic > a cosmetic)
antibiotique (antibiotic > an antibiotic)
-(up)le:
simple (simple > absurdity)
double (double > absurdity)
triple (triple > three times)
quadruple (quadruple > four times)
centuple (a hundred times)
multiple (a thousand times)
le russe (Russian > Russian language)
l’arabe (Arabic > Arabic language)
le rouge, (red > red color)
le jaune (yellow > yellow color)
Learned adjectives:Past participles > nouns
impayé (unpaid > outstanding payment)
soufflé (blown > soufflé)
surgelé (deep-frozen > frozen-food)
déjà-vu (already seen > déjà-vu)
vomi (vomited > vomit)
Present participles > nouns
autocollant (self-sticking > sticker)
collant (sticking > tights)
lubrifiant (lubricating > lubricant)
levant (rising > east side)
Exceptions:
équivoque f. (equivocal, ambiguous > equivocation, ambiguity)
réciproque f./m. (reciprocal > the converse, reverse, opposite)
In Latin these two nouns are feminine (suffix -ion):
aequĭvŏcātĭo, ōnis, f. / rĕcĭprŏcātĭo, ōnis, f.
Comment 1
Converted feminine adjectives give feminine nouns:
alternative (alternative > an alternative)
centrale (central > power plant)
entrée (entered > entrance)
entreprise (undertaken> company)
Nouns born from an ellipsis keep the original gender:
une (voiture) automobile > une automobile (an automobile car > an automobile)
un (téléphone) portable. un portable (a mobile phone > a mobile)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Adverbes
à l’arrière (backward) at the back
un grand ensemble (together) tower blocks
le bien et le mal (good and bad)
pour le mieux (for the best)
des dessous (underneath) underwear, underside
un petit rien (a mere nothing)
sur le tard (late in life)
le pourquoi et le comment (the whys and wherefores)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Prepositions
le pour et le contre (for/against) pros & cons
le devant et le derrière (before/behind) the front and the back
l’avant et l’après (before/after) the before and after situation
-------------------------------------------------------------
Pronouns
mettez-y du vôtre (do you bit)
les nôtres (our folks)
mon moi intérieur (my inner self)
un tien vaut mieux que deux (one own is better than two)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Infinitives
aller (go > one way trip)
baiser (kiss > a kiss)
coucher (set like in sunset)
lever (rise > sun-rise)
manger (eat > food)
déjeuner (eat lunch > lunch)
goûter (taste > snack)
dîner (eat dinner > dinner)
toucher (touch > touch)
lancer (lounch > throw)
parler (talk > talk)
franc-parler(outspokenness)
pourparlers (negotiation)
laisser-faire(let-do > non-interference)
laisser-aller (let-go > carelessness)
au dire de (say > words: according to....s' words)
ouï-dire (hear-say > rumor)
souvenir (remember > memory)
devenir (become > future )
faire-part (to announce > announcement, card)
avoir(s) (have > assets)
devoir (must > duty, homework)
pouvoir (able to > power)
(bon)vouloir (want > (good)will)
savoir (know > knowledge)
savoir-vivre (know-live > mannerliness)
savoir-faire (know-do > knowhow)
vivre(s) (live > food supplies)
rire (laugh > a laugh)
sourire (smile > a smile)
être (be > a being)
bien-être (well-be > wellbeing)
paraître (seem > appearance)
boire (drink > beverage)
pourboire (for-drink > tip)
Exception:
affaire f. (make, do > business)
masculine in Old FrenchVerb-based compounds
garde-meuble (keep-furniture = furniture depository)
coupe-gorge (cut-throat = dangerous place)
gagne-pain (earn-bread = source of income)
lance-pierre (launch-stone =catapult)
lave-linge (wash-the washing = washing machine)
ramasse-miettes (pick-up-crumbs = table tidy)
saute-mouton (jump-sheep = leapfrog)