Mastering 'Suivant': A Grammar Guide

Understanding the Nuances of 'Suivant' in French

The French word 'suivant' can be a source of confusion for learners due to its varied grammatical roles. Whether it acts as an adjective, a noun, a present participle, or a preposition significantly impacts its agreement. This article aims to demystify these distinctions, providing clear examples and explanations to help you use 'suivant' with confidence.

'Suivant' as an Adjective: Agreement is Key

When 'suivant' functions as an adjective, it means 'following' or 'next'. In this capacity, it describes a noun and must agree with it in both gender and number, just like any other adjective in French. This is perhaps its most common usage.

Consider these examples:

• Le document suivant est incompréhensible. (The following document is incomprehensible.) - Here, 'suivant' is singular and masculine, agreeing with 'document'.
• Les éléments suivants sont rédigés en chinois. (The following elements are written in Chinese.) - 'Suivants' is plural and masculine, agreeing with 'éléments'.
• Les traductions suivantes pourront aider à comprendre. (The following translations may help to understand.) - 'Suivantes' is plural and feminine, agreeing with 'traductions'.
• Voulez-vous regarder les documents suivants, s’il vous plaît ? (Would you like to look at the following documents, please?) - Again, 'suivants' is plural and masculine, agreeing with 'documents'.

The historical context also shows this adjectival use:

• Il revint la nuit suivante et la suivante, en fait, toutes les nuits de l’été. (He returned the following night and the one after, in fact, all the nights of the summer.) - Here, 'suivante' agrees with the implied feminine noun 'nuit' (night).

'Suivant' as a Noun: Context and Agreement

'Suivant' can also be used as a noun, typically referring to a person who accompanies or serves another. In this case, agreement depends on the number and gender of the individuals referred to.

Historically, 'une suivante' referred to a lady-in-waiting or a chambermaid. While this usage is now quite rare, understanding it is important for interpreting older texts.

Examples:

• Au suivant ! (Next!) - This is an imperative, often used to call the next person in line, implying a singular masculine or unspecified gender.
• Il est venu [à l’Assemblée], sans aucun doute avec des suivants (…) mais il doit s’avancer seul et les laisser à distance. (He came [to the Assembly], undoubtedly with followers… but he must advance alone and leave them at a distance.) - 'Suivants' is plural and masculine, referring to male attendants.
• Qu’a donc fait Philippe [Louis-Philippe] pour le pays ?… Il a passé son temps à dégrader la patrie en la faisant la suivante de l’Angleterre, en la livrant en otage. (What has Philippe [Louis-Philippe] done for the country?... He spent his time degrading the fatherland by making it England's follower, by giving it up as a hostage.) - Here, 'suivante' is singular and feminine, personifying the country as a follower.

'Suivant' as a Present Participle: Invariable Form

When 'suivant' is the present participle of the verb 'suivre' (to follow), it remains invariable. A good test to identify this usage is to see if you can replace 'suivant' with the present participle of another verb, such as 'accompagnant' (accompanying), without changing the core meaning of the sentence.

Here are examples:

• C’est en suivant ma fille que j’ai découvert cette maison dans les bois. (It was by following my daughter that I discovered this house in the woods.) - 'Suivant' here means 'by following' and is invariable.
• Suivant le cours de ma pensée, j’ai découvert un nouveau théorème mathématique. (Following the course of my thought, I discovered a new mathematical theorem.) - In this context, 'suivant' indicates progression and remains unchanged.
• La route tourne beaucoup en suivant la côte, et ici il y a une drôle de lueur qui fait entrevoir la mer. (The road turns a lot following the coast, and here there is a strange glow that gives a glimpse of the sea.) - 'Suivant' describes the path of the road and is invariable.

'Suivant' as a Preposition: No Agreement

Lastly, 'suivant' can function as a preposition, meaning 'according to', 'in accordance with', or 'due to'. As with participles, prepositions in French are invariable, so 'suivant' does not take any agreement in this role.

Illustrative examples:

• Suivant Socrate, c’est grâce à la discussion qu’on peut atteindre la vérité. (According to Socrates, it is through discussion that truth can be reached.) - 'Suivant' introduces the source of the statement and is invariable.
• Il faut travailler suivant ses forces. (One must work according to one's strengths.) - Here, 'suivant' indicates conformity to one's abilities and is invariable.
• Tout d’un coup, suivant les règles de la danse, Adrienne se trouva placée seule avec moi au milieu du cercle. (Suddenly, following the rules of the dance, Adrienne found herself placed alone with me in the middle of the circle.) - 'Suivant' denotes adherence to rules and remains unchanged.
• Il ne voyait jamais que le pire côté des choses se faisant à tout propos l’avocat du diable, suivant une expression de son vieux cocher. (He only ever saw the worst side of things, playing devil's advocate at every opportunity, according to an expression from his old coachman.) - 'Suivant' here introduces a quoted expression and is invariable.

Comparing 'Selon' and 'Suivant'

Both 'selon' and 'suivant' can often be used interchangeably as prepositions meaning 'according to'. However, there's a key difference when followed by a pronoun.

Table: Usage Comparison

Key Takeaways

To summarise, the agreement of 'suivant' hinges entirely on its grammatical function:

• Adjective: Agrees in gender and number (e.g., les pages suivantes).
• Noun: Agrees in gender and number (rare usage, e.g., les suivantes).
• Present Participle: Invariable (e.g., en suivant la route).
• Preposition: Invariable (e.g., suivant les règles).

By paying close attention to the context and the role 'suivant' plays in a sentence, you can ensure its correct usage, enhancing the clarity and accuracy of your French.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Is 'suivant' always plural when referring to multiple items?
A1: Only if it's used as an adjective or noun and the items are plural. If it's a preposition or participle, it remains invariable.

Q2: Can I use 'suivant' instead of 'selon' before pronouns like 'vous' or 'moi'?
A2: No, 'selon' is the correct preposition to use before pronouns; 'suivant' is not used in this context.

Q3: How can I be sure if 'suivant' is a participle or an adjective?
A3: Try replacing it with another word like 'qui suit' (who follows) or 'qui vient après' (who comes after). If the sentence still makes sense, it's likely functioning adjectivally. If it implies an action being performed, it's more likely a participle or preposition.

Mastering these distinctions will significantly improve your command of French grammar. Keep practising, and you'll soon find these nuances becoming second nature!

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