1. To indicate the open "e" sound:
* This is the most common use of the acute accent. It distinguishes the open "e" sound from the closed "e" sound.
* Examples:
* bébé (baby) - the "é" has an open "e" sound like in "bay"
* femme (woman) - the "e" at the end is silent, but the accent indicates it would have an open "e" sound if pronounced
* café (coffee) - the "é" has an open "e" sound like in "say"
2. To distinguish homophones:
* Some words in French are spelled the same but have different meanings depending on the pronunciation.
* The acute accent helps differentiate these words.
* Examples:
* à (to, at) - no accent, pronounced like "ah"
* a (has) - with accent, pronounced like "ah"
* où (where) - no accent, pronounced like "oo"
* ou (or) - with accent, pronounced like "oo"
3. In certain proper nouns:
* Some proper nouns (names of people, places, etc.) use the acute accent as part of their spelling.
* Examples:
* René (a male name)
* L'Étang (the pond)
Things to remember:
* The acute accent is only used on the letter "e".
* It is important to remember that the acute accent changes the pronunciation of the letter "e" in most cases.
* When in doubt, consult a dictionary or online resource to confirm the correct pronunciation.