As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can confidently say that the word “ferme” does not mean closed. In fact, “ferme” is the past participle form of the verb “fermer,” which means to close. The correct word for closed in French is “fermé” (pronounced: fair may).
When discussing the verb “fermer,” it is important to note that it is a regular -er verb in French, which means it follows a specific pattern of conjugation. The infinitive form of the verb is “fermer,” and when we use it with different pronouns to indicate different subjects, we need to use the appropriate conjugation.
For example, when referring to the first-person plural “we,” we would say “nous fermons,” which translates to “we are closing.” Here, “fermons” is the conjugated form of the verb that agrees with the pronoun “nous.” Similarly, for the second-person singular “you,” we would say “tu fermes,” meaning “you are closing.”
The word “fermé” is the past participle form of the verb “fermer” and is used in various contexts to indicate closure. For instance, if you see a sign on a shop or a door saying “fermé,” it means that it is closed. In this case, “fermé” is used as an adjective to describe the state of being closed.
In French, it is important to pay attention to the gender and number agreement of adjectives with the noun they modify. So, if you are referring to a feminine noun that is closed, you would use the feminine form of the adjective, which is “fermée.” For example, “la porte est fermée” means “the door is closed.” Here, “fermée” agrees with the feminine noun “porte.”
To summarize, while “ferme” is the past participle form of the verb “fermer,” it does not directly translate to “closed” in French. Instead, “fermé” (for masculine singular nouns) and “fermée” (for feminine singular nouns) are the correct forms to use when describing something as closed.