Limitées

Limitées is the feminine plural form of the past participle of the verb limiter. It functions as an adjective or as part of compound tenses in the passive voice. As an adjective, limitées agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes: des ressources limitées, des quantités limitées, des zones limitées.

In verbal constructions, limitée typically appears in two main ways. When used with the auxiliary être in a passive voice, the participle agrees with the subject: Les ressources sont limitées. When used with the auxiliary avoir, agreement depends on the position of the direct object: if the direct object precedes the participle, it agrees in gender and number (e.g., Les quantités qu’ils ont limitées). If the DO follows the verb, no agreement is made (Ils ont limité les quantités).

Common contexts and meanings include restricted quantities, finite resources, or boundaries that have been set or enforced. For example: Des ressources limitées require prioritization; Les quotas ont été limitées dans certaines périodes, though the exact form depends on the surrounding construction.

Related terms include limiter (to limit), limitation (limitation), limité (the masculine singular form or as a past participle used in other genders), and limite (the noun “limit”). The word is widely used in economics, planning, logistics, and everyday French to indicate constraints, borders, or caps.

See also: limite, limitation, limiter, limité, limitation.