Expressing Pain

J'ai mal _____ tête.

• à la

• au

• à l'

• aux

Il a mal ____ dos

• à la

• au

• à l'

• aux

Answer explanation

Even though dos ends in an S, It's singular. It is also masculine. If you are talking about one person's back you would use au. If you were talking about the backs of more than one person, you would use aux.

Nous avons mal _____ pieds.

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Answer explanation

Pieds has an S on it. That means it's more than one (plural). Feet. Use aux with plural nouns.

Avez-vous mal ______ genou?

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Answer explanation

Even though genou ends with a vowel, U is a vowel, it is masculine. You have to memorize this. It is also singular. There is no S or X on it. Use au with masculine, singular nouns.

J'ai mal _____ dent.

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Answer explanation

Dent is feminine, even though it ends in a consonant. You have to memorize this. It is also singular. There is no S on it. Tooth, not teeth.

Feminine, singular nouns are preceded by à la.

Ils ont mal _____ genoux.

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Answer explanation

Genoux ends in a X, that means it's plural (more than one). Knees, not knee.

Use aux before plural nouns.

Which of the following is used before masculine, singular nouns?

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Which word is used before feminine, singular nouns?

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Which word is used before plural nouns. Plural means more than one.

• au

• à la

• à l'

• aux

Which body part(s) looks masculine but is really feminine?

• main

• dent

• main et dent

• oeil