Adjectives

Adjectives

Basic Adjective Formation

  • Adjectives must agree with their nouns whether in number or gender.
  • Most adjectives can be formed by following this rule:
    • Add nothing for masculine singular nouns.
    • Add –e for feminine singular nouns.
    • Add –s for masculine plural nouns.
    • Add –es for feminine plural nouns.

Adjective Placements

  • In French, adjectives can be placed before or after the noun, but not all adjectives follow that.
  • Usually, adjectives are placed after the noun, but there are exceptions that are always placed before the noun.
  • Acronym – BAGS (Beauty, Age, Good, Size)
  • List of adjectives that are always placed before the noun:
AdjectivesMeaning
Bon(ne)Good
Mauvais(e)Bad
Vieux (Vieille)Old
JeuneYoung
Nouveau (Nouvelle)New
Beau (Belle)Beautiful
Petit(e)Small
Grand(e)Big
Gros(se)Big; Fat
MinceThin
Joli(e)Pretty

Variable Placement

  • In French, it is possible for adjectives to be placed before AND after the noun, but their meaning changes depending on their position.
  • List of adjectives that can be placed before AND after the noun:
Adjectives before the nounMeaningAdjectives after the nounMeaning
Cher (Chère)DearCher (Chère)Expensive
PropreOwnPropreClean; Tidy
Ancien(ne)FormerAncien(ne)Old
Vrai(e)RealVrai(e)True
MêmeSameMêmeVery

Compound Adjectives

  • It is possible to have and form compound adjectives and they can appear in many forms.
  • Most common forms appear as “adjective + adjective” and “adjective + noun”
  • For “adjective + adjective”, both adjectives must agree in noun and gender to the noun.
  • For “adjective + noun”, the adjective does not agree in noun and gender to the noun.

Possessive Adjectives

  • These are adjectives that show possession towards a noun.
  • They are placed before the noun always.
  • Note: Mon, Ton and Son are always used when there is a noun starting with a vowel or a silent h.
MasculineFemininePluralMeaning
MonMaMesMy
TonTaTesYour (informal/singular) 
SonSaSesHis, Her, It
VotreVotreVosYour (formal/plural)
NotreNotreNosOur
LeurLeurLeursTheir

Demonstrative Adjectives

  • These are adjectives that demonstrate nouns (This/That)
  • They are placed before the noun always. 
  • Note: “Cet” is used instead of “Ce” when there is a noun starting with a vowel or a silent h.
SingularPlural
Masculine CeCes
FeminineCetteCes
MeaningThis/ThatThese/Those

Interrogative Adjectives

  • They are used to make a choice between nouns.
  • They are place before the noun always.
SingularPlural
Masculine QuelQuels
FeminineQuelleQuelles
MeaningWhat/Which

Comparative Adjectives

  • They are used to make comparisons between two nouns that they modify. (bigger, smaller, etc.)
  • To say something is more than the other, add “plus” before the adjective.
  • To say something is less than the other, add “moins” before the adjective.
  • Note: Plus – More; Moins – Less  

Superlative Adjectives

  • They are used to describe an object being the uppermost or lowermost of its quality. (biggest, smallest, etc.)
  • They are two ways to form them in French:
When the adjective is placed before the noun
Le/La/Les+Plus/Moins+Adjective+Noun

Example: La plus grande maison – The biggest house

When the adjective is placed after the noun
Le/La/Les+Noun+Le/La/Les+Plus/Moins+Adjective

Example: La maison la plus dangereuse – The most dangerous house

Indefinite Adjectives

  • They are used to talk about nouns in a general sense without specifying its qualities properly.
  • They are placed before the noun always.
AdjectivesMeaning
Autre (Autres)Other
ChaqueEach/Every
QuelquesSome
PlusieursSeveral
Même (Mêmes)Same
Tout (Tous/Toute/Toutes)All/Every
Tel (Tels/Telle/Telles)Such
Certain (Certains/Certaine/Certaines)Certain

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