Nouns are boring alone. Let's make them beautiful, big, small, or interesting. Welcome to the world of agreement.
French adjectives are like mirrors: they reflect the noun they describe. If the noun is feminine, the adjective puts on a dress (usually adds an 'e'). If the noun is plural, the adjective invites friends (adds an 's').
| Masculine | Il est petit (He is small) |
|
| Feminine (+e) | Elle est petite (She is small) |
Hint: In the masculine form, 't' is silent. In feminine, you pronounce the 't'!
| Masc. Plural (+s) | Ils sont petits (They are small) |
|
| Fem. Plural (+es) | Elles sont petites (They are small) |
The 's' is usually silent unless the next word starts with a vowel.
Most adjectives go AFTER the noun (e.g., Une voiture rouge).
BUT... some special ones go BEFORE. We call them the BAGS adjectives.
Some common adjectives change completely. Watch out for these three musketeers.
| Meaning | Masc. (Singular) | Masc. (Before Vowel) | Feminine | Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beautiful | Beau | Bel (un bel homme) | Belle | Beaux / Belles |
| New | Nouveau | Nouvel (un nouvel an) | Nouvelle | Nouveaux / Nouvelles |
| Old | Vieux | Vieil (un vieil ami) | Vieille | Vieux / Vieilles |
Sophie and Marc talk about a neighbor.
Tu as vu le nouveau voisin ?
(Did you see the new neighbor?)Oui ! Il est grand et il a une belle voiture noire.
(Yes! He is tall and he has a beautiful black car.)Il a l'air sympathique, mais un peu timide.
(He seems nice, but a little shy.)In France, appearance isn't just vanity; it's a form of respect (politesse). Describing someone as having "un bon look" or being "soigné" (well-groomed) is a high compliment. French adjectives for clothing and appearance are abundant because presentation matters.
Click the correct order for the phrase.
Master the agreements and placements with the Chapter 11 flashcard deck.